CHAPTER: 20
Numb.
He was numb.
It was similar to what some would call an out-of-body experience. It was like he was watching everything happen to him but he wasn't actually there. It wasn't that he was in denial. It was more like he wasn't able to acknowledge that it was actually happening.
Or so he told himself.
'It'.
That was the best he could do. The closest he could get to giving a name to what was happening to him. To the violation, the assault, the attack that was currently taking place.
He was lying to himself.
He was completely in denial.
He was in shock. Cold, mind-numbing shock that crawled all over his skin, its icy tentacles trapping him.
This couldn't be happening.
Not after everything. All the years he had convinced himself that he wasn't the type of omega to ever get caught up in something like this...to ever allow himself to be taken advantage of like this-
No.
No, that wasn't right. It wasn't true. He didn't allow anything. There wasn't a single shred of consent on his part.
He'd been confused before but now he saw everything with sickening clarity.
There was a line.
A very clear line.
A bold, offensively-clear line.
And Aomine had just crossed it.
He'd trampled all over it.
And he didn't even seem to care.
…
"Well. Well. Well. If this ain't the best welcome home present ever, I don't know what is."
All the hairs on his body stood on end as he registered the deep, all-too-familiar voice behind him. A painful knot formed in the pit of his stomach and he was hit with an almost crippling wave of nausea.
Please. Not now.
"What you doing?" he asked almost playfully. It only served to heighten Kagami's intense fear and build the trepidation in the air.
"Getting ready."
It was a controlled, cautious murmur. He didn't trust himself to speak any louder. He didn't think his voice would hold out. He didn't think he could hide his terror.
Except he couldn't. He reeked of it at this point.
His senses were overloaded to the point of breakdown. There were so many different scents and feelings in the air that it was impossible to focus on one. Coupled with his overwhelming fear, it was no surprise that he didn't notice.
Until it was far too late.
"Getting ready for...what...?"
Kagami swallowed softly, not sure how to address the elephant in the room. Of course, there was no way he hasn't noticed Kagami's scent. He knew the redhead was on his heat. Kagami could smell it on him. The animalistic lust...
But he didn't want to be the one to say it. He didn't want to draw more attention to it.
Just keep calm. Keep calm and talk him out of this.
"You know what." His voice was even. Firm. But not aggressive. Quite the opposite.
It made him feel even sicker.
"I do, do I?"
What was with this game? Kagami didn't understand what Aomine was trying to achieve. Did he want to scare him? He'd long since managed that, loathe though he was to admit it. Assert his dominance? He was really struggling to read the situation and wished that he could see his face, to give him some kind of hint as to what the other wolf was thinking.
Neither had moved since Aomine had let his presence at the door. Kagami hadn't turned around; his pride hadn't let him. He hadn't wanted to give Aomine the satisfaction of seeing him genuinely afraid. But he regretted his decision now. The suspense was killing him, not knowing what he was thinking.
Why now? Why-
"You know, I thought about you. While I was away."
It was oddly sincere. Slightly contemplative. There was something sinister about it.
"A lot. I thought about you...a lot..."
He didn't sound right. He didn't sound normal. He sounded unhinged.
What the hell happened to him while he was gone?
"I wanted to have you."
His voice and even his words. It sounded like Aomine but at the same time didn't.
Kagami inhaled deeply, squaring his shoulders.
This was crazy. He couldn't let himself be scared senseless, and over what? He needed to face him and get him to snap out of whatever state he was in. And there was no way he'd be able to do it by cowering in the corner like a…like a-
Like a scared omega.
He breathed in again. Deeper this time. Bolder.
If they went toe-to-toe, he'd obviously lose. There was no question that Aomine's physical capabilities were far superior to his. He was an alpha, Kagami was an omega. That was just how things worked.
However, he needed to read the situation. If Aomine wouldn't be swayed, then he'd have to make a quick getaway. From what he could sense now, the bluenette was still by the door. If he could draw him closer, he would have-
"I like that about you. You never give up."
His eyes widened in horror as he felt the caress of breath against his neck…
But he hadn't even heard him move.
