Okay, so I know this will irritate my Romantica fans, but this chapter is constructed to provide you with information to catch you up on what's been happening since the rescue. But take heart, there is a huge dose of Akihiko/Misaki next chapter and I will post it very shortly… You have to wade through a bit to get to your blossom and bunny. The lemon will be in the third chapter and close the epilogue.
Days Without Sun
Epilogue: Healing Part I
The cameraman used a slow sweep to capture the scope of the lush interior.
The video feed took in the ornamental chandeliers and marbled floors strewn with authentic Persian rugs. Exquisite orchids displayed their branched contortions in antique Asian vessels atop ornate mahogany stands. Interior fountains cascaded soothing down bronze panels that broke the surface of hand-painted walls. Here and there, artfully placed, were rich leather loveseats and comfortable looking chairs.
At last the camera panned to a handsome blonde woman with a close-cropped haircut. She was sharply dressed in a stylish pantsuit.
The picture swept up and landed in a close-up that brought emphasis to her piercing eyes and careful smile.
"This is Christian Flynn with an INN week-long, special series.
"I come to you from the plush lobby of the exclusive New Days Clinic.
"For over three decades, the New Days retreat in Garopaba, Brazil has been featured in magazines and tabloids as a place where the rich and famous have been able to find refuge from their personal demons: issues like addiction and mental exhaustion .
"And without fail, after their time here with New Days mental health professionals, with the additional help of the clinic's top chefs, personal trainers, masseuses, and spa specialists, not to mention, more often than not, New Days' skilled plastic surgeons; the elite have left looking far better than they ever did previously.
"Over the last three months New Days has again found itself in the news.
"However, this time the clinic has been serving the needs of a group who have become the bearers of a far less glorious type of fame; the fortress-like exterior of these grounds offering privacy to a very different clientele.
"For the current residents of New Days, the demon that they have become here to wage battle against is far more monstrous than celebrity fatigue, drugs, or alcohol. And the kind of medical attention they have needed has well exceeded a mere 'makeover.'
"The demon in the case of the dozen residents now being served by this illustrious clinic is one who has become known throughout the world... His name is Vladimir Korovin.
"It is a name that has become synonymous with evil.
"Korovin is the diabolical "Doc," the "Surgeon Sadist," who, even now, sits in the most secure of Brazil's maximum security prisons, while fifteen different countries fight to extradite him so that he can be tried for the alleged crimes he's committed against their citizens.
"To date, over seventy five bodies… or parts of bodies, have been recovered from Korovin's multi-acre estate and investigators are still searching for more.
"As a result, all over the globe, parents whose sons have disappeared over the last several years on South American tours and vacations find themselves waiting breathlessly. While others have already had their worst fears confirmed.
"But it is here in Brazil that the death toll has been the highest. At current count, thirty Brazilian young men, most not yet out of their teens, lost their life to Korovin's twisted practices.
"Many of these were runaways or street youths, who, sadly, went unnoticed when they disappeared. But there were others like local Garopaba youth, Jadir Cavaco, whose parents had been frantically searching for their lost son.
"After more than two years of being brutally tormented by Jadir's kidnapper, a little less than three months ago his parents were at last able to lay their son to rest… or what was left of him… A single severed arm.
"It is believed, based on the evidence, that Jadir was mauled to death and consumed by the bloodthirsty dogs kept by Korovin on his estate, an end known to have been shared by at least four other of Korovin's captives.
"Given such horror it is hard to believe that Korovin could have dealt an even more diabolical fate to his victims and yet, sadly, it's true. Many of the bodies recovered from his estate showed signs of even more horrible methods of dispatch.
"Reports leaked from the morgue where the bodies of Korovin's victims were being held for examination made claims of terrible mutilations, genetic experimentation, grafting of animal parts and bizarre organ transplants, in addition to other forms of physical and sexual torture.
"There have even been rumors of the sadist /mad scientist subjecting his victims to unheard of biochemical agents.
