Truth behind the Lies Chapter 7: Welcome to Your Grave, a gravitation fanfic

Truth behind the Lies

Chapter 7: Welcome to Your Grave

Here's chapter 7! Thank you so much for the reviews, alerts and favorites... yay!

Beta'ed by: Lanie 12777

Disc: I don't own gravitation

Hiro is anxious. After debating with himself whether he had to enter the room or not, because he's afraid he'll disturb the two lovers' time alone, he finally let the affirmative side of his mind win. Otherwise, he frankly doubts that Yuki's condition is getting better, since the doctor said he'd just escaped from a coma. And he's a doctor too, on top of that—so he most likely knows the patient's state.

He slowly pushed the door open. The first thing he realized is Shuichi is nowhere to be found. But since it's already 9:23 in the morning, that means the said boy probably went somewhere to feed himself, so he let the thought go. Moreover, his attention is focused on one figure that currently is lying on the hospital's bed, his golden eyes wide awake and somehow glimmering with what looks like tears.

The red-haired doctor's eyes widened. Is Yuki awake already?

"Yuki-san," the young professional said as he silently approached the man. Yuki turn his golden orbs that were currently staring at the ceiling to him, and they slightly widened before returning to their normal size. "Are you feeling well?"

He knows the first thing to do is call for a nurse or doctor to check him, but since he's also a doctor he doesn't think it's necessary. Besides, he'd already faced this kind of situation many times before. So the first thing to do when he saw Yuki nod was check his pulse and heartbeat. After realizing that it's normal, as was his blood pressure, he let out a sigh of relief.

"It seems that you are. Well, what do you feel now, Yuki-san?" he asked again, and Yuki couldn't help but find it slightly out-of-character for him to become a doctor. He, Hiroshi Nakano—ex-guitarist of J-rock band that most likely also had a rock life—had now become Hiroshi Nakano with the title 'doctor' standing by his name.. That means he had to be patient with other characteristics that a doctor must have, and it doesn't suit him at all. But now that he'd witnessed it himself, how Hiro could be patient if he wanted to, it doesn't seem like such a hard thing to imagine anymore.

Meanwhile Hiro mentally growled when he realized the ex-novelist was staring. What? Is it so unusual for him to ask with a soft tone?

He wanted to ask that out loud but found it useless. The blonde's voice isn't worth it to spend with another useful word because he still couldn't speak that well.

"I'm…" Yuki stated, slightly out of breath, "tired."

Hiro nodded in understanding. Probably the blonde's drained inside and out, both mentally and physically, and there's nothing he can do about it. Well, maybe he could help fix him from the outside, but the only one who had permission to enter his inside is Shuichi. And speaking of the boy, where is he now? He hadn't called him since last night, and it slightly makes him more anxious. Even more now, after Ryuichi told him that Tohma knew Shuichi isn't dead and he probably had another plan to break the poor singer off. But he just hoped he's being paranoid and Shuichi is somewhere safe, ravishing pocky and breakfast.

As if sensing his concern, Yuki asked the similar thing on his mind.

"Where's Shuichi?" Yuki found himself asking. The name sounds alien to his tongue but he likes the feeling of it, and before Hiro had a chance to answer he quickly added, "Yes. I've seen him… about thirteen minutes ago or so… he talks to me all the while, it's just plain stupid to continue to sleep with him chattering about nothing… so I woke."

Hiro smiled when he heard the ex-novelist' words. Even though he said it like he doesn't like it, he knew that deep inside the blonde really was happy to see his lost love back. And the one who made him wake is undoubtedly Shuichi—Yuki admitted it himself.

"Oh, I see… he's probably having some breakfast now," Hiro explained. "It's only 9:27."

Yuki let out a hum in agreement, and Hiro takes the cue to live, but he heard Yuki call his name instead.

"What is it Yuki-san?"

"What's exactly happening now?"

