"So, that means the police has the sketch of the culprit? Is that sketch made based on the victims' testimony?"
Fuji smiled solemnly and nodded, "Yes, we have handed over the image and the police assure that he will be caught soon."
"Have you already know about his identity?" One of the reporter asked.
"Yes, based on our database and cases development, he is Takada Norie, 33 years old. He is currently unemployed and we don't know where he is right now. We presume he is in hiding before starting another attack, we will spread this picture into the mass and public services also the police station. We do appreciate if you can help us to spread this through your link, on or off line." Tachibana, the police who was assigned in the case answered.
The room was once again filled with uproar. Every journalist was shouting their questions to Fuji and the police.
They had started the press conference for an hour and the journalists weren't satisfied yet. Fuji was sitting in the middle with Oishi Shuichiro -the doctor who handled Yuiichi-kun and his mom's- and the head of hospital on the left side, while on the right side were Tachibana and his assistant, Kamio. Fuji met them the day after Yuiichi-kun's and his mother's incident.
They intended to interrogate the distressed young boy but he wasn't ready yet and he wanted to stay close to his mother. He even roared when they tried to take him to another room. Fuji knew how that boy felt so he stepped out and volunteered to give information. He wasn't sure whether his informations were helpful and accurate but he still wanted to try. He wouldn't run away anymore and let another people suffer from his coward action.
###
"I'm sorry for giving you so much trouble, Tachibana-san." Fuji greeted the tallest man and told them to sat. Tachibana was the detective chief inspector, a stern man with black birthmark on his forehead while Kamio was a good and cheerful man and the last mam, Shinji Ibu was a sketcher.
"Nevermind it, Fuji-san, it's our responsibility to capture that man but it isn't easy. We have never got a single hint about this man, he is a cunning man, he didn't leave any traces and almost the incidents happened in the secluded and obscured area. No cctv record, no evidence and no witnesses that's why we are very excited to hear that there's a witness." He stopped and then added, "I don't mean that I am happy about your experience, Fuji-san. I hope you understand what I mean. It is a miracle to be able to find you."
Fuji nodded, "I'm happy to be able to help. I might not as useful as Yuiichi-kun but I am the last resort to capture this man."
"Yes, I can see that, we will accept any helpful information regardless how small it it. Also, you need not to worry, we are going to keep your identity hidden. This is going to be a confidential information. We are aware that he is one of the most dangerous man and it will be very risky to leak out the witness' information." When Fuji nodded again he continued, "If it's okay we want to start the session as soon as possible."
"I see. I'll try to help as much as I can."
He nodded and took out a small note out of his pocket. "When did you meet him? When was it?"
Fuji sighed and closed his eyes, "It was in the summer fifteen years ago near my house." He started, he hated it but no one could catch than man unless he gave the information.
The interrogation last for three hours. Fuji felt his blood dried from his face and body, and the voice wasn't his, he felt it was so far away and almost felt nothing when his words came out of his mouth. He trembled everytime the detective asking about the day -to describe the situation, the images and that man- for times.
Fuji spent another three hours to describe the man's appearances.
"Why didn't you report about it sooner?" the detective asked, frowning.
Kamio hissed to his leader, "Tachibana-san!"
Fuji shook his head and said, "He said to me that he was going to kill my family. I was a kid that time and I thought he could. As time passed by, our family try to forget about it since we don't hear anything about another attack or about that man. It's not a pleasant memory, anyway."
"I'm sorry about my boss, Fuji-san. He tends to forget about his surrounding when he is too focused on his case." He smiled sheepishly.
"Nevermind, I know that he has to."
Kamio continued the interrogation, "About this man.."
Fuji then tried to describe the appearance of the man to the sketcher.
"No, his brows are longer and thicker. Yes, just like that." Fuji's voice sounded so tired. The sketch was done based on Fuji's depiction.
