at 'Bishieluver01': Here you go. But hold your horses - I assure you - Hiruma Youichi is a tenacious one...
at 'blackrogue4' and 'Grimmuli': It makes me very glad if you think Hiruma's in character. I'm trying my best to understand him - well, at least as far as he lets me. ;)

Thanks again for every single review - they are very supporting if oneself, as the writer, gets to know that the story is liked by someone.

Silence.

Wonderful silence.

Comfortable silence.

Embracing, protecting, lulling him.

Silence meant darkness. Vacantness full of nothing, full of ebony, full of – tranquility.

No sorrow, no fear.

Neither wrath nor pain.

Not even real thoughts. Everything on his mind just flowed slowly and quiet like a halcyon river.

Silent.

...

A terrible headache let Hiruma wince and quietly groan as he opened his eyes anything but effortless. Immediately he regretted it and tried to touch his forehead for he felt cold sweat on it. But he couldn't move. Irritated and cautious the blonde took his surroundings – well, at least as much as he was able to gain with his gaze in this rather uncomfortable position. He wasn't outside anymore, instead laid down into some building with a stone ceiling and a high window to his left. His limbs were somehow tied together but he was lying on a bed, his head on a pillow so he wouldn't get a stiff neck in addition.

One bullet into his shoulder definitely was enough of a bother, Youichi thought cynically.

A pulsative pain in his left shoulder reminded him kindly of the wound he'd gotten thanks to his dear biological genitor. Now he also felt the white bandages wrapped around his upper part of the body.

Che, the 17-year old thought snidely. So I was good enough for shooting at but he hasn't got the guts to let me die. How affectionate. I'm moved to tears, really.

With his teeth clenched together, he tried to get rid of the firm bonds holding him down. It was never exceptional for the student to carry a clasp knife in his pocket although he preferred fire arms without doubt. Better prepared than later complaining. But after a few seconds whilst his long, delicate fingers had stretched for the place he usually kept the knife, he had to realise it was gone. Well, he had expected that much, nonetheless it didn't enhance his chances of leaving this wheresoever located gaol.
Anyway, all he had to do now was making up a new plan. Which, unfortunately, turned out to be not as easy as assumed; the dulcet silence of his unconsciousness had vanished together with his awakening, furthermore Youichi's head was spinning when he tried to catch an idea he recognised as possibly helpful. Unable to grasp a definite thought, the injured guy let his head drop back onto the pillow and took a deep breath. He had to calm down, had to make sure his brain worked as fast and precisely as he was used to it.

Hiruma flinched at the suddenly increasing pain in his shoulder and felt dizzy. He turned his head and for a split-second his pupils constricted before widening in both unbelief and fury. Due to his fuzzy mind and unfocused thoughts he hadn't been aware that someone had entered the room but now this person stood left to his bed and stared at him in slight amusement. The usual sadness wasn't gone though.

'Youichi.'

Hiruma Yuuya's voice seemed to echo in the youngster's head and from one moment to the other pictures flashed past his inner eye. Memories of how his father shot at him, how he laughed, how he draw nearer, one step after another. Memories of the sadness in his voice, his eyes. And also of the cold, the deadness.

How it didn't bother him to tell his son straight in the face that he wished for his death. But not letting him pass away by treating his son's wound. And giving him tranquilliser.

Hiruma couldn't, didn't want to believe that this man dared to appear in front of him as if nothing had happened.

He hated him. He detested him. He pitied him in some way but there was not a single chance he'd let this shithead destroy everything he himself had built up all on his own! He wouldn't surrender without a struggle. If he died, this fucking stranger would be dragged along. Right down to hell, why not.
And this was very important - there was no way, he'd show how supplied he felt.
Even with all the drugs in him, Hiruma knew at least that much.

After not getting any response, his father spoke again and whilst doing so he produced something out of his trouser pockets which couldn't be seen by Youichi. Apparently fascinated by it, he didn't look at Youichi but examined the small thing his fingers hid.

'You've done quiet a ruckus, even after you fell down. Do you remember? You even tried to kick me although all I did was trying to get you to a safer place in order to coddle you up.'

