Title: Soul of a Healer
Author: Caer
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Yaoi, violence, angst
Pairings: RyuichixTohma
Status: Complete (part4 )
Disclaimer: This is simply fanfiction. I don't own this anime and I'm not making any money. It's just for fun.
Note: This is the last chapter and I forced it from my fingers word by agonizing word. I'm not happy about the flow, even though what I planned is generally what came out. but it didn't feel natural. So I apologize if you're not happy with it. It is finally finished though. However I may add one more lemony chapter for my own gratification, which will be at my website. Thank you all for continuing to read.
As you know, this is based on the anime only and doesn't really follow the story after that, so it won't quite fit with the Manga. My apologies. I wasn't crazy about the manga so I never followed it.
Hope you enjoy anyway.
A very perturbed Yuki Eiri stood outside of NG studios, smoking one more cigarette. As he blew the calming smoke out he could feel the hitch in his breath and realized, he was not much calmer than 10 minutes ago when K and a group of secret service stormed into the building. It had only been 15 minutes since he had left Shuichi at the front door and he was already gone. The man at the front desk had seen him, but he was the last one. They were currently pulling the evening crew together for questioning.
The door opened and K walked out, to update Yuki.
"The elevators cameras have all been covered with duct tape. We're having everyone review the other cameras to see if anything looks suspicious."
Yuki nodded. "I should have made sure he got upstairs."
"Don't go doing that. It won't do you any good and it won't get him back." K admonished immediately. "I'm sure he'll turn up. To any kidnapper he would be considered a valuable commodity. Whoever took him wants money. We just have to wait until they contact someone."
"I hope you're right."
Tohma woke from a heavy sleep but he felt drained. He was resting in the crook of Ryuichi's left arm, the singer's legs were entangled in his and his chest rose and fell softly in sleep. Tohma curled his hands in the young man's shirt.
"I don't deserve you," he whispered softly, brushing his fingers along the singer's temple.
Ryuichi had always been there for him and this was no different. Tohma had always been afraid to share the darkest part of his life with his best friend, for fear that he would change Ryuichi. The one bright light he had besides Eiri had been Ryuichi's beauty and brightness. It could even be called innocence, though Ryu was not completely unmarred by darkness. However, Tohma had always wanted to keep him above it, to protect him. For his own selfish reasons, he wanted to keep his friend above the stink of all of his conniving, if even only to convince himself that he had done good things in this world.
But when Eiri had kissed him, he had realized something. He loved Eiri... so much it hurt. So he had done as Eiri asked and he had told Ryuichi everything. From the beginnings of Yuki Kitazawa back in New York, through the rape as well as the aftermath. He had told him of the hours of scrubbing the blood off the apartment floor, hiding the weapon. He had singlehandedly moved 3 bodies and hidden them in the foundation of NG Studios in New York right before the cement was poured. Of course it was just an office building then. However, Tohma had quickly purchased the building afterward. He had bought and renovated the apartment buildings and sold them again. Fortunately no one seemed to be looking for the three men. He had sufficient time to hide everything. Since that night, everything had been carefully orchestrated. Nothing strayed very far from his control. They had returned to Japan, but Tohma had spent years carefully burying everything he could about that night.
He had been obsessed after that to making sure that Eiri had everything he ever needed or wanted. He had paid close attention to anything involving the disappearance of the three men. He had very carefully orchestrated everything after that. Controlled it all.
When he had finished his story, he was shaking so hard that he thought he had opened his wound again. Only his hands clutched white to the sheets had stopped him from falling apart entirely.
I'm sorry, Ryuichi. This is who I am. I wish I could be more for you, but I'm not.
Ryuichi's eyes had been hard after Tohma's confession. This was it, Tohma had been sure of it. Ryuichi would never look at him the same. He was sure that he had killed any possibility of them... because now Ryuichi knew who he truly was. It was why he had always avoided telling Ryuichi. He had changed for both of them. He had to protect them. He was manipulative and cold, but he was in control. As far as Tohma was concerned, he killed those men. He made them disappear. He made sure they were never seen again. He buried the evidence.
But Ryuichi had slowly gathered the blond up and held him as tightly as he could, waiting for Tohma's tremors to subside and his breathing to slow. A few soft touches of his lips on Tohma's neck had soothed the blond and Ryuichi's fingers had softly sifted through his hair, calming his fears and soothing his tortured soul.