"Are you sure it's him?" Tachibana asked again when the sketcher handed over the image, the sketcher grumbled about his ability to draw it right and he did his best to to it despite no one had ever believe in him and so on. Fuji ignored the man, he had enough with the grumbles everytime he asked the man to redo something.
"Yes, it was him fifteen years ago. I don't meet him anymore unfortunately, and this is the first time I heard about him after long time. Can we catch him?" Fuji asked while his body turned colder than before, he could feel his body shaking in fear and a bit nauseous but he ignored it.
Tachibana nodded, "Don't worry, we will work hard to develop this picture in our office. We will ask the experts about physical and face alterations based on age, scars and psychological aspects. We really appreciate it, Fuji-san." He stood and asked a handshake.
Fuji took his hand and said quickly, "Please, please catch him soon."
###
Suddenly a man with black curly hair raised from his chair, "Excuse me, Fuji-san."
"Yes, Miyuki-san." Fuji had hated the man since the first time he asked his questions, Fuji didn't know why except felt irritated by the man.
"It's Mizuki, MI ZU KI." He pressed and sighed dramatically, "Well, I want to convince something. I did some research last night and I found that this man has already started his misdeeds for years. Is that so?"
"Yes, we couldn't find any traces about this man for years and this testimony helps us to track him down." It was Tachibana who answered the journalist.
"One of them was happened fifteen years ago, wasn't it? In the elite area of the west city."
Tachibana once again nodded to the man.
"Then can you explain to me, Fuji-san, why did I find an article about your incident in the same area and in relatively close time, too?"
Fuji sat rigidly, how could he know?
If the journalists were busy typing, they were shouting their questions now. It was totally chaotic and the police tried to calm the mass down.
Mizuki was smiling cynically, "I found an article which said that you were attacked by unknown man. You must be a little boy at that time, so no one had pursued it more. You were injured badly but didn't pursuit it. What happened that day? Did it relate to the same man? Do I need to show people here about the article together with the pictures, too? Would you let me to reveal it now? Or can't you answer our questions? Nfufufu.."
The other journalists were shouting the same questions or the variations of it and the blitz of cameras were flashing constantly and they might be blind after this interview. The chief and Oishi looked at him with shock while the policemen beside him tried to attrack the journalists' attention.
"It's me. The witness is me. I told the police about this man and his picture, too." Fuji confessed finally.
This time Tachibana and Kamio who stopped talking while Oishi trying to keep his chief from collapsing. The journalists were shouting in delight, they found a big revelation without doing any dirty jobs. Mizuki sat back from his chair, satisfied and began to type.
"Are you the real witness? Can you describe what happened that day?" One of the reporter shouted loudly.
"I can't tell you about that day but I am the witness. The incident fifteen years ago indeed related to the man who attacked the current victims. My depiction may not be as accurate as our pretension but the police assures that it is almost one hundred percent in accuracy."
"Why didn't you put a charge to that man?"
"How many victims are there?"
"Are you sure that the police can catch him after long time?"
"Have you ever met him after that time?"
"What would you do about this man?"
"The time is up. We are closing this conference." Tachibana concluded as they couldn't keep the mass down.
The journalists didn't give up asking their questions. Tachibana tried to bring Fuji out of the conference room but the journalists were too persistent. They called for Fuji's name until Fuji stopped on his track, "I hope he is caught soon. He has done many wrongdoings. I wish a cooperation between the police and journalists to catch this man. He is very dangerous and we don't need a trash like him. He must be punished for his sins."
Tachibana and his team managed to bring Fuji out of the room and moved to the staff's room.
"What were you thinking, Fuji-san? Do you know how dangerous and foolish it was?! You put yourself in vulnerable position, he is a criminal and he can attack you soon after watching the live report!" Tachibana shouted.
"I know what I did, Tachibana-san. I am done with running away."
"Which part of 'you can be attacked by the man' that you can't understand? We do our best to keep your identity hidden and you just throw it to our face."