Hiro looks at him through saddened grey orbs. Yuki has the right to know… but he has no right to tell him. Otherwise, judging by the ex-novelist's current state, it's just plain dangerous to tell him what's happening since it would only make his condition worse. So instead of answering him, he just gave a smile in return.

"I don't know anything… it's a real pain in the ass," Yuki complained, looking positively frustrated right now. "I heard Shuichi ask me why I cheated… but I never, Nakano-san… and if I did, why does he blame himself? It's… really confusing now."

The young doctor only nodded in agreement. As much as he'd like to tell Yuki what's happening, he couldn't.. He doesn't want to make more trouble; they've had enough.

"Shuichi will explain it to you after we sort things out, Yuki-san…" Hiro said in an understanding tone, and quickly added before the blonde could respond, "In the meantime… I just hope you can forgive Shuichi."

Yuki let out a snort in amusement. Forgive? Just where had the brat gone wrong that he needed his forgiveness? If there's someone who had to forgive someone else, it's Shuichi.

"Will do, Nakano-san," Yuki stated simply. "If you find him, please tell him to return here soon.."

Hiro nodded before taking several steps toward the door, closing it just as softly as he'd opened it.

The first thing Shuichi noticed when he opened his large violet eyes is Yuki is nowhere to be found.

Actually, he couldn't even see anything.

He could feel panic surge through him; his hands started clawing wildly due to the uncomfortable blindness that confronted him. The boy started desperately to find something to hold onto, something solid to make him believe that he's indeed still alive, because he felt numb. He let out strangled whimpers as his arms refused to move no matter how hard he tried… and neither do his legs.

The last thing he remembers is the faint smell of something that smelled positively like alcohol…and a smirk that he knew damn well.

Tohma's.

Most likely, the jerk had abducted him. He felt a pang of fear boil in his heart, but tried all his might to ignore it—though his mind once again filled with endless possibilities. What could Tohma do to him now? Anything. The room felt unnaturally silent, and he's sure there's no one else but him, and he doubts anyone even knows that he'd been kidnapped.

Yes, Tohma could do anything, even kill him now.

Is he afraid to die? He could absolutely say he isn't. But that's on a normal occasion, and now it's not normal at all.

He hadn't told Yuki how much he was sorry. How much he loves him. Yes, he'd said it back then in the morning, but Yuki hadn't replied to him at all. That meant nothing… if the blonde couldn't recognize him.

He moved the worry and concern at bay to the back of his head, trying to drown them down so he could find some strength to rely on. It's only himself that he could depend on now—no Ryuichi, no Hiro, and on top of that—no Yuki Eiri.

He started to move his slightly fragile body forward, only to bump into hard, solid walls, and the boy couldn't help but wonder where is he now. Before his mind could come to a conclusion, though, he heard a taunting, mocking voice whispering through the air.

"Welcome to your grave, Shindou-san."

12:00 p.m. straight, and still there's no sign of Shuichi.

Yuki let out a sigh as he stared at the digital clock standing proudly on the nightstand. Oh, how he hates that thing—it always shows him the truth cruelly, shoves it right in front of his face. It always screamed to him that he's running out of time, that he couldn't turn back time, that he's…

Just too late to mend everything from the start.

But at least he couldn't hear the mocking sounds of ticking since the clock is digital. It's… better, isn't it?

Probably not, because he had to face silence.

Maybe he'd rather have heard those taunting, mocking sounds than having himself drowned in an endless sea of silence—obviously peeling him one by one, torturing him in regrets. He closed is eyes tightly in the hope he would be able to replay the brat's words this morning… or is it yesterday night?

Either way, it doesn't really matter anymore. He let out a smile to spread across his dry lips as Shuichi's soft, tenor voice entered his mind—a flash of memory blinding through his golden orbs.

"Look, Yuki. I've peeled the apple for you. And I did it without cutting myself… I'm cool, ne?"

Yuki mentally snorted in amusement—well, Shuichi, you're cool. You're hot. You're an angel, and yet a devil. You come to me to mend my broken heart only to scatter it again—and do you know it's even more painful than before?