He threw himself forward, trying to put some distance between them but then he felt a crushing weight hit him, slamming him into the ground and knocking all the air from his lungs.
"Aomine!" he rasped desperately. "Let me-"
The weight eased and Kagami urgently took in a lungful of air. He hadn't expected the bluenette to listen to him but was glad that he had. Or at least, he was to begin with.
He felt Aomine's hand at his waist and before he could push it away, it was tightening its grip and quickly rolling him over, onto his back. As his back came into contact with the carpet, he got his first look of Aomine…
And finally realised he'd gravely underestimated just what he was messing with.
He couldn't really breathe. The fear was palpable. Tangible. He could taste it.
His eyes were not meant to look like that.
His teeth were not meant to look like that.
His face was not meant to look like that.
This wasn't even Aomine anymore...
He needed to escape.
Adrenalin pumped through his vessels and his blood drummed in his ears as he eyed the door quickly. There was very little space between them but it would have to be enough. He was going to have to fight his way to freedom.
He kneed Aomine savagely before twisting free of his hold to slash at his face. The wolf above him grabbed his arm, intercepting his attack and Kagami used the leverage to kick him hard in the side then shot out of the opening he created, heading straight for the door. His heart was hammering as those few metres felt like miles but he could see his exit and stretched out his arm. His hand brushed over door knob but he found couldn't grip it.
What the -
Arms tightened around his waist and he was thrown onto the bed. He landed on his side and as he hit the mattress, the impact sending searing pain radiating throughout his right arm that made him cry out in agony. He tried to move it out from under him but found he couldn't.
Aomine was above him in an instant, flipping him over again and pushing the limp arm out, staring at it as though admiring his handiwork.
"You son-of-a-bitch!" he spat venomously, gritting his teeth against the pain. Aomine didn't respond to the insult. Kagami wasn't even sure he had heard.
The slitted, midnight-blue eyes turned from his heavily-broken arm to his face and focused on it. The look was unnerving. It was terrifying. Kagami didn't know who this person was. He couldn't call him a person. He couldn't really call him a wolf either. This…being…was so far removed from anything he'd seen before that he didn't know how to handle it.
But he did know what this beast wanted. He could smell it stronger than ever.
And it spelt nothing but danger for him.
"Get away from me…" he started lowly, not breaking eye contact. "I'll call Tanak-"
"You never give up, do you?" Kagami stared at him like he was insane. He was. This thing was dangerous.
"Wh-" With a slash of his hand, his clothes on his chest turned to ribbons. Kagami could feel the lines of pressure from where his claws had brushed just above his sweaty skin.
Aomine brushed away the tattered fabric, exposing more of the slick caramel and his scent became overpowering.
It's because of…am I causing this?
The hands moved deliberately lower and panic started to claw at Kagami's throat. He moved a hand to stop him and Aomine's eyes snapped up, warning him not to try anything. He took the redhead's wrist and put the hand beside his head almost gently before moving back to his to his waistband. Nothing seemed broken but Kagami knew that the next time he moved, he wouldn't come away unscathed.
He wanted to pass out. He didn't want to be awake to watch this happening to him.
He closed his eyes and as he did he heard the rip of fabric and felt the cool surrounding air on his previously covered skin.
Aomine made a guttural growl and Kagami felt the goosebumps rise on his skin. Then he felt hands pushing his legs apart.
He couldn't.
He couldn't do this.
He couldn't pretend this wasn't happening.
"Get OFF me!" he hissed, trying to kick Aomine away as his left hand clawed at whatever he could reach. It was a wild, frenzied attack, desperate and uncoordinated.
Kagami wanted out.
He wasn't going to get it.
The first dull crunch was his humerus. The second was his radius.
He didn't even register it. He still tried fighting with his broken arms, refusing to come to terms with the situation. His chest felt tight, his skin was burning up, his consciousness was blurring, his mind was a buzzing, throbbing mess.
Aomine's voice cut through all of that.
As soon as he spoke, Kagami's eyes opened. And the look he saw in the almost-black eyes above him…
Something in him had just snapped.
"Don't give up on me…okay?"
And then there was pain.