"Well, well, Chief. It's no use crying over the spilled milk, I think it's okay, we can strengthen the security around Fuji-san, also I don't think Fuji-san could hide the secret after that Mizuki asking him about the incident. It's a quite good chance too, we can catch him faster if he ever shown up near Fuji-san. Isn't that better?" Kamio tried to lightened the mood.
Tachibana thought for a minute and sighed, "I'm sorry Fuji-san, for yelling at you," He put his hand on his nape, "As Kamio said, we can only keep the police patrols around your house and here. Please call us immediately if by chance you find something suspicious."
Fuji nodded, "Thank you, I'll won't let my guard down ."
Tachibana and Kamio went back to their station and promised to come back soon.
###
Fuji found Tezuka sat on his chair in his office with an unreadable expression when he entered his room, "You are mad at me, aren't you?" Fuji asked carefully.
"I don't know, should I?" He asked to Fuji with his fingers crossed on the table. Their position reminded Fuji about his childhood time when he did something bad and asked for his mother's forgiveness.
Fuji bit his lips and leaned on the closed door. "I'm sorry for not coming home for two days and for not picking up your phone. The situation is too hectic here."
Tezuka stood and walked to Fuji slowly, and wrapped his arms around Fuji's little shoulders. They stayed for a moment like that, to enjoy each other's presence.
"Do you want coffee?" Fuji asked when Tezuka separated from him.
Tezuka wanted to decline but when he looked at Fuji's face he knew Fuji was doing his best to be calm and composing his thoughts so he nodded.
Tezuka then sat on the brown sofa which Fuji usually use as a place to receive his guests. The room was simply yet cozy, typically Fuji's style. There weren't any useless furniture and the decorations kept minimum.
Fuji came back with two cups of coffe and sat across Tezuka. "You can sit here, you know." Tezuka patted on the empty space Next to him.
Fuji shook his head and trembled, he fisted his hands and sighed, "No. There is something I want to tell you."
He slowly touched the scar behind his ear. "This scar. You have asked about it for long time and I don't have any courage to tell you about this. I don't want to talk about it at all but... Something happened and I have to do something before everything becomes worse."
Fuji lowered his head and started to talk about the incident that day and about his nightmare. Tezuka had to remind himself to breath. He never imagined that Fuji had passed many difficulties beforehand. He tried to catch Fuji's attention and told him that everything would be okay but the smaller man never lifted his head and kept his gaze on the floor.
"I don't want to talk about it but two nights ago that man attacked Yuiichi-kun and his mother. I want to believe that it isn't that man but I know I'm trying to fool myself."
"It could be another man, Syusuke." Tezuka said something finally.
"Yes, but the man has the same scar with the similar appearances when I described it to the boy. They matched, he is that man, Kunimitsu." Fuji looked at Tezuka finally.
"Syusuke.."
Tezuka didn't say anything anymore. No wonder Fuji always had the nightmare and insomniac everytime he was left alone. Fuji always avoiding his questions about his scar, at the first Tezuka thought that he was ashamed by it but now he knew the truth, he was scared and worried about the man everytime they talk about it and it would cause another nightmare and sleepless night for him. The incident was too traumatic for even a Tezuka.
The first time when the nightmare attacked, Fuji frowned and gasped, Tezuka thought it was an ordinary occurrence, but then Fuji grabbed on something tightly and looked like lost his breathing and as if he was choking. Tezuka saw tears trailed down from his closed eyes and Tezuka called Fuji's name to wake him up. Fuji gasped and woke with a pair of the most frightened eyes Tezuka ever seen. He tried to talk about it to Fuji on the next day but Fuji just laughed about it and said that he was okay.
Tezuka didn't believe in him.
So whenever Tezuka saw the symptoms of the nightmare he would cradled Fuji in his arms and whispered his name, calling him to come back and telling him that it was just a nightmare. His method seemed to be working since Fuji would relaxed in his arms and went back to his sleep. Tezuka would continue cradling him while whispering that he loved the little man.
They sat in silence, Fuji expected Tezuka to say something, anything but Tezuka didn't move. He was too busy with his own thoughts.