I know you, Tohma. I've always known that something awful had happened. But you didn't let me in. All I could do was watch. Do you know how hard that was? Did you really think I would love you any less?
"I'm sorry," Tohma whispered softly, playing with a wisp of Ryuichi's hair. "I wanted to protect you."
Ryuichi simply wrinkled his nose, and pulled Tohma a bit tighter. However, nature was calling and it was time to eat something. Tohma deftly replaced himself with Kumagouro and headed out of the bedroom to take care of business and see if he could scare something up for dinner.
Sadly, Ryuichi was hardly home to cook and the cabinets were somewhat bare. Tohma decided to order out.
After making a quick call to a Chinese place that he and Ryu ordered from on occasion, he went through is wallet to see if he had enough cash. Worst case, Ryu kept cash in the kitchen drawer.
A tiny electric song began to emanate and by the tune, Tohma realized it was his phone somewhere. Looking around, he saw that it was also on the kitchen table with some of his other things from that night. Briefly he considered not answering it. Ryu would be upset if he knew he was working. Then again, it might be someone checking up on him. Checking the caller id, it was not a number he recognized. Picking the phone up hesitantly, he answered.
"This is Seguchi?"
The line was strangely silent and then a muffled noise that sounded like someone's mouth was covered came across the line.
"Hello?" Tohma was concerned now. It almost sounded like...
"Tohma Seguchi."
An English voice came over the line. It sounded American.
"Who is this?" He replied in the same language.
"I have your singer. If you don't want his brains splattered across the pier, you'll come meet me right away."
Tohma's eyes narrowed. "What do you want?"
"Plenty. We'll deal when you get here. You have 20 minutes. Don't try anything. I will blow his head off."
"How crass... What do you..." The phone clicked off. A few seconds later, he had a text message with an address. Quickly Tohma gathered some clothes from Ryuichi's bathroom closet. Moving quickly, he gathered up his few things and headed outside. Quickly dialing K, he hailed a taxi.
K was in a room with Yuki Eiri, watching the video camera footage from the building when the call came.
"Tohma? What are you doing? You should be resting."
"Did you know that someone has my singer?"
"Yes," the man said hesitantly. "He disappeared a few hours ago. No one has even released a press statement yet. How did you find out?"
"His kidnapper wants something from me. I'm heading for the pier. I'll send you the address, but you have to wait. Be cautious. He said he'd kill him. He wants to meet me. I'm going. Come, but I want you to hold back."
"No, Tohma. Let me know where he is. We'll take care of it. At let us set you up with a wire."
"No time, K. I have to be there in 20 minutes. I'll try to get Shuichi safely out of there. I need you to put together at least 200 million yen, just to be safe. I think he wants to bargain. Let's give him money, get Shuichi and get him later."
"I understand. But if you're not out in 20 minutes, we're coming in after you."
"Yes. Does Eiri know?"
"We found out too late. Yuki took Shuichi to a rehearsal, but it was a setup. By the time he or I got there, Shuichi was already gone. There's a cleaning man that no one recognizes on the cameras. He looks American."
"That much is right."
Tohma jumped in a Taxi that pulled up and gave directions before turning back to the phone.
"I think it's just one man. Let me handle it. Tell Eiri that everything will be okay."
"Don't do anything stupid Tohma."
"You've never underestimated me before, K. Don't start now. I know what I'm doing. Just don't take too long."
With that, he hung up. He only hoped he could make it in time.
"Where is he?" Yuki asked, once K hung up.
"I have the address," K handed it to the writer. "It's the shipping yard. I have to collect a team together."
"I'm going there now. Yuki headed for his car."
"You too? You can't just take the law into your own hands, you know."
But Yuki Eiri was gone already. His tires squealed as his car tore out of the NG parking lot.
K sighed and went back to grab his crew. He only hoped that Yuki didn't get himself into trouble. But he knew not to stand between lovers. Besides, it would be good to have someone there fast. At least he know Yuki would be smart enough to call when he knew where they were.
Tohma got out of the taxi warily. Though he had the right address, he was on a large pier full of giant shipping crates. His steps were washed out by the crash of the waves against the pier. He looked around, walking further into the darkness.
"Ah there you are. You came quickly."
Tohma looked around. With the echo off the metal he couldn't make out where the voice was coming from.
"I'm tired of this game already," Tohma breezed. "What do you want. Where is my singer."
"Used to being the master of the game yourself, right Tohma? I've studied your every move. Don't worry, he's safe. It's you I want."