"Yuki. You still remember it, right? Back then when we were still together—I used to cut myself while trying to help you with cooking. Then you'd call me a damn brat and I'd just whine, I called you a bastard and we ended up throwing insults at each other… but it's okay, isn't it? Because in the end we'll just kiss each other and I know in that moment… that you just call me names to tease me…"

Another small smile graced his lips as he recalled the brat's rather stupid words, but found them more beautiful than a Shakespeare poem now. If only he could see the boy now—he would go onto his knees, beg him to live with him again without really caring what's actually happened. Two years living without the brat—it's like an eternity of hell for him.

And he'd never realized it before.

He frowned when realized that he doesn't remember anything anymore. He remembers Shuichi say something that vaguely sounded like Tatsuha—and Tohma… but what did they have to do with anything?

Moving forward, he smiled when remembering the words again.

"Tell me, did you ever love me? Did you ever like me? Did you ever like my presence, even just for a little? A little bit? Tiny…"

A single tear had slipped from his golden orbs again. The tone that Shuichi had used—it's too desperate and pitiful… It makes his heart ache just to remember it again..

"I love you, brat…" he whispered through the thick silence, hoping that the boy will hear him wherever he was now. He stared at the apple that had turned to a shade of brown due to chemical reaction and once again smiled, before closing his eyes tiredly in frustration.

He needs Shuichi.

"Seguchi-san," Shuichi stated bravely, despite the immense amount of fears that told him to back off and run madly. He keeps his jaws together after slipping the words out, knowing that the manipulative bastard will answer him anyway.

"You're so tough, Shindou-san," Tohma said in mock-awe. If someone else were saying it to him, Shuichi would take it as a compliment. But having it slipped from Tohma's cruel, evil mouth—it's nothing but an insult. An irony that's telling him, 'So you haven't died already, fucking brat.'

"Will you just cut this crap, Seguchi-san? I'm fucking tired from all the sick games you've played," Shuichi snarled harshly, gaining a smirk from the bleach-blonde haired man. Even though he couldn't see it, Shuichi is sure the smirk had formed itself on that so-called angelic face, mocking him cruelly. He hissed as he felt a hand caressing the soft skin of his face softly, tracing lazy circles slowly.

"For someone that looks so angelic like you, the words aren't suiting you at all, Shindou-san," Tohma whispered.

"Let me go!" Shuichi screamed while struggling to get out from the other's grasp. He heard Tohma laugh devilishly, making him remember the time when he'd heard those annoying sounds before. When he saw Tatsuha fuck Tohma.

"What if I say no?" the slightly taller man challenged just as Shuichi felt a cold, metallic thing pressed at the top of his skin. He shuddered in fright but ordered himself to keep in track, to not let the little control he had slip from his slippery hands.

"I will make you to," he threatened lowly. And he discreetly praised himself to actually threaten the Tohma Seguchi, although his words fall to no avail. He heard a laugh emitted from the blonde's throat, crueler this time, as pain ripped from his cheeks. It looks like Tohma had slit him with something that felt positively like a razor—but he could care less at this point. All he wanted was to see Yuki…

"Oh, I'm afraid you can't, Shindou-san," Tohma said as he grazed the sharp metal on the boy's left cheek again. Shuichi feels blood begin to pour from his open wound, but refused to let out any sounds that may indicate his pain—he won't give the jerk the satisfaction to see him suffer. "I will let you go, eventually. That is—if you can still go. I'm afraid, by the time it's come, you won't even breathe again. As I've told you before…"

The words went deaf in his ears when Shuichi realized the material over his eyes had been replaced, and now he could see the clear image of what surrounded him. Four dirty, dark walls trapping him, sitting weakly on a small chair, arms bound together on the back, and his legs also tied. But what makes his eyes widen upon a dinner-size plate is the thing that Tohma is clutching now.

It's not a razor, obviously.

But a blade.

"…Welcome to your grave."