Fuji's phone on his desk rang and he took the chance to run away from Tezuka's unreadable gaze, "Yes? I know, I'm sorry... I see, I will come. Yes.. Thank you."
"I'm sorry, Mitsu. There is a meeting in one hour and I have to prepare my report so I think it's better for you to come home alone this time. You have a training session after this, don't you?" Fuji said after disconnecting his phone.
"Syusuke, are you sure you can do it?" Tezuka started when Fuji was preparing his reports.
"Yes, Kunimitsu. It's my job, ne?" Fuji tilted his head and smiled although the smile didn't reach his eyes.
"Don't lie to me, Syuu. I know you are unwell, it would be better if we go home and call it for the day." He approached the smaller man, living with Fuji made him aware of the tiniest hints of Fuji's tiredness, he would frown and unfocused, his body would turn colder than his usual temperature.
Fuji shook his head, "You can go first, Kunimitsu. I still have works to do."
"Syuu.. You have just passed a long and tiring day, the press conference had done much to you and another meeting will only make you condition worse."
Fuji sighed from his chair behind the desk, "I appreciate your attention to me but this is my job, I have to do it. They pay me to do it and I can't run away from my responsibility."
"You aren't. You need your rest. Can't you understand? You have been here for more than fifty hours, you must go home and rest. I hate it, seeing you having another bad dream."
Fuji stood up, "Are you complaining now? Do you find it disturbing now? It's my fault, sorry, okay? But, when you could damage your eyes playing tennis then I have a damn right to work till I drop dead as well."
"You know that's not what I mean." Tezuka frowned.
"And what are you meaning of, then? I'm sorry because I don't catch it. It's my life, Tezuka. It's my right to do as I wish and I don't bend down to anyone, I won't listen to anyone, I have always been alone and done things as I wish."
Fuji looked at Tezuka and he could find a strange feeling that Tezuka didn't want to be here, didn't want to be with him anymore. Tezuka thought he was filthy and disgusting after hearing about his past. He knew it, he shouldn't hide it from Tezuka. If only he had told him before, Tezuka could be with a better person, a bright and pure person who could love Tezuka with all his heart without worrying about his filthy past.
I can kill you rightaway! I can even do the same thing to your family! Do you think I don't dare to do that?
Why do I forget about it? Idiot! I shouldn't involve Kunimitsu into this problem. It's my problem and he doesn't deserve to be here with me. That man is crazy and he can harm and hurt anyone who dear to me, just like what happened to Yuiichi-kun and his mother. If he did something to Kunimitsu, I don't know if I can keep living.
I must keep Kunimitsu safe. Kunimitsu mustn't be here.
He has to go.
"Can we talk about this tomorrow? You are not in your mind, right now." Tezuka stepped closer to Fuji.
Fuji gripped his head and shook it, he took a deep breath. "No, I don't think so. Let's settle it now, I don't think we can keep going on here, Tezuka. We can't damage your career, we can end this now and you can move back to your own undisturbed and calm live, I don't want to drag you down with me."
"What.. What are you saying, Syusuke?" Tezuka gripped Fuji's arms.
Fuji refused to look at Tezuka. "I... I think it's better if we.. You know, we can end this.. this relationship. It's better."
"Better for whom? When you said about my career, aren't you just using it for your own advantage? Are you ashamed by this relationship? YOU refuse to let people know about us, You are the one who persistent to keep it low and now you want to end this? Because of my career? Who are you kidding with?" Tezuka asked calmly.
"Please. I can't. I don't want to see you involve in this. You may go and walk out, I won't stop you, nobody will blame you. You are free to go, Tezuka. I am happy to be with you, I.. I hope you can find someone better than me. Please be happy.. and before I forget, I'll ask Sei-chan to take my belongings from your apartment. Don't worry." Fuji's free hand gripped on the table since his feet failed to keep him steady.
"Syusuke. What happened? We are fine just now, are you telling me to go and leave you behind?" Tezuka asked in disbelief.