A shadow stepped out from behind one of the boxes before stepping back again. Tohma followed.
"Don't try anything."
Tohma was silent, but he did his best to text K from the hand in his coat pocket. He just hoped that K would be able to figure out where they were.
He walked down a corridor of boxes, following the dark shadow of a man until a light spilled onto the pier for a moment. The man stepped inside. Tohma couldn't make out the features, but in the dim light, he caught a flash of the man's eyes. Tohma paused for a moment. Those eyes were filled utterly with hatred.
The light on the pier slowly disappeared and Tohma with it.
Inside, Tohma looked around. The crate was bare but for some old mattresses in the corner. On closer inspection, there was a lump on those mattresses that stirred. Tohma looked back at the man.
"It's me you want, right? I'm here. Let him go."
The man moved into the light. He was a good sized man with brown hair and steel blue eyes. Tohma caught his breath. Caught in between the shadows falling the mans eyes appeared dark and imposing. However, he was not familiar at all. Tohma tried to remember if he had dealt with this man at all in America, but he could not find anything familiar about this man. He moved toward Shuichi and lifted him up roughly.
"You speak good English. That makes it easier for me. You can untie him and send him away now."
Better than his it seemed. Tohma sneered, moving carefully toward Shuichi.
"I've been waiting for you," he said tightly. "I've been waiting for you for six years."
Tohma paused. He swallowed. Could this man possibly be from that time. Who was he? Shuichi watched him silently as he hesitated, almost as if he knew what the blond was thinking. He pulled the blanket from the smaller man and began to untie him. The boy was shaky and his legs almost gave out as he stood.
"Did he hurt you?" Tohma asked softly. Shuichi startled. There was a warmth in the blond's eyes that had never been there before. Not for him at least.
"I'm all right." Shuichi said shakily. Tohma held him up a bit longer as he didn't really believe it.
"Go find Eiri. He's worried. Get as far from here as you can. Do you have your cell phone?"
Uncertain, Shuichi patted his pockets before shaking his head.
"Take mine," Tohma handed him the phone. "Go to the street and then call."
"What about you?"
"I'll be fine," Tohma lied, gripping Shuichi's arm. "Shindou san... if you see Ryuichi, tell him that... that I'm sorry."
Shuichi stared at Tohma for a moment and then returned the grip on his arm.
"Seguchi-san, they both know how much you care for them."
Tohma nodded shakily. "Go then. Everything will be fine. K is already on his way."
Shuichi took a breath and moved to the door. The man simply watched him go, not even raising his gun. Tohma was relatively certain the man understood very little Japanese, so he probably couldn't follow their conversation. What worried him was that the man should at least suspect what would go down, and yet he seemed unconcerned. That he seemed unconcerned for the outcome of this situation was the most disturbing thing.
Shuichi took one last look, before slipping out into the night. Tohma turned back coolly. Adjusting his sleeves, he turned back to the American stranger.
"Obviously a trade for my singer isn't what you really wanted."
"No, but I knew you wouldn't come back out into public, so I needed a way to pull you out... so I could finish what I started."
Tohma moved closer and circled the man, sizing him up. However the man seemed unconcerned. After all, he was the one with the gun.
"You're the one who fired the shot at the concert."
"Yes. Fortunately they held someone else who perhaps wanted the same thing. You're not a very popular man, Seguchi."
Tohma nodded in agreement. "I've made some enemies along the way. But I don't remember you as one particularly."
The tall man growled a little. "That's because you were long gone by the time I found out what you had done."
"And what is that exactly?"
"The murder of a teacher named Yuki Kitazawa."
Tohma's mouth went dry and he tried to swallow, but he could feel his throat closing up. Who was this guy?
"I see. I know he disappeared. You think he was killed then? I can assure you I have no..."
The gun cocked and was aimed straight at him. "I don't have time for games, here. I'm sure you already have people on the way, so we should get it clear right now. I know you killed him. You killed the man I loved and I've come here to get revenge."
"The man you..."
"Yes, my lover. Does that disgust you? Is that why you killed him? Perhaps he was getting too close to your brother in law, as I understood he was there taking lessons from Yuki. Or maybe it was you he got close to. He had many lovers. But he was mine. You had no right to take him from me."
"You have no proof that I did anything." Tohma said with certainty.
"No, but I have enough evidence for my satisfaction. I did enough research to learn that his disappearance all leads disturbingly to only two people. One was your brother in law, his student. So was he the killer?"