Fear started to grip him tightly, almost suffocating him, and one thing that keeps flashing through his mind as he stared at the little evil before him is: He needs Yuki.

By the time the clock shows it's already two in the goddamn afternoon, Yuki couldn't hold himself any longer. He started to push himself off of the bed with the little strength he had left and luckily (or rather, unluckily) succeeded. He weakly walked toward the door, time ticking slowly in his mind as he started thinking about the boy that had stolen his heart away. He had to see Shuichi, not lay on an uncomfortable bed thinking about how much he wanted to see him! The ex-novelist thought begrudgingly. However, before his hand could reach for the doorknob, the hard-wooden door had opened—revealing a familiar redhead looking at him wide-eyed.

"Yuki-san! What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" one certain Nakano Hiroshi cried, almost shoving him to the bed again. Yuki tried to stay still in his place, but Hiro is stronger than him in his weak form—and begrudgingly lay back on the bed again.

"Stay the fuck away from me, Nakano-san," he almost hissed as Hiro started to tuck him in a blanket. "I want to see Shuichi."

A sigh forced itself out of the young doctor's throat as he looked at the blonde apologetically. He'd been searching for the boy for the last five hours, but still there's no sign of Shuichi. He had searched for him in the hospital's cafeteria, the cake shop that Shuichi loves so much, and at the amusement park. No sign of his best friend… and it was really creeping him out.

What if Tohma had found him?

What if Tohma abducted him?

What if Tohma…

He shook at the thought. No, it's not the right time to play the what-if's…Surely there are so many possibilities, but he shouldn't expect the worst.

"I'm trying to search for him, Yuki-san. Please be patient," he said softly. Indeed, he'd come to the blonde's room in hopes of finding the brat. But now that he doesn't find him here… it looks like things had already started to slip out of control again.

"I'm sure he's okay."

And yet the voice in the back of his head betrayed him, as they whispered eerily, 'What if Tohma had killed Shuichi?'

Four in the afternoon, and yet no sign of Shuichi.

Or rather, no sign of Ryuichi either.

Hiro clenched his teeth together in anger. Where the fuck did the hyper bunny go? He's supposed to protect Shuichi, dammit! He roared in his mind as he typed Ryuichi's number on his cellphone's keypad. He'd tried to call him for what it seems like the thousandth time, yet the answer that he'd received is the same monotone, female-like voice.

"The number that you're calling is not active or is out of the calling area. Please try again in a few minutes."

And Hiro actually did that, trying to call the green-haired singer again and again after a few minutes while tapping his foot impatiently on the hospital's floor. Yes, he's decided to keep an eye on the ex-novelist; judging by his behavior, he's afraid Yuki may commit something drastic. Luckily the said man is slumbering away now, meaning that his thoughts eased away a little bit.

…Not really.

Sighing, he decided to just call Mika instead.. He'd tried to call Shuichi before, but only received the same words.

And actually slammed the cellphone into the wall when he received the same after dialing Mika's number.

Oh fucking hell… what's the worst that could happen now?

"Why did you hate us so much, Seguchi-san?" Shuichi asked as he tried to ignore the stinging pain on his arms, cheeks and legs. So far, Tohma had slashed the sharp blade on his body about nine times. Two on his left cheek, three on his arms and the rest on his legs. But that's just what the singer felt—who knows if there are any wounds on his form that went unnoticed?

Tohma smirked before he bent down to look at him straight in the eyes. Clear blue met lavender ones, and Shuichi saw so much hatred filling the other's gaze. He felt small under that cruel, merciless gaze, but once again refused to show his suffering. He'd promised to be stronger, hadn't he?

"'Us?' I believe it's 'me', Shindou-san," Tohma started in his oh-so-sweet-tone that was making the boy grimace in distaste. "You are the only one that I hate with all my might." The blonde let out a strange grin, and Shuichi began to doubt the other's sanity, for he looks like the happiest man alive on the earth, yet the saddest one. "You stole my Eiri away!"