Please look at me.
Tezuka tightened his grip and he winced but it wasn't the one hurt him the most, it was his heart which hurt the most.
"Fuji-san, I am asked to handed you today's reports, they are getting thicker by the minute passes. I think— I'm sorry, am I coming at the wrong time?" Oishi stood in front of Fuji's door.
Fuji pried Tezuka's hand out of his arm, he didn't dare to look at Tezuka's face and smiled. "No, you are not. Thank you, Oishi-san. Please come in, I'll finish the reports soon after the meeting."
Oishi stepped in hesitantly, "Uh, yeah.. About the meeting.." Oishi kept talking about it while Tezuka took his coat from the hanger next to the door and walked out. Fuji wanted to tell him to stay and never go but he couldn't be a selfish man. He had let Tezuka go and he wouldn't stop him if Tezuka granted it. He wouldn't regret it. He shouldn't regret it.
But why it hurt so much?
Fuji continued his schedule and finished his report yet his heart felt so far away. He took his phone -to apologize- several times but he cancelled it. He had done a terrible thing to his lover and he doubted that Tezuka would forgive him. Fuji was torn between being with Tezuka or not being with Tezuka.
His heart wanted to believe that they could overcome the crisis but his head didn't.
He put his report on the desk and sighed. If not being Tezuka would keep him safe and as long as that mad man was caught then let it be.
The desk phone rang and Fuji picked it up immediately. "Yes, Fuji Syusuke's here."
"Fuji-kun, the meeting.."
"Yes, I have finished my report together with the presentation." Fuji responded quickly, the chief wouldn't call if it wasn't urgent and the most urgent problem right that moment was the assembly, Fuji had to take a responsibility of his carelessly slipped out information.
"I'm glad to hear that but we will postpone it until tomorrow."
"What..."
"They have sent the journalists away too, so you can leave earlier."
Fuji asked again, "Who.." But he was cut off by the chief, "Come back on time tomorrow and we will start it at nine o'clock. Good night."
The man hung up the phone even before Fuji responded.
That's weird, the chief never NEVER change his mind unless he was in the near-death situation. Did something happen?
That meant he had a night off, he could go home and rest.
Home. Right, he had an argument just now and ended as a homeless man.
Maybe Sei-chan can help me out this time.
"No! No,no,no. Definitely no. Never!" were all Yukimura said to his cousin.
"But, Sei-chan.."
"If I'm not having an important match these days, I will go to your place and spank you, hard. What were you thinking, Syuu-kun? I don't know that you are one selfish man. Have you ever placed yourself in Tezuka's shoes? If your places are switched, would you want to leave him? Do you want him suffering alone? Are you certain that you are in love with him?" Yukimura was annoyed.
"I.. I don't think about it, I just want him to be safe not the opposite. I need to protect him." He answered seriously.
"He is a big and healthy man, I am sure he is way stronger than you. We are not kids anymore, Syuu-kun. We have to face our fear and problems, locking them and avoiding it won't solve them. Talk to him, hm? I'm sorry for not being there when we were children but he is now. Being a lover means you share the sadness and happiness, protect each other, and never give up whenever the problems find you. You are loved, Syuu-kun, he will be sad if you do throw him away. Both of you are rational men, don't make a decision when you are mad and angry, the outcome won't be good. You can do it."
Fuji thought for a moment and took his cousin's words into his heart. "... Yes, I see it now, Sei-chan. I'll try to talk to him. Thanks."
"Anytime for my Syuu-kun."
"Sei-chan."
"What's it?"
"You don't have to force yourself to be with me 24/7, I am fine now. I am spoiled by your love and truthfully I am glad about it everytime we are together but you can continue your live without worrying about me now. I am a grown up man now. I owe you so much."
Yukimura was fell silent for a moment, "What are you talking about, Syuu-kun. It's my responsibility as an older brother to take care of you, okay? I won't let the privilege go, for me you are always my little brother even if we are full of wrinkles and grey haired baldy."