Tohma's blood ran cold.
"He did nothing wrong."
"No. All the evidence seemed to point to you. You've used your financial power to bury a lot of skeletons, Mr. Seguchi. Where did you bury him, Seguchi. Did you throw him in the river?"
"This is absurd. You have no proof whatsoever of any of this."
"Then why are you sweating? Get on your knees."
"I think you're making a mistake."
"Get on your fucking knees," the man said quietly, before grabbing Tohma by his collar and kicking his knees so he went down hard, jarring his wound.
"This is your last chance. You can admit to what you did now and ask for forgiveness."
"I still don't know what you're talking about."
Tohma's head rang as it snapped to the side and he had to catch himself against the floor as he lost his balance. A few drops of blood spilled on the floor and he realized he had just been pistol whipped. Raising a shaky hand to his face, he could feel the fresh blood forming on his cheek where the gun had made contact.
"DON'T FUCKING TOY WITH ME!" He screamed, yanking Tohma back up, and holding the gun directly pointing into his eye. "Don't you fucking act like you don't know what I'm talking about. You killed him!"
Tohma saw the man's finger move and he shut his eyes waiting for the shot that would kill him.
"Just say it," he spat. Tohma could feel the spray on his cheek. He glared at the man, who was in full frenzy now. His eyes were wild and the blood was visible in the whites. "I know you killed him. If you didn't, this is your last chance to make your case. Give me one good reason I shouldn't blow your head off!" he screamed.
"Because he's a liar."
The man whipped around to see that the door of the freight container was cracked open. Just inside stood Yuki Eiri.
"Eiri!" Tohma stood quickly to move in front of the gun, but the man grabbed him and pulled him against his chest, holding the gun against Tohma's temple.
"Easy now beautiful. I'm not finished with you... and you... I know you. You... your that kid."
"My name is Yuki Eiri."
"Yes you. You stole his name."
"Yes. After I killed him."
"He's lying," Tohma said, desperate. "I killed him. Don't listen to him."
But the man was uninterested in Tohma for the moment.
"Why? I thought you loved him." Tohma struggled to free himself, but the man only held tighter to his neck and Tohma felt himself growing dizzy with the lack of blood. "Why would you kill the man you loved?"
"He's lying. I killed him. I killed him!" Tohma gasped out. "Eiri! Don't!"
"Enough Tohma." The writer's eyes pierced right through Tohma, silencing his protests. "I won't let you sacrifice yourself to this man." He turned back to the man. "Yes I thought I loved him... until he gang raped me."
The man's eyes widened.
"You're lying."
"Eiri..." Tohma whispered, his eyes were moist and he looked down, remembering his own pain.
"Oh you think so? Would you like the details? How he got drunk, and then offered me to his friends. How they held me down while they did what they wanted to me? Took my virginity at 16? Revenge is something I understand well. They were about to have a go round again, when I grabbed a gun and shot them all. I don't remember how now. I don't remember much of anything." Tohma could see this was painful for Eiri and it shattered him inside. He wanted to keep Eiri from that pain. But Eiri's fists were clenched and he was determined to get it said. He raised his eyes and stared straight at the man. "But I do remember killing them. So if you're going to shoot anyone, it should be me."
"No!" Tohma struggled again, but the man was already raising his gun to point at the writer. "Tohma struggled even harder, when he was hit from the side by another form. sprawling on the ground, he could see the gun sliding away from them on the floor. As he turned, he stared in shock. Sitting on top of the kidnapper was Sakuma Ryuichi. His eyes were cold and hard and he cranked hard on the man's arm, forcing him into the ground. The man screamed.
"No! No! Let me go! I'll kill you all! I'll kill you all!"
With almost super human strength, he shoved Ryuichi off of him and into the side of the crate. The metal echoed loudly as Ryuichi's head made contact.
"Ryuichi!" Tohma crawled to him.
The American in the meantime pushed himself up, only to face the barrel of his own gun in the hands of Yuki Eiri. He froze.
"I don't think so. This time, I know exactly what I'm doing."
Tohma stared in surprise. Ryuichi in the meantime pulled his cellphone out of his pocket and dialed, even as he daubed the blood off the back of his head. Tohma helped him to sit against the wall and ran his hand through the man's hair.
"K. It's all clear." Ryuichi said darkly.