"If even half of these claims are eventually shown to be true, it may seem to some that death for these young men might have been a mercy. But not all of Korovin's victims met their demise at his hands… Twelve of this madman's captives survived and it is they who now inhabit New Days.
"While the names of the dozen survivors have been known for weeks now, and information about their lives prior to their captivity has been teased out by the media, there is still little known about the true state of these young men or what they endured.
"Part of this is due to the pending court proceedings, but much of the silence has been kept by the strict security measures maintained by the new owner of the New Days, the multinational conglomerate Usami-Corps.
"If the company name sounds familiar, it should, Akihiko Usami, an internationally renowned author and heir to the president of Usami-Corps, made the headlines earlier this year when his young lover Misaki Takahashi went missing from a Garopaba beach.
"At the time of Takahashi's vanishing, Usami was at one point even considered a possible suspect in his lover's disappearance.
"Now Akihiko Usami has been vindicated, and is even being lauded as partly responsible for the discovery of Korovin's chamber of horrors.
"It was Usami who hired tenacious private detective and former police officer, Augusto Santo Justino to find his lover's abductor.
"Santo-Justino conducted a daring rescue operation into Korovin's estate with the assistance of a devoted team funded by Usami's vast wealth. It was a brave and, some say, reckless gamble that fortunately, in this instance, paid off, resulting in the capture of Korovin and the rescue of Misaki Takahashi and eleven other young men.
"During the early days of Takahashi's disappearance, President of the multi-billion dollar Usami-Corps and father of Akihiko Usami, Fuyuhiko Usami, remained silent and distanced himself from his son.
"This was seen by some as paternal confirmation of Akihiko Usami's guilt.
"To others it was interpreted as a cold and calculated business tactic, a desire to keep son and company separate, out of concerns that a blight on the Usami name would cause stock prices to fall.
"Whatever Fuyuhiko Usami's motives, however, since the capture of Vladimir Korovin and liberation of his prisoners, Usami-Corps has shown an unprecedented support for Korovin's former victims.
"It has been reported that Usami-Corp has paid almost billion dollars so far, purchasing the New Days Clinic outright and offering the facility as a place of refuge and recovery for Korovin's victims. In addition to this, the company has also flown in the family and friends of these twelve young men and allowed them to stay here on these palatial grounds too, extending every amenity.
"Teams of specialized doctors and surgeons have been brought in to deal with the health issues suffered by the freed youths after their time in Korovin's cruel grasp. From around the world a crack team of mental health specialists was also assembled to assist the Doc's victims in overcoming their terrible traumas.
"Multiple modalities for healing, both psychological and spiritual, from Western talk therapy, to EMDR, to hikomi, to yoga and meditation have been made available to the twelve survivors here at the clinic.
"And once they leave here, as two of these young men will be doing within the next week, the first to be released... Usami-Corps has pledged to continue to provide for any medical or psychological treatment incurred by Korovin's former captives. This is in addition to a sizeable trust that has been established for each individual.
"These actions have put Usami-Corps in the spotlight around the globe.
"For many, this show of compassion, one that will affect lives across a span of nations, has been seen as an incredible act of corporate goodwill and the attempts of a father to reconcile with his son.
"For others, however, this action has been interpreted with far darker motives.
"Competitors of Usami-Corps say Fuyuhiko Usami's actions are an attempt to gain information about Korovin's unethical experiments, some of which will give Usami-Corps biomedical divisions a distinct advantage in developing technologies. Especially as the majority of the medical professionals now at New Days were already on the Usami-Corps payroll previously.
"Whatever the reason, these actions have caused the price of Usami-Corps stock to skyrocket, making it one of the most valuable companies in the world at present.
"In light of their competitors allegations, ones that amount amount to corporate piracy in the guise of aiding Korovin's former victims, I have been invited here to New Days by Usami-Corps President, Fuyuhiko Usami himself, to conduct exclusive interviews over the next week… Not only with President Usami, but also with a number of the doctors and therapists that have been working here.