Marisa woke up while it was still dark. She wanted to check on Kagami to see if he was done with his first wave yet. It had been nearly twelve hours since he was set to begin. She was hoping that this time round, she'd see a reduction in the length of his heat waves. Having them for as long as he did still took a major toll on him and made them harder to manage. She was still half asleep as she wandered downstairs to where the heat rooms were, and in the weak light of the corridor, she would have missed the pile of items on the floor had she not literally walked right into them.
"Oh God!" she gasped as her foot came into contact with something soft but she bent down with a chuckle to pick the things up when she realised they were just clothes. Aomine's clothes. The laughter died in her throat.
"Why are…?" She was mystified at first but it quickly morphed into worry.
If these are here, then…where is Kagami?
She turned and hurried back upstairs, taking them two at a time. There was no need to panic just yet. She would check his room first and-
That smell.
That smell.
"Aomine…sama?" she breathed, not wanting to believe it. When had he come back? Surely not-
"Kagami." She darted up the stairs in a blur, fighting the rising feeling of dread and fear. This was the worst thing that could happen to the redhead right now. She prayed that somehow he'd gotten away. Logic was telling her that the heat room was the only safe place to be and if he wasn't there-
"No."
She smelt Aomine.
She smelt Kagami.
She smelt blood.
"Please God. No."
Tanaka came back from the dairy farm with fresh milk for Marisa to make Kagami porridge with to hear sobs coming from the woman herself.
He set the bottle down hard on the kitchen counter before following the sound and as he did so, encountered the same smells she had and came to the same conclusion.
"Marisa!" he said sharply. "Come away from there-"
"No…" she cried softly, staring helplessly at the door. "I can't leave him-"
"You are putting yourself at risk unnecessarily. I will not allow you to sit here and wait to be attacked. Come with me."
"Tanaka-" He took her arm, pulling her away from the door as she fought against him, crying louder. Tanaka took both her arms, holding her firmly.
"Marisa! I understand you are distressed but you cannot be here. You are putting yourself and Kagami in danger. Come downstairs and we can talk about the next stage of action. But you have to get away from here." Marisa didn't respond. She was still crying too hard. Tanaka moved one of his arms around her shoulder and guided her down the stairs, trying to act like the quiet moans of pain coming from Kagami's bedroom weren't breaking him as much as they were Marisa.
…
The pain Kagami was in now was unlike anything he had ever experienced before. And it was more than just physical.
He exhaled harshly in agony as Aomine pushed into him again, weakly gripping at the sheets. His head remained turned to the side as it had been for hours. There was a dull ache from the position and any slight movements sent jolts of pain along the tight tendons in his neck.
But that was the least of his worries.
He could feel the edges of his vision starting to fade and he was more than willing for the darkness of unconsciousness to engulf him. It was almost bliss.
Aomine was starting to pound into him faster, leaning down to bite into the mark-riddled, soaked skin beneath him. Kagami whimpered in pain but otherwise didn't respond. He was too tired to fight anything. He just wanted it all to be over.
He felt something tear inside him and at that point, he was almost grateful. The blood would act as a lubricant and maybe it wouldn't hurt so much.
The monster above him let out a grunt of satisfaction and Kagami felt himself being filled to brim, so much that it was leaking out of him. It burned.
He didn't know how long he had been on him. He was starting not care and that scared him. He couldn't let himself succumb to this life. He couldn't let his fighting spirit go out.
"AAAHHHH!"
He screamed in pain as Aomine grabbed his chin and wrenched his head to face him. The eyes were just as wild as they had been when he'd started raping him and Kagami was near the point where he would do almost anything to see normal sapphire again.
"What…" His voice was a rough whisper, his eyes awash with bitter hatred.
Something like a smile stretched over his bloodied lips and he pulled his head up higher, crashing their lips together and ploughing his tongue into his mouth, so far that Kagami gagged and his eyes watered. But he got it now.
He wouldn't let him leave until he had claimed every inch of him. Whether he was willing or not.
"KAGAMIN?"
"Momoi-sama?" He had sent Marisa back to sleep after giving her painkillers for her throbbing headache.
