Days Without Sun
Chapter Thirty-Five: Safe
Usagi-san!
Misaki's heart thundered in his chest. His mind spun, barely able to comprehend and fearful of believing what he saw. He wanted to cry out but found himself completely at a loss, unable to make any sound but a gasp.
Coming down the hall towards him was his Usagi-san, but in such a state that Misaki was filled with an indescribable pain. His usually dapper Rabbit was naked but for a pair of black pants. Usagi's leanly muscled torso shone with sweat and blood against skin far paler than usual. His normally sensual gait was hobbled.
In this moment, Usagi-san had never looked so terrible or so beautiful to Misaki.
Their eyes met and Misaki felt an overwhelming rush.
His pounding heart lurched when Usagi-san suddenly dropped to his knees as though his legs had been cut out from under him. Pulling himself as quickly he could on trembling arms, Misaki rushed forward.
Akihiko knelt unmoving for a moment. Nothing in all his life, nothing he'd experienced, no scenario he had ever conjured as an author could ever have prepared him for the emotions that surged like a current through his veins the moment he understood that his Misaki was alive. The force of it drove him to his knees; it rendered him speechless.
Tears filled Akihiko's eyes, the overflow of his flooded senses.
Misaki…
What welled and rolled down his cheeks was a bittersweet mixture: overwhelming joy that Misaki had endured, and tremendous pain at how terribly his beautiful Blossom had been ravaged by his ordeal.
Akihiko roused when he saw Misaki laboring to draw near him. He heaved himself to his feet, but only made it a few strides before his strength left him and he found himself crashing to his knees once more. Unhindered by the realization that he could no longer hold himself upright, Akihiko scrabbled forward on hands and knees.
Akihiko and Misaki neared each other at last, but each stopped just short of the other. It was as if both were suddenly fearful that when they reached out, the figure before them would disappear and they would wake once more to find this reunion, like so many before, was nothing but a dream.
At last, Akihiko stretched a bloodied hand forward. Long fingers offered the gentlest of touches as he brushed the cropped, brown hair at Misaki's temple.
Misaki didn't flinch as a moment later this same hand slipped down and Usagi's palm, strangely warm, gently cupped the side of his bruised cheek.
Akihiko's whole arm tremored as the sensation of this touch jolted through him like a burst of electricity. His other hand moved to cradle the other side of Misaki's face. Akihiko lightly swept his thumb over his beloved's broken bottom lip.
Misaki closed tear-filled eyes. He stilled himself as much as his trembling limbs would allow and let Usgi-san's fingers caress him. Akihiko's own tears multiplied as his hand traveled over Misaki's sunken cheeks, they traced his damp brow. Pale eyes caught and cataloged every detail.
Misaki could feel the wetness of his tears trapped between his cheek and Usagi-san's hand. He turned his head slightly and pressed a kiss to the side of Usagi's palm. He heard the choking exhale this act pulled from his Rabbit and felt his lover's other hand still. Pushing further into Akihiko's touch, Misaki rested the weight of his heavy head in the smooth palm that held him. He felt Usagi's other hand begin to move again.
He tensed when gentle fingers began to trail down his neck.
Akihiko paused again, but only for a moment, then his fingertips feathered over the mottled-purple band left behind by Korovin on Misaki's throat.
Something in this soft touch unlocked Misaki's voice. He began sobbing loudly; his cries shook his whole frame.
"U… Usagi… s… san…"
The sound of Misaki's anguish broke Akihiko from whatever spell had held him. He moved as quickly as he could around Misaki and, careful of his boy's damaged legs, pulled him into his arms. He held Misaki tightly, clasping him to his chest.
At first Misaki, conditioned by his months with Korovin, shrunk away from this sudden movement. But then feeling the comfort of the embracing limbs and freed from the strain of supporting himself, he wrapped his thin arms around Usagi-san's slick shoulders and buried his head into the side of his lover's neck. He felt Usagi-san's breath against his skin as warm lips pressed to the corner of his mouth, his cheek, the base of his ear.
"Misaki."
"Misaki."
"Misaki."
Akihiko too had at last found his voice and he uttered Misaki's name like a benediction between every gentle kiss. He settled Misaki carefully into his lap and scooted them to the side of the hall, so that his back was supported by one of the dim walls.