"It's not what I mean, You don't have to feel responsible about that day, too. It's my own fault, it's not yours."
Fuji could hear people voices around his cousin, they were yelling and cheering for their player. "I'm sorry, Syuu-kun, if only that day I didn't pull a prank on Yuta. If I could turn back the time, I would and replaced your place."
"No, don't talk like that! I will hate you if you repeated saying that foolish sentence again! I love you, I don't want you to suffer because of me, when you suffer about it, I will suffer more because of your suffering. I never blame you about it, don't punish yourself anymore, and be happy, Sei-chan."
Fuji heard a small sob across the phone, Yukimura cleared his throat and tried to mask his voice, "I will, Syuu-kun as long as you will, too."
Fuji smiled, "Yes, let's be happy and happier, everyday and always, Sei-chan."
They ended the call and not before Yukimura scolded Fuji about his relationship with Tezuka.
Yes, I am not a little kid anymore. I can protect Tezuka as he can protect me, too. We have each other and nobody else can say otherwise.
Fuji walked with confidence to talk to Tezuka. He would talk to Tezuka and ask for forgiveness from Tezuka even if he had to kneeling on his feet. He couldn't lose someone as precious as Tezuka.
He opened the door and welcomed by the familiar hug and smell. He looked up to the person and stuttered, "Tezuka.. What.. I thought.."
Tezuka gave him a subtle smile, "I'm picking you up because you have finished your job for today."
Fuji hugged him tightly and confessed that he made a mistake and he hoped Tezuka would forgive him. "There is nothing to be forgiven." Tezuka answered him.
"But.. I said those cruel things to you just now. You have a right to be mad, you know. When you walked away before, I thought part of my live was gone, too. I'm sorry." Fuji tilted his head up to see Tezuka who was a head taller than him.
Tezuka caressed his head, "It wasn't your fault, I might lose my tamper, but I'm not mad at you, Syusuke. I need a long time to make you become mine and do you think I will walk away from you just because of a small argument? I love arguing with you, you look more attractive and adorable with your red cheeks and teary eyes."
"Mou, be serious, Kunimitsu!" Fuji punched on Tezuka's chest lightly.
Tezuka caught Fuji's hand and asked, "Do you take our love lightly, Syusuke?"
Fuji tried not to blush on Tezuka's stare, "No, never. I don't and I never will." Fuji confessed confidently after making up his mind.
Tezuka smiled at him and nodded, "That's good, because I won't ever let you go, Syusuke. The day you accept my proposal as my boyfriend is the day you sealed your live to me, too. Your past was something inevitable and I may not know how you feel but I want to be with you, would you let me be with you? Would you believe in me this time, too?"
Fuji nodded quickly, "I will try, Kunimitsu. I don't want to be separated from you." Fuji then added, "Are you sure that you want to stay with me? With all of my problems and my traumatic past?"
Tezuka touched Fuji's cheek and replied, "Do you want me to prove it you you? Will you allow me to prove it to you right here and now?" Tezuka stepped closer to Fuji until the smaller man's back touched the door behind him. "Because if you allow it, I will embrace you into my arms, kiss you until you lose your breath, and take you until all you can hear, touch, think and taste is me. You will forget about yourself and your surroundings and all you can do is begging for more."
He lowered his hand until he touched Fuji's neck right above his pulse which beating fast, "I won't allow another thing take you away from me, even the death. Can I do it, here?" when he finished his sentences his face was breath away from Fuji and the blue eyed man could feel Tezuka's lips ghosting above his own, chest to chest, hip to Fuji's lower abdomen. His breathing was erratic while Tezuka was deep and steady.
Fuji swallowed and steadied his voice, "You promise?"
"Yes, yes.. no, I swear it. I may not be a super hero but-"
"No, you are. I never told you before but you always be there to take me away from the bad dreams. I don't realize it until now, I try to be strong and pretend to be fine. I presume that I am alright now but it's your presence that make me better. You protect me even in my dreams, thank you, Kunimitsu."