"Tanaka? Why do you have Kagamin's phone? Is he okay?!" The question hit too close to home and he hesitated. "Tanaka, you're scaring me. What's wrong with Kagamin?"
"Aomine-sama has returned and-"
"Oh God. Oh God. Hold on. I'll be there as soon as I can."
...
Tanaka had been standing at the door for the past hour, just waiting for the sound of tyres on gravel. When he finally did, he opened it hastily, just in time to see the doors open and watch as Momoi leapt out of the driver's seat. The rear doors opened and both Akashi and Kuroko stepped out too.
"Tanaka!"
Momoi ran towards him and threw her arms around the old butler. He could feel her shaking.
"Is he…?"
"I am so sorry, Momoi-sama." She shook her head mournfully, but gave him a hopeful smile.
"Don't. No one knew he was coming back. No one could have predicted this. But we'll get him out of there."
Tanaka simply nodded and Momoi gradually loosened her hold so he could lead them inside. He could tell immediately that they could all smell what was happening. Akashi's face betrayed nothing, but Tanaka's sharp eyes picked up the flash of pain in Kuroko's eyes and how Momoi's face blanched.
"How long have they been inside, Tanaka-san?" Kuroko's words were measured.
"I am not too sure. It was Marisa who discovered them as I was on the grounds, and from what I understand, it was close to four in the morning. But there is a good chance he returned earlier."
"He did. Easily before midnight. It wouldn't have taken him long to get home from where we parted ways." There was an unspoken part to Akashi's sentence that Tanaka picked up on. The redhead and bluenette shared a weighted look but neither said anything more. Tanaka couldn't help but wonder what that exchange meant but it quickly slipped to the back of his mind, as his concern for Kagami's welfare returned to the forefront.
"Is there anything we can do?" Akashi weighed his words carefully.
"I shall go and try to get a feel of the situation. If there is a chance, then we can attempt to remove Kagami but…"
But it's unlikely.
"Tetsuya, Satsuki, would you go and check on Marisa-san please?" Momoi nodded as did Kuroko. It escaped Tanaka's notice but he and Akashi shared that 'look' again before they both disappeared. Akashi turned to Tanaka.
"You wouldn't mind-"
"Watching them? Not at all, Akashi-sama. Thank you for coming to our aid." Akashi smiled serenely, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"I promise to do what I can, for the both of them. Let's hope for good news, shall we?"
…
"Mari-chan?" They had waited for the old beta to wake up instead of rousing her themselves, and her tired eyes quickly fastened onto her guests, filling with relief and distress.
"Momoi-sama…?" Her eyes welled up with tears. "Kagami…" she said softly, and a sob escaped her throat. Momoi sat beside her on the bed, wrapping her arms around her as her own tears started to fall.
"Don't cry, Mari-chan. We'll…we'll get him out. So don't cry." Kuroko sat in the chair by the door, not interrupting them and leaving them to seek comfort in each other. He didn't look away as Tanaka entered the room, but his attention shifted completely to the butler.
"Has Akashi-kun managed to…?" Tanaka sighed and it was all the answer he needed.
"Not yet. He attempted to go inside but was met with a lot of aggression from Aomine-sama. He is waiting for a lull in his rut before he tries again."
"And when does he think that will happen?" It was now well past midday.
"It could be any time from now until tomorrow. We plan to monitor the situation closely." Kuroko nodded.
"Please, do as you see fit."
"I shall." He said nothing more, leaving the room again and disappearing. Kuroko took a final look at the two wolves on the bed before getting up and exiting himself. He looked down the empty corridor before walking further down, coming to a room near the end and opening the door slowly.
"How are you?"
The lull came around two in the morning. Tanaka hadn't heard any sounds from Kagami's bedroom in the past ten minutes and rushed to the guestroom where Akashi was staying to wake him up. He knocked on the door before entering, but took a step back when it opened and the wolf himself stepped out, looking as immaculate as always.
"Is it time, Tanaka-san?"
"I believe so, Akashi-sama." The redhead nodded and went to the room, placing a hand on the door and closing his eyes momentarily.
"I believe it is. Please wake Satsuki and ask her to wait in the wings. Wait for my signal, as planned." The butler nodded and disappeared as Akashi looked almost blankly at the closed door in front of him. Inside, his mind was whirring.