With that about 10 men stormed in armed, and took the man down, handcuffing him. The sounds of their boots and voices echoing in the small compartment made it hard to hear, but Ryuichi and Tohma stared at each other. The singer moved a shaky hand to touch Tohma's hair, before giving him a cheeky grin. Tohma laughed and then he was kissing him... hard, his hand still cradled at the back of the man's head. Ryuichi sighed and brought his arms around the blond man. Tohma pulled away.
"How did you know where I was?"
"I followed you. I told you. I won't let you do this alone anymore."
In the ambulance, the paramedics examined Tohma, Shuichi and Ryuichi, declaring them to be healthy enough to go home without a hospital visit. Shuichi had a blanket around his shoulders and leaned heavily against his lover, who held him gently, talking softly to him.
Ryuichi had his head wrapped in bandages and managed to make it look fashionable anyway. Three police and 2 nurses had already begged for his autograph, which he gave happily.
K shut the doors on the police car containing the murderer and watched it drive away. He approached the four of them.
"Well you should be proud of yourselves. You managed to catch a psychopathic serial killer."
All four stared.
"No way!" Shuichi said shakily. "Who was he?"
Apparently he's been missing for 3 years, but he was a resident at the Manhattan Psychiatric hospital. It was located on Ward Island, right by where we first stayed in New York. He literally had a view into the park where your hotel was. That's how he was able to see Yuki Kitazawa. He obsessed over the man, which he tended to do with his victims. However he was in the hospital, when Kitazawa died. He never got to realize his fantasy to kill the man. Without his intended victim, he transferred his obsession to you for whatever reason, Tohma.
"I see." Tohma said quietly. "So he never even knew Yuki Kitazawa."
"No," K replied. "Tohma," he said with some authority, sparing a glance for Yuki Eiri as well. "He was an obsessive compulsive killer who murdered 3 other people after stalking them for years. He does this by weaving intricate stories inside his head of how he knew his victims."
K put a hand on Yuki's shoulder. "That means that nothing he says can be believed. Whatever happened in New York back then, will remain there. So leave it at that."
Yuki sighed shakily and Shuichi clutched his hand tighter.
"Thank you, K," Tohma said quietly, "For so many things."
"It's time to move on."
Ryuichi hiccuped and they all looked at him. Giant tears were beginning to form in his eyes.
"Mou, I forgot about Kuma chan!!!! He's been alone all this time! We have to go get him Tohma! He'll be so mad! We have to buy him cotton candy now or he'll never forgive us Na no da!!!"
Tohma laughed as some of the seriousness was lifted from the evening.
"Does anyone know where we can get Cotton Candy at 2 in the morning?"
"Wai! Shuichi kun! Let's have a cotton candy party at Tohmas! It's too late to sleep ne?"
Shuichi smiled and turned to Yuki. "Can we?"
Yuki took out a cigarette and lit it.
"Do what you want. I suppose I can use Tohma's office to get some writing done."
Shuichi and Ryuichi happily climbed inside of Yuki's car. While they were preoccupied, the remaining blonds were left. K eyed them seriously.
"K... how much do you know? About..."
"A lot more than either of you give me credit for."
Tohma snorted. "I should have known."
"I admit you were lucky. This all could have been exposed. As it is, they'll never believe a word he says. I have a few friends in high places that can make the talk go away. But for now, you're all heroes. It'll be great for publicity. But there is one more thing. I still have Tachi Aizawa in a holding cell."
"You what?" Tohma asked curiously, as he hadn't heard anything about this yet.
"We suspected him, as he was found at your concert with a gun. I assume you'll want to press charges?"
Tohma sighed. "Leave it. I won't press charges. He has a reason for it. As an act of charity, NG Studios will pay for his hospitalization and his psychiatric help."
"Inpatient, I assume?"
Tohma nodded. "Of course."
As K walked away, Tohma approached Yuki slowly, pulling the cigarette out of his mouth and pulling the writer close. Yuki for his part simply relaxed into his ex brother in law's arms, sighing heavily.
"I'm tired, Tohma." He said quietly.
"So am I. But you're right about one thing, Eiri."
"What?"
"I think... I think the wounds are finally ready to heal. They are our redemption, Yuki. They will be our healers. All we need to provide is the cotton candy."
Yuki snorted and Tohma smiled gently.
"Let's go home."
End – Wow. It's finally finished after years of me ignoring it. Like I said, it's forced and not all I would have wanted, but I'm okay with it. At least it's done. I may write one more lemony epilogue before moving on. Thanks to all of you for your kind reviews and for sticking with it. I hope it meets your expectations.
Caer