Misaki was startled by the strangeness of Usagi-san's voice. His eyes flickered up and he saw in Usagi-san's face a blaze of emotions unlike anything he'd ever witnessed. He felt his cheeks burn as their gazes locked and held. At last Misaki dropped his head. He allowed Akihiko to gather him tightly once more.
How long they sat there clinging to each other, each shaking with grateful sobs, neither knew or cared. All that mattered was that they were together.
At last, too exhausted to cry any more, Misaki stilled. Akihiko lessened his hold, but only enough for Misaki to pull away slightly. Misaki looked into Akihiko's lavender gaze and asked the question that had been burning in him from the moment he'd recognized his lover.
"W… What about…"
In this sacred reunion he could not bring himself to utter his hated captor's name. Misaki shuddered.
"W… what about h… him?" He choked on the last word.
"Gone."
Misaki could hardly dare believe it, but Akihiko's rough voice was filled with such surety.
"He will never hurt you again." At these words Misaki collapsed against Akihiko's chest, his breath coming in hitched gasps.
It's really over then?
Akihiko gathered Misaki into him again. He ran a hand over Misaki's short hair. It felt so alien compared with the thick locks he'd so loved to tangle through his fingers.
"I promise you Misaki, you're safe. That bastard is gone; he can't touch you now… or ever again." After this pronouncement, both Misaki and Akihiko fell silent; the only sounds in the hall were their combined heavy breaths.
Eventually Misaki pushed himself up from Akihiko's embrace once more. Akihiko sat perfectly still and watched as Misaki's large eyes traveled over him.
"He hurt you."
Akihiko's eyes widened at the concern held in Misaki's voice. He could not believe the beauty of his beloved: that his battered boy, despite all his own wounds, would be worried about his injuries.
Akihiko felt his fever, the terrible ache of his joints, the pain in his head, his labored lungs.
"It's nothing."
Misaki reached out and placed his hand on Akihiko's chest. His open palm covered Akihiko's self-inflicted wound. He could feel the mad pulse beneath.
Usagi-san's heart is beating so fast.
Akihiko released Misaki to cover his beloved's hand with his own. Their eyes met and each remembered that moment on the couch in his flat: the first time they'd joined each other completely, flesh to flesh. A silent communion was exchanged between them. Simultaneously they leaned forward. Akihiko was careful of Misaki's torn mouth and their lips met in the tenderest of kisses. When they broke their kiss they rested a moment, their foreheads pressed together.
Then Misaki pulled away. He shifted his aching legs and lay back against Usagi, his dark head rested against a broad shoulder. His eyelids felt sandpapery from all his tears and exceedingly heavy. Misaki closed his eyes.
"S… stupid, Usagi… You're hurt… Your heart…"
Bending his neck so that his cheek rested against the top of Misaki's head, Akihiko allowed the first real smile since Misaki had left him. He lifted the hand that Misaki had placed on his chest and kissed it, then allowed it to return to where his boy had touched indelibly him.
"Misaki, you are my heart… Nothing pains me now." He nuzzled into Misaki's damp, dirty hair; his own eyelids slowly drifted down.
Santo Justino roused from his tasered state with a fierce headache and a dozen new aches. He rose unsteadily and, after a visual sweep of the room, saw that he was alone with Korovin. His eyes caught sight of his gun and he moved over as quickly as possible to retrieve it. He groaned when he bent over at the pain behind his eyes and in his still burning chest.
Fucking Usami!
He only hoped Aikawa had enough presence to break away with Jadir and try to get them both out of here.
Stepping to Korovin's slumped form after tucking his gun away, Santo Justino pressed two fingers to the killer's throat and after a long moment felt a very weak pulse.
"God damn it."
Grimacing with distaste, the detective pushed Korovin onto his back. He knelt next to the man and pulled Usami's knife out of Korovin's groin and then used this to cut away his trousers.
"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!"
Santo Justino's chest hitched at the sight of Korovin's ruined genitals. He felt his stomach twist and his own balls retract.
Not that you didn't deserve it, you sick fuck.