Right, the quarterback thought and nearly began to cackle. It came to his mind that it wouldn't do any damage if he told his counterpart – well, the man he saw when he turned his gaze to the left for he wasn't able to sit up – what he thought. So he chimed in, sarcastically and as keen as his current situation let him to:

'Alright, old freak. I hope I hit you where it hurts 'cause it's fucking uncomfortable in this position and I'd really like to destroy something. Anyway, don't tell me you've brought me here for treating me like a kid, hoping for my hopefully new-awaken love towards your caring, apprehensive person. You can't be that stupid, can you?
Just for remembering – kidnapping doesn't do your CV any good. It only helps you in finding your way into the more or less friendly arms of police officers. But right now I'm really unnerved and that again doesn't do your early health any good.'
So, want to make an old-fashioned trade? My oh-so-dear life for something valuable? Money rules the world, we both know that.'

His father looked out of the window for a moment. It seemed to be dawn for the sky was still dark and only a few stripes of clouds who were illuminated by the first sunraies gleamed like pale strokes of brushes. Hiruma ignored the recurring and this time even increasing headache which had been disappearing in the last minutes but now didn't give the impression of leaving again.
Obviously, the tranquilliser's effect reduced for he felt his breath starting to get a little heavier by and by.

'You're far too materialistic, Youichi', the adult said and smiled.

'You forgot selfish', the one spoken to added grinning viciously and stubbornly ignoring his aching body. At least, talking helped him concentrating on rearranging his chaoticly whirring thoughts.

'As well as evil, audacious, malicious and dangerous to public safety. Ah, and I've got a soft spot for fire arms.'

A sigh and the man turned around to the bed with its tied up captive.

'You're in pain, I know that. Of course, it's not really an appropriate place for you to be at the moment. You should go to school, learn something, chat with fellows and nice girls... Well, I assume, it comes as the case may be. But you aren't a little brat anymore, I think we should be able to handle this situation quiet well.
I'm not after your life after all. You see, I had a hard time myself and don't want you to go through the same. I think it's time for us to get to know each other. Even if I can't be your dad anymore, why not start as friends? Doesn't everybody deserve a second chance in life, Youichi?'

Pleading eyes. Fingers around a small ampoule with a clear liquid in it.

'Sure', the slender seventeen year old replied sarky, casually. But his eyes were narrowed and the sweat meantime running down his forehead and temples.
Damn it, he couldn't even scratch his fucking nose with these shitty laces around his wrists and ankles! And his head was spinning faster than ever, red and black dots appeared in front of his eyes which he elided stubbornly.

'So, to sum up, you want to deepen your verbatim already bloody relationship to me and in exchange - '

But a wheeze cut Hiruma off and as he suddenly was convulsed with pain, his father realised the bandages around the youngster's chest and shoulder - blood-soaked.
With a few steps Hiruma Yuuya stood beside him, fumbled for a moment with the ampoule and in the next he held a filled injection between his fingers.
Fresh red proved that the wound had reopened and Youichi's symptoms indicated his state of shock which didn't seem to interest him but nevertheless influenced his body notedly.

I'm no fucking guinea pig, so get lost with that crappy injection!, the blonde wanted to shout. Yet again, wanted to but in reality no words left his lips for his body still was seriously trying to fight the external remains of the toxic bullet. There was no room for – impartially seen – unnecessary movements or words. And his shock – if he was willing to admit it or not – did the rest.

'You've got to hold still, it won't hurt at all. And you need to recover soon, Youichi.'

Sure, the beat-down guy answered soundlessly. After all, I'll have to make up for your lovely treatment... and... especially for this shitty needle... Oh, I hate this fucked up situation. Get to get up as soon as possible... as soon...

The newly injected tranquilliser worked fast and effectively. Within seconds Hiruma's breath had calmed down and become more regularly. His eyes were closed when his father stepped back from the bed and watched him being unconscious. The quarterback's facial expression was still tense but the pain was not to be seen anymore.

'Just watch yourself', Yuuya said quietly, the empty syringe yet in his hand.

'The only moments one could mistake you for an estimable son are those when you are sleeping, aren't they? It's a pity. We'll have to change, both of us, in order to assure you a worthy future.
... and why not me as well?'

Silence.

Again.

However, he welcomed it.