Ultimately, he wasn't at all surprised by the turn of events, given the circumstances but Kagami's timing was far too unfortunate. What he didn't know, was how they would react to the harsh reality of the situation once they were both in the right frame of mind. Because they certainly weren't now. Especially Aomine, judging from the half-feral beast he recalled seeing inside. They had no time to waste, if they wanted Kagami to come out alive.
"Akashi-sama."
The words were easily-missed, coming from so far away, but Akashi's sensitive ears caught them and he nodded, his eyes hardening.
"Ready or not, baby brother."
The door slammed open so hard, it was partly torn off its hinges. Aomine raised his head from the position on the bed. Kagami didn't move at all. Akashi hoped it was because he was asleep.
"Daiki-"
"Get back." The voice didn't sound anything like the Aomine he knew, and Akashi now saw that the intervention was as much for his brother as it was the battered omega in his grasp.
He smiled.
"No."
Aomine lunged forward, going straight for Akashi's neck and the other wolf directed all his attention the upcoming attack, trusting the other parties to do the rest.
As he artfully dodged the bluenette's attack and went for his own neck, he continually noted the changes in the air velocity room, and the different smells. None of that weakened his focus. He couldn't afford to. None of them were a physical match for Aomine in this state. On wrong move and he was as good as dead.
Luckily for him, this was never a physical match to begin with.
Akashi thrived on an entirely different playing field.
"Akashi-sama!"
The voice made Aomine turn around, and his eyes filled with rage as he registered the empty bed. As his hands reached Tanaka, Akashi's closed around his neck and with clinical accuracy, he knocked his brother out, catching him before he slumped forward onto Tanaka.
"Tanaka-san, please take a seat." He quickly surveyed the room and the wreckage that was the bed before changing his mind. "In fact, I shall have Tetsuya treat you in my room, if that is fine by you."
"Of course Akashi-sama but I assure you, it is a shallow cut. Aomine-sama intended no real harm."
Aomine had intended nothing but harm and the cut was far from shallow. Still, there was something to be said about his loyalty to Aomine. Akashi smiled, genuinely.
"I shall take your word for it. But as a precaution, I would rather Tetsuya looked at it first." The older wolf nodded and followed him out of the room.
"May I assist you, Akashi-sama?"
"There is no need, but thank you for offering. If anything, he's much lighter than I remember."
This wasn't a lie. Aomine had lost a lot of weight but that wasn't surprising. He didn't want to think about the state Kagami was in.
I do hope Tetsuya is able to separate his emotions from his actions. It will hinder Kagami's treatment otherwise.
…
Marisa door slammed open as Momoi darted in, with Kagami in her strong, slender arms.
"Oh dear Lord." Kuroko thought she looked faint and reached out to catch her but though she had paled significantly, she gently pushed him away.
"It's fine. I'm fine. I'm not the problem here." Her hands trembled as she reached out to the lax, naked omega on the bed, willing herself not to cry again. There was no sign of him being in heat and that worried her more than it relieved her.
"My a-angel…-!" His eyes gradually opened to find her astonished face looking down at him.
And he slowly started to smile.
"Mari…chan…"
She let go of him as Kuroko stepped forward to begin treating him instead and covered her face with her hands, weeping uncontrollably with too many emotions to name.
"Where the fuck am I?" Akashi snorted with quiet laughter, the sound echoing slightly in the darkened room.
"I did tell you your house was too extravagant but then again, you rarely ever listen to me, do you?"
"Where is he?" he asked, ignoring the jab entirely. Akashi steepled his fingers and leaned back in the chair by the bed, looking at his brother intently.
"What if I told you he had died after your brutal attack?" The answering face spoke volumes. "I suspected as much. I will say it is nothing short of a miracle that he is still alive, after all you did to him."
"It wasn't like that…" But his words weren't necessarily directed at the redhead sitting beside him.
"I'm sure." Whether his words were spoken sardonically or sincerely was debatable.
His next words, however, were not.
"Though I believe we may need to reconsider your…position in Kagami's life. Just in case."