Reaching into his pocket he withdrew two of his plastic twist ties and used these as crude tourniquets, securing one at the base of Korovins' cock, the other his sac. Santo Justino knew that in doing this there was would be little chance of Korovin's damaged organs surviving.
Not that you'll need them where you're going… if by some chance you live through this, that is.
He'd just finished his makeshift medical operation when he heard footsteps coming down the hall. He rose somewhat clumsily, still suffering from being tased; he pulled out his gun, and waited. A few moments later, Alvarez and his crew came into view. Santo Justino lowered his weapon and exhaled a shaky sigh.
I am getting too old for this shit.
"What the hell ever happened to stealth, Alvarez? I could hear you from a mile away!"
Alvarez too lowered his gun and the other men did the same. He cocked his head at the reprimand, though he could tell there was no real fire in his boss' voice.
"And here I thought you might be happy to see us, S.J." Alvarez's dark eyes drifted down to Korovin's bloodied form. One of his thick brows rose. "But I can see you have things well in hand, Chief."
"Korovin, I assume?"
Santo Justino nodded.
"Dead?"
"Almost."
"Herrera!"
Herrera had already moved to the front of the crew. Santo Justino and Alvarez stepped to the side to allow him access to Korovin. It took Herrera no time to ascertain the killer's condition."He's fading fast; he needs medical treatment immediately."
"Will he hold on until the chopper gets here?" At Alvarez's mention of the helicopter Santo Justino's brow rose.
"International?"
Alvarez shook his head. "We're all rogue. They won't be here for another hour at least. Miss Aikawa said Usami arranged the chopper before he bolted: a medical unit." He dropped his eyes when he saw his boss' face at the mention of the editor.
Santo Justino quickly recovered himself. "She okay?"
"Managing. She and the boy are with Moreno. He'll get them situated and then get back to us. We have the estate secured." Alvarez looked at Santo Justino again. "She mentioned others."
Seeing Korovin's condition, Alvarez had been filled with questions but he held his silence now, waiting for his superior to fill him in.
"Herrera," Santo Justino called out. "There's a surgery setup down here, I can point you there. It's not in the most sanitary state, but it'll do for this situation. You should find most everything you need there. Take two guys with you to assist.
"Stay out of the back room though. We want to save that for the big guns and their investigative team."
"Diaz, you take the rest of the crew and I'll tell you where to find the others boys. Call Moreno and have him meet you there… It's bad and you're going to need him. Have him ask the chopper how many they can carry and if they can wait to take another couple on.
"Alvarez, Fernandez, and I are going to find Usami and pull him out of here."
After a few more minutes of hurried instructions the men dispersed and Santo Justino found himself wandering down the halls with Fernandez and his second. They tracked Akihiko's bloody footprints for a good part of their journey.
Then rounding a corner they found them.
The men had only a few seconds to take in the scene before they ran down to the two entwined figures, seated, braced by one of the dank walls, but Santo Justino would never forget the sight .
As a child his parents had taken him to Europe to meet his father's family. He was probably about ten or eleven at the time. They'd traveled on this trip to a number of countries. Good Catholics, they had made a pilgrimage to Rome and there, Vatican City. It was in the Basilica that Santo Justino had encountered something that had a profound effect on him: Michelangelo's "Pieta."
He had never encountered anything like it. The emotion and the scale, the way the marble turned to flesh and folded fabric, so living it seemed to breathe. They image of Mary cradling her dead son had moved him to tears, though under his father's stern rearing he'd already learned not to cry.
It was an image that came to him often when he had been on the force, dealing with grieving parents and lover's whose hearts' treasures had been taken from them. But here now, in the flesh, Usami Akihiko holding Takahashi Misaki replicated Michelangelo's masterpiece.
Santo Justino felt his breath catch at the sight.
In truth, though he had denied it, Usami's relationship and the age of his lover had made him uneasy. The detective was a traditional man and while he never openly criticized alternative lifestyles, he preferred for them to remain unseen and un-articulated. But here in this instant, seeing Takahashi's prone body in Usami's lap, their bloody, battered bodies, Usami's bowed head, Santo Justino took in the purest picture of love and sacrifice he'd ever know.
Stunned by this realization, Santo Justino's footsteps faltered slightly and Alvarez and Fernandez reached the two men before him.
They were so still.