This time it was Tezuka who hugged Fuji and sighed happily. "I will do my best to keep my promise, Syusuke."
Fuji looked at Tezuka shyly as if he was confessing something bad, like a child who was caught with his hands in the cookies jar, "Sei-chan told me that I have to put myself in your position too and talk whenever we are having a problem. It's no use avoiding it and I know he is right. I don't want to lose you, Kunimitsu."
Tezuka smiled at Fuji and promised himself to give a small vacation to Yukimura and his cousin as a gratitude. "I don't want to lose you, too. I want to clarify something to you and I hope you will never doubt my feeling, Syusuke. Some people will think that what happened to you was all your fault but it isn't. You are the victim, he is the bad one and Don't you ever try to blame it to yourself. What I have for you won't be wavered and died in one day, no, even if we passed away and reborn again, I will find you and love you more."
"Mitsu.."
"Now, listen. He is just an attention seeker, who would feel proud if we keep following his demands and his egoistic needs. His sins can't be paid even if he dies for times and he doesn't deserve your precious time. You have done your best, Syusuke and let the police to do the rest, Hn?"
Tezuka never talked so much before and it surprised the smaller man that his lover was a great talker. Fuji looked at Tezuka admiringly and Tezuka blushed by it. He was grateful that there were some people around them that time, or else. "Can we go home now?" He coughed, "I have made a reservation at the restaurant nearby, we can have a dinner first before going home."
They walked to the elevator, "Is that what you did after leaving?"
Tezuka pressed on the ground floor button and pulled Fuji into his arms. He put his left cheek on Fuji's head, "Aa.. That, too. I talked to several people before it, though."
"Is there something happened? Are you going to go to another training session now?" Fuji looked at Tezuka anxiously now.
He shook his head slowly, "No, it's not about my training."
The door opened and they walked out, Fuji was thinking about Tezuka and his mysterious schedule, "But you rarely meet and talk to people unless it's about tennis. It must be something important, ne?"
"Aa.. Very." Tezuka said confidently.
Fuji felt a small stab of jealousy that Tezuka had something more important than himself but he let it go, Tezuka had convinced that he loved only Fuji and that was enough, for that time.
Later days, Fuji knew that it was Tezuka who convinced (read: pressured) the chief to postpone the press conference and Tezuka didn't tell him how he did it.
That was enough to make Fuji believe in Tezuka and loved the man wholeheartedly.
###
Four days after the press conference were passed in a flash, Tachibana kept his promise and put several policemen near Fuji's workplace and their house. Tezuka had been a sweet lover too -he would accompany Fuji to the hospital and went to his tennis practice, and he would pick Fuji up after his practice-, he never left Fuji alone unless he was sure that the police was nearby.
Whenever Tezuka was free from his training he would visit Fuji and accompany him to do his daily routines, Fuji even introduced Tezuka to Yuiichi-kun and his mother who had gained her consciousness. That boy admired Tezuka and called the glasses man with Tezuka-sama. Tezuka taught the boy how to grip his tennis racket rightly, although the boy couldn't play it yet, but he was excited to learn. Tezuka looked so happy to play with the boy that made Fuji wondered if Tezuka wanted his own kids, too. He would be a great father who was loved by his children, they were something which he couldn't provide.
When he tried to talk about it with Tezuka, the older man just shrugged and pulled him into a hug. "Are you trying to discard me now?" He teased.
Fuji laughed by Tezuka's joke and hugged the man back. "Never. I have got so many advantages being with you, so no."
Tezuka was glad that now he could take Fuji's hand whenever he wanted to without minding about Fuji's protest. Fuji would put his hands around Tezuka's arm and leaned on him more, Tezuka enjoyed Fuji's blush the most. They had come to an agreement and that made them understand each other more than before.
Tezuka was on his way to pick up his lover and had a lunch before going to the airport. Today was his last day off, he had to fly to the Europe and wouldn't be back until next month. The man hadn't been captured yet and that worried Tezuka more. He got a bad feeling since morning and told Fuji to be careful. Fuji assured him that he would be fine but Tezuka didn't buy it, he felt something big would happen. It's just like the calm before the storm.