A snarl is the only warning the boy received before another pain was ripped from his lower body. Lavender eyes widened in fear as they witnessed crimson liquid begin to pour from the impact of Tohma's attack. Shuichi tried to muffle his scream of agony as Tohma slashed the blade again, at his wrist this time, but noticing that he stops to inspect the abused skin for a brief moment. Another realization hit him like a ton of hard rock, and Shuichi's eyes widened even further if possible, just in time as Tohma's grin grew larger.

Yuki Eiri.

He had seen his precious scars.

"Well, well… it seems like our little Shu-chan is a little masochist, ne?" the president whispered as he trailed his finger on the blood-soaked wrist. "So I guess a little more pain isn't going to hurt him, then…"

Now Shuichi couldn't stop himself from screaming. Like a fast train hitting him right across the face, Tohma slashed the abused skin with his gleaming, red-tinted weapon, ignoring the shriek that was emitted from the boy's fragile body as he continued to pour his hatred down—imagining what Eiri's face would look like when he saw his little Shu-chan in such a state now.

7:00 p.m.

Still no sign of Shuichi, and Hiro tried to contact his friends. Ryuichi's cellphone is still off, so are Mika's and Shuichi's, but fortunately K's wasn't. The long-haired manager had ordered him to stay calm and give the boy one hour before reporting to the police.

Ryuichi found himself walking towards the building he wasn't supposed to. Not the hospital where Yuki and Shuichi are, but where Tatsuha lay. He'd spent half of the day thinking about the feelings he had toward the said man, but the only answer he could get is a vague voice that tells him…
…That he loves him?

Green-haired mop shook in disagreement. How can it even be possible? He hadn't seen Tatsuha for more than two years—and before he and Shuichi had moved to the U.S. they weren't even friends. Yes, he knew about Tatsuha, since he's Yuki's brother and therefore Tohma's brother-in-law, but they only met once at Tohma's wedding party (Ryuichi winced at the thought), and they hadn't formed any further relationship from there. And the only one who'd stayed on his side for the past two years is Shuichi, so if he's falling in love now, the only one who may have stolen his heart is Shuichi.

Even so, why was he happy to see Shuichi and Yuki reunited? If he loves him that way… shouldn't he be sad?

Ryuichi let out another sigh of frustration. Why had this shit come to them now? If they'd stayed in the U.S.… would things be better?

Knowing that he doesn't even believe himself to search for an answer, he points his feet towards the hospital's entrance. The huge clock on the wall shows him that it's already 7:38 p.m., meaning he had been gone from Shuichi's side for almost one day, yet he found himself incapable of stopping. Only when he'd finally arrived in front of the door, with the number 37 and Tatsuha Uesugi's name nailed on the hard-wooden surface, did he freeze. Doubts start to confront him, asking him if this is the best thing to do, insulting him when he once again found no answer.

After taking several deep, calming breaths, he encouraged himself to push the door open. Tatsuha had been transferred from ICU to another room because the doctor said his condition was getting better—and Ryuichi found it slightly unbelievable, since the boy's condition is worse now than last night. Knowing this, he only hopes that Tatsuha is already awake now so he could ask him why he'd actually had the heart to hurt Shuichi, and to find out his own feelings.

Another sigh escaped his parted lips as the door swung open softly, not even a creak dared to break the silence. For a moment or two the only thing that the singer does is stare at the bed in front of him—that's it, before he realized a pair of black eyes were staring back at his clear blue ones.

He immediately froze, as does the owner of those dark eyes, for a brief moment as silence hangs thickly around them before Tatsuha finally rasped out,

"Sakuma-san?"

At 8:00 p.m., Hiro and K went to the police to report about Shuichi. The police give the boy one day before he's officially reported missing, and at 8:25 Hiro had broken down in anger. He'd tried to call Ryuichi again, but his goddamn cellphone was still off, but it didn't stop him from calling.

By the time it's already 9:00 p.m., Shuichi had closed his lavender eyes together in pain as blood poured from his abused body.