"While the healthcare professionals I'll be interviewing, for reasons of patient confidentiality, will not provide names or specific details about their current clients, they have agreed to discuss the general issues that Korovin's victims face and what these survivors will continue to deal with in the process of their healing. They will also offer some insight into the types of medical conditions that they have been treating.
"I will also be speaking with Dr. Erik Himmel, a specialist in hostage crisis and Stockholm syndrome. He will clearly outline some of the tactics allegedly employed by Korovin and the relationship dynamics that played out between the Doc and his captives.
"I hope you'll join me tomorrow for the first interview in this "New Days" series: an exploration of terror, trauma, hope, and healing."
"Excellent, Flynn, that's a wrap."
"Thank God!" Flynn unclipped her lapel microphone and handed it to a waiting technician. She nodded to her director.
"Look, Jose, I'll be back in five." The reporter didn't wait for an answer before she headed to a corner of the lobby where she'd noted Aikawa hovering, watching her intro.
Aikawa smiled brightly at Flynn's approach. "That was great Flynn-san, you're a natural."
"Urgh…" Flynn sighed. "Honestly, I much rather be out in the field."
"Yes, but this is such a great opportunity, working for Independent." Aikawa dropped back into the nearby hall away from the cameras. She'd had more than enough of the news over the last few months. "I still can't believe all the job offers you got from one story."
Flynn followed her and they were soon headed down a quiet corridor.
"But what a story it was…" She smiled until she noted Aikawa's serious expression. "Still is…" Flynn corrected, knowing that Korovin's legacy was far from finished.
She scrambled to change the subject.
"I'm sorry that we haven't been able to get together recently, it seems like it's been weeks since we last had a chance to see each other."
"It has been… But I know you've been busy with your new job and all." Aikawa's eyes shone sympathetically.
"You know, I imagine you could have increased the number of authors in you stable tenfold, if they knew you'd been part of it."
Aikawa smiled a bit at this and shook her head. "No… Sensei asked me to keep both his and my participation in what happened quiet and I intend to honor his request. It's not the kind of fame either of us wants.
"Besides, just being his editor has brought me more press than I have a taste for… And after what I went through for him… Well, do you honestly think I'd want to take on any more authors right now? They might expect the same treatment."
Flynn laughed. Then her expression shifted and she gave Aikawa a sly look.
"You know, Aikawa… I think the real reason that you don't want to take on any more authors is that you've been having too good a time with S.J. and don't want work to interfere with your love life right now."
A bright blush filled Aikawa's cheeks at Flynn's words.
It was true that she had taken some time after the rescue to regroup and Augusto had been a wonderful and supportive part of this time. They had grown quite a bit closer in the three months she had remained in Brazil to help Usami-sensei.
"So where is S.J.? I can't imagine he's too far away."
Aikawa dipped her head avoiding Flynn's probing gaze. "Oh, he's wandering around here somewhere. You know how restless he is."
"Apparently not too restless…"
Aikawa looked up in surprise at Flynn's words.
"Don't think my keen eye didn't notice…"
Aikawa stopped and she gasped as the reporter lightly took her hand. Flynn turned Aikawa's fingers and the white gold band on her ring-finger shone brightly, set off by the ornamental lights overhead.
"So… that was fast…" Flynn cocked one of her sculpted brows.
Aikawa flushed deeper. "Well, Augusto said after what happened life is too short to waste in indecision."
"And you?"
The intensity of Flynn's gaze slightly unnerved Aikawa; she allowed a nervous laugh. "Well, Flynn-san, when you know as many gay men as I do and you find a good straight one…"
Flynn studied Aikawa carefully a moment before laughing. She released the editor's hand. "Speaking of your posse, how are Usami and Misaki doing?"
Aikawa's eyes grew solemn at the question. "Is this off the record?"
"Of course it is!" Flynn's tone was indignant.
"Sorry, Flynn." Aikawa dipped her head.
Once again Flynn took her hand, this time in assurance.