Alvarez put two fingers to Misaki's bruised throat. Then he did the same to Usami.
"They're alive."
Santo Justino released a breath he hadn't been aware he was holding.
"We need to get them out of here.
"I'll take Takahashi. Alvarez, you and Fernandez get Usami."
Santo Justino knelt down and began to pull Akihiko's arms down away from Misaki. He started when this movement roused Akihiko and he found himself staring into a pair of cool, pale eyes.
"I'm not letting him go." Akihiko's voice was low and raw; he shifted and pulled Misaki's unconscious form up and gripped him tighter.
"Look, Usami, I understand you don't want to lose him again, but he's safe now. We need to get you both out of here." Santo Justino kept his tone gentle but firm.
Seeing the two lovers together, he'd all but forgiven Usami for tasing him. He knew too that Usami might have been operating under the duress of whatever shit Korovin had shot him up with, though truthfully he could have easily seen Usami doing the same thing without any altering substances, his desire for Takahashi was so strong.
"I. AM. NOT. LETTING. GO."
Akihiko's eyes didn't blink and his hold on Misaki tightened. Santo Justino's hand was resting lightly now on Usami's arms and beneath his fingers he could feel the iron of the man's grip. The detective shook his head.
"Can you walk, Usami?"
The fire in Akihiko's eyes dimmed slightly at the question. It was taking all that he had just to hold on to Misaki at this point. Still, his pride wouldn't allow him to admit it, nor did he want them to take Misaki from him. He nodded his head slowly.
"Help him up, guys."
Watching as Alvarez and Fernandez each got on a side and helped Usami to his feet, lifting both Usami and Misaki, Santo Justino wondered if Usami would even be able to stand.
Akihiko was pulled up and wavered there unsteadily. He managed a few shambling steps with Misaki before his knees gave way beneath him. Fortunately Alvarez and Fernandez had stayed at his side and eased his descent. Santo Justino stared down at Usami. Akihiko's pale cheeks burned with fever and shame at being seen in such a compromised state, but he met Santo Justino's eyes and his expression said that he wouldn't relent.
Exhaling a long breath, the detective shook his head. "Alvarez, you and Fernandez get to the room where Korovin was keeping the others. You remember my directions? Some of the beds in there looked like gurneys. They had wheels. Grab one and get back here A.S.A.P."
Both men were shocked by their director's acquiescence: Usami didn't look like he was in any condition to really put up much of a protest now. Still, they nodded and headed off.
Once they were gone, Santo Justino sat down heavily on the floor not far from Akihiko. He was still feeling weakened from the effect of the Taser. He watched silently as Usami adjusted Misaki in his arms. Akihiko's shaky fingers swept over Misaki's pale cheeks. He touched Misaki's throat for re-assurance and found the beat there: weak, but steady.
Santo Justino dipped a hand into one of his bottomless pockets and withdrew a pack of cigarettes and his lighter. He offered a smoke to Akihiko.
While his veins screamed for a hit of nicotine, breathing was hard enough as it was. Regretfully Akihiko shook his head. One of Santo Justino's brows rose in curious surprise.
"Trying to quit. They're… bad for one's health."
"So are you, Usami."
Santo Justino lowered his head as he lit up and took a deep drag. He looked over again when the author snorted lightly at his comment.
Pale eyes locked onto dark ones. "Thank you, Santo Justino-san." Akihiko bowed his head breaking their gaze. "For everything."
Santo Justino waited for Usami's head to rise again. He nodded brusquely and took another long pull on his smoke, exhaling into the shadows.
The two men waited in silence for Alvarez and Fernandez to return.
Aikawa looked down as the chopper descended. This was the helicopter's third trip to Korovin's estate.
True to his word, Akihiko had made arrangements. The first trip of the copter had taken them to "A Clínica Dos Novos Dias," a plastic surgery and addictions facility that catered to the ultra rich and famous.
Akihiko had pulled some strings and offered a ridiculous amount of money to secure a team of doctors and surgeons and an entire floor for his impossible rescue of Misaki.