Tezuka called his lover when he entered his room, he wasn't there. He saw Fuji's phone was left on his table. He waited bit got impatient. He searched for places which Fuji used to go but he didn't find the smaller man. His mind started to create the worst scenario but he didn't let his mind affect his steps. He headed to the receptionist and asked Fuji's friend about Fuji's whereabouts.
"Is he left for his lunch?"
The girl looked confused, "No, he didn't pass here. He told me that he would have a date lunch before you left for your match. He must tell me about his schedule so we can match it with the police."
"Then, why can't I find him?" Tezuka asked with a louder voice.
She stuttered, "I will try to confirm it to the police who are in duty today."
"I'll try to search for him once again." He left the girl who said something about deja-vu.
Tezuka never considered how big the hospital was but after rushing around the hospital he realized it. He asked to the nurse in each station but no one had seen his lover. He felt his hear beating faster than ever not because of his running but because of his anxiety about Fuji's wellbeing.
Is this what Syusuke felt that day when I dissappeared to the roof? No wonder he got mad at me.
He was running passed the park in the secluded area of the hospital, it wasn't the most well-known part of the hospital since it was too quiet there, when he saw something laid on the ground, under a big tree. He approached it, thinking that it was Fuji who fell asleep. When he got nearer he realized that it or rather he was Yuiichi-kun. The small boy had a wound on his temple and was gripping on his stomach tightly.
"Yuiichi-kun, what happened? Did you fall from the tree?" He hoisted the boy up and checked his condition.
The boy groaned and shook his head slowly, "Te.. Tezuka-sama.." He gripped on Tezuka's arm and breathed quickly.
"Don't worry, we will take care of your wounds soon." He walked quickly to the building.
"It's.. Fuji-san.. Fuji-san, he took him away. He took Fuji-san away." The boy moaned and didn't let Tezuka's hand away when the nurse placed him on the bed.
Tezuka was frozen on his feet. That wasn't true. The police..
"Someone called me this morning, he wanted to talk about my mother and I was too eager to talk to him. I asked Fuji-san to accompany me. He refused to go and want to talk to the police first but I disagree and came alone. Fuji-san help me before that man could hurt me more but... But the man took Fuji-san instead. I'm sorry." The kid cried loudly after finishing his story.
Tezuka pitied the boy and calmed him down, convinced him that it wasn't his fault and everything would be okay. The doctor arrive and then Tezuka was asked to leave the room.
He rushed back to the front office only to find the police were crowding around the desk, they were coordinating through the walkie-talkie and several of them were writing down something on the paper.
Tezuka arrived at the same time with the detective, Tachibana. "Tezuka-san, about Fuji-san disappearance, we are going to—"
"Takada Norie took him." Tezuka continued darkly.
"Sorry?"
"You damn police were careless, he took Syusuke away! I expect you to watch over him when I am away but here we are, you lost him right under your nose. I don't understand what you did actually!" Tezuka wanted to continue his spat but he held it.
Tachibana made several phone calls and he sounded angry, too. The police who were in duty were sitting on the bench, looked defeated. Tezuka ignored them, he wouldn't be able to keep his calm if he ever talk to the men.
"Calm down, Tezuka-san. We are doing my best right now do track down their location. We are expecting the results, soon. Believe in us, he will be fine."
Tezuka didn't answer him and stepped out of the room instead. He had to find a way out of his own since he knew that the police couldn't move easily, they had to move based on regulations and rules. When they found Syusuke it would be too late.
He dialed the familiar number from his phone and it was picked up soon, "I need information."
Sorry for uploading this chapter so later than my usual schedule. Next chapter would be the last one. I love writing about Tezuka and Fuji's interactions and I will write more in the future. Wish me luck and good luck for you guys, too! Love your reviews, left more love for me, will ya? ;-)