The medics on the helicopter had managed to sedate and stabilize Jadir, though his stomach wound deeply perplexed them. Not long after this, Moreno had sent men out with four other boys, the most serious cases, from his sickroom triage. Fortunately Moreno managed to locate some of Korovin's tranquilizers and sedated Korovin's captives, as all were extremely traumatized already and most severely panicked or were overcome when Santo Justino's men had burst into the incubator.
The staff at New Days had balked at the sudden influx of patients initially, not expecting such a number. But Aikawa had quickly shifted into hard-ass business mode and after much argument and a direct call to Usami Fuyuhiko for back up, the clinic was now in high gear. More physicians, psychologists, and trauma experts had been called in and were making sure their new clients were all taken care of.
Aikawa had been busied making arrangements after seeing that Jadir was in good hands and so, worked through the second wave of boys that were brought in. She'd learned from one of Augusto's men, who had accompanied the second batch, that Akihiko had been located and Misaki too... Alive.
Hearing this, after shedding more than a few joyful tears, there had been nothing that was going to keep her from being on that third trip to receive Akihiko and Misaki, along with the last of Korovin's known captives.
Eager eyes searched the grounds as they dropped. Aikawa was amazed by the number of cars and big trucks that filled the road leading Korovin's estate. Lights flashed at police blockades and dozens of news vans fanned out beyond these. The drive from the gate too was filled with vehicles. It seemed like an incredible number of people were milling around, but at the moment there were only three Aikawa was interested in locating.
She frowned as the helicopter touched down. She saw several medical pallets, but none of them contained her Sensei or Misaki. Climbing down from the copter Aikawa saw a familiar, dark head weaving through the swarms of uniformed men.
"Aikawa!"
"Flynn-san, what are you doing here?"
The reporter flashed a large grin. "What do you mean? This is the biggest story in the world right now and a hell of a fire fight earlier! There's no way Alvarez or any of S.J's guys were going to exclude me!"
"How are you?" The smile slipped from Flynn's face and her expression revealed her concern.
Blushing, Aikawa unconsciously smoothed out the wrinkles in the cotton scrubs she was wearing. She'd gotten them at the clinic, only too glad to be free of her blood-stained clothes. In truth, she was sore and completely wrung out. Aikawa felt she could easily sleep for a week, but instead of saying this she just smiled.
"I'm managing, thank you."
"Well maybe you'll manage a little better with this..." Flynn dipped into her camera bag and pulled out Aikawa's purse. Aikawa's eyes widened in shock. She looked into it and saw that most of its contents had been returned, including her wallet and her cellphone.
"Thank you, Flynn-san." Aikawa was stunned that the reporter had bothered, but then trying to think about navigating the next days with only Akihiko's replacement cell, she was immensely grateful: most of her life was in her phone.
"I found it when I was sniffing around the grounds, thought you might want it. I picked it up before any of these guys could tag it as evidence. It's too nice a bag to be languishing in some legal storeroom." Flynn winked at Aikawa's new blush.
"Looked like you held one hell of a barbeque. You'll have to tell me about it sometime." The reporter was wearing her trademark sly grin but her eyes were tender.
Aikawa dropped her eyes at the memory of the dog and looked away. As she turned her head she saw two more stretchers emerge from the door to Korovin's lair. A sob of relief was pulled from her when she saw one of these bore two figures and she immediately recognized the sliver and dark brown heads.
She rushed over, Flynn following, and was soon standing beside the rolling gurney. Both Misaki and Akihiko looked to be unconscious. Aikawa covered her mouth with her hand and gasped at Misaki's state.
"Oh, Misaki..." she breathed. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.
Alvarez was the one manning the two lovers' stretcher; Fernandez was at the other end. They kept moving as Aikawa hurried beside them.
Alvarez's expression darkened when he saw Flynn next to the editor. He had been very opposed to the reporter accompanying them. Flynn caught his gaze and rolled her eyes. Alvarez's frown deepened and he shifted his keen gaze back to Aikawa.
"They're sedated and seem to be stable at the moment, Miss Aikawa; though it's still very precarious for both of them.
"S.J. filled me in on the details. I'll be going with the chopper to prep the doctors about the situation."
Aikawa nodded though she was slightly confused, still not knowing about Usami having been injected.
Her attention was caught as Santo Justino emerged from the bunker. He was followed by two very large, very official looking men. She stopped as Alvarez and Fernandez moved on with the gurney.
The three men were vehemently arguing about the occupant of the other stretcher.
"I don't give a fuck! There's no way you're putting that monster on that copter alongside his victims!" Santo Justino shouted.
"Detective, he's in a critical state... As are you, right now." One of the officials countered hotly.
"Get an ambulance in here or stick him in the back of one of your trucks then, for all I care, but he's not getting near any of those boys again. I don't give a shit about his state!"
"Don't you think you're in enough trouble already?"
Santo Justino stared hard at the international guard leaders before him.
"I mean what the hell were you doing in Korovin's master room? This whole place is a crime scene," the other official growled.
Ignoring the question, Santo Justino stepped up closer, invading the men's personal space. "You're god damn right it's a crime scene and because of my actions and those of my men, you have have at least three fewer deaths at the moment to add to this mass grave." The detective practically spat these last words before he turned and began walking away.
"Santo Justino, we're not done here!"
Turning toward the man who called out to him, Santo Justino glared. "I am."
"Seriously, Detective, I'll have you restrained!" the other shouted furiously.
Santo Justino's eyes had located Aikawa. He offered her a crooked smile and began walking towards her.
"So do it!" he called back without turning around this time.
Aikawa was stunned by Augusto's bravado, but before he'd gone another five feet, another man in uniform ran up gesturing wildly to the two officials. They looked back at the detective and then after a disgusted shake of their heads, returned to the the newcomer and soon moved out after him. They stopped briefly and talked with the men bearing Korovin's stretcher and the killer's carriers took off at a quick pace in the direction of the drive.
When he reached Aikawa, Santo Justino paused before her. "Can I walk you to your chopper, Eri?"
Aikawa felt a rush of relief flood her already overwrought system. She cocked her head. "I bet you say that to all the ladies."
A low chuckle rattled Santo Justino's throat. He reached down and took Aikawa's arm and together they began moving in the direction of the helicopter.
"Hey Alvarez, your boss needs to make a speedy getaway. How about you and Fernandez tell the boys to pull out and I'll accompany Miss Aikawa to the Clinic and fill in the doctors about everything."
"Whatever you say, Chief." The corner of Alvarez's mouth quirked. "See you back at the office... Later."
Aikawa and Santo Justino clambered in after the last boy was loaded. Aikawa sat between Akihiko and Misaki: the medics had separated the two sleeping lovers into separate cots.
Intermittently she ran gentle fingers over one or the other's brow. She hadn't fully understood before all of this happened how much these two really were part of her family. She looked up and saw Augusto looking at her with a curious expression.
"What?"
Santo Justino fidgeted as the helicopter lifted up; he had never been a big fan of flying. He quickly turned his mind from this discomfort to the matter at hand.
"Well, I am just feeling kind of badly..."
Aikawa tipped her head in question.
"It's just... that was a hell of a second date to take a woman on..." Santo Justino's eyes met Aikawa's. She allowed a small smile.
"You're counting that dinner the other night as our first?"
Santo Justino nodded his assent.
"You know, Augusto, they say third times a charm."
Settling back, suddenly feeling far more relaxed, Santo Justino broke out into a grin. "I guess well just have to test that theory out then."
Aikawa's own smile brightened.
The two fell into a comfortable silence then under the lull of the copter's thrumming blades.
Below Aikawa, Akihiko's eyes opened slightly. Seeing Misaki across from him, his lids drifted down again, just as his hand slipped from beneath the white sheet he was under. His arm spanned the distance between them and his hand found Misaki's and covered it. In his sleep, Misaki responded unconsciously to the touch. His hand turned and his fingers grasped Akihiko's.
They remained this way for the rest of the journey as they were flown off to New Days.
Wow... so that's it.
Well, not really. There will be at least a two or three chapter epilogue that will show how things are about three months later. You'll get to see how everyone is doing, catch up on the healing and get your tender lemon.
Then, though it may be a bit, there will be a sequel "Into the Light" that will follow what happens once Misaki gets home and you can see what unfolds with his Uke Flu case. Hopefully I'll get at least one or two more chapters of the original Uke Flu done in between.
So, hopefully next update in a few days. Hope the reunion pleased you. Thank you all again for all the feedback! I love hearing from you.