"It's going to be so hard for them… Misaki is so broken, even with all the help he's getting… and Sensei…
"I had no idea what that fiend did to him. He was so sick for so long. Even now the doctors aren't sure what the lasting effects will be."
"Did they ever determine what it was exactly in that injection Korovin gave him?" Flynn strove to keep her tone from sounding too curious, she didn't want Aikawa to shut down and shy away from talking with her.
Aikawa's auburn head shook a sad 'negative.'
"From what I understand, that horrible animal has hardly said two words since he regained consciousness. And almost everything they've found in his lab was encrypted.
But, from what the doctors here have been able to ascertain, it was a whole mix of things, I guess… Drugs, some brand new toxin, something like a virus too, maybe. Poor Sensei's bloodwork is still coming back abnormal, even after two months on dialysis."
"But he's doing better?" Flynn's eyes reflected her genuine concern for this man she'd never met.
"Yes." Lifting her free hand, Aikawa brushed a lone tear from the corner of her eye. "He's so much stronger, but I worry. He lives now only for Misaki it seems and he taxes himself too much trying to keep him safe. Sensei hasn't even told Misaki what happened to him yet."
"Maybe that's for the best right now."
Aikawa nodded. She felt tears begin to well in her eyes again. They're both so fragile and each trying to be so strong for the other.
"After all, if Misaki is still regressed…" Flynn trailed off.
"Oh, no… He's come out of that now, thank Kami-sama!"
The memory of Misaki reduced in actions and understanding to that of about a five year-old child was still so fresh in Aikawa's memory. It had happened without warning, three weeks into Misaki's stay at New Days. Not long after he'd had his ankle surgery: his bones had needed to be broken again and re-set if he was to ever walk again without pain.
Akihiko had just returned to the world at the time. After hovering near death for almost two-weeks, he had rallied and had cared for Misaki like he would his own child, showing more patience and compassion, however, than he'd ever been granted growing up. But even with Akihiko's tender care the "child Misaki" had been one of terrors and hysterical outbursts and Usami had almost relapsed, incredibly strained in his attempts to comfort his wounded, regressed lover.
"Dr. Omari was able to do some amazing work with the EMDR. It's been incredible but there's just so much to heal from… for both of them."
Flynn nodded. She'd heard wonderful things about Omari and was looking forward to interviewing him.
"and what of the others?"
Aikawa shook her head. "I am afraid I haven't much to report there. You know Usami-sensei and Misaki have their own floor. Outside of his groups, Misaki doesn't have much to do with the others and I have only glimpsed one or two of them, truthfully."
A small shudder trembled Aikawa as she recalled what she'd seen.
"My guess is they're doing the best that they can, given what they've been through. I do know they're getting some of the best help in the world."
Flynn nodded at this. Then she looked carefully at Aikawa.
"And how about you, Eri? How are you holding up… Truthfully."
Aikawa's eyes widened at the address as well as the earnestness in Flynn's tone. She looked down and gently pulled her hand away. She twisted Augusto's ring nervously around her finger.
"I'm… I'm fine." She looked back up into Flynn's intense gaze. "I'll be glad to return to Japan next week.
"It will be good to get back to my old life, as much as I can… Get back to work with my other authors, make a few books happen.
"I'll miss Augusto, but he'll be coming to Japan in two months. And you have to promise to come see me whenever you're in Tokyo covering a story."
"Still playing it strong… You're an amazing woman, Eri… Beauty and balls…"
Aikawa was overwhelmed by the seriousness in Flynn's eyes as well as her voice. She was even more taken aback however, when Flynn suddenly stepped closer and gently took her jaw in hand. The reporter leaned in before Aikawa fully understood what was happening she felt soft lips pressed against her own.
Despite her discomfort, Aikawa didn't flinch away: Flynn's kiss was extremely tender and she found a strange comfort in this touch.
Flynn broke their kiss and stepped back, her own cheeks flushed just as bright as Aikawa's now. " As S.J. says, life is too short not to take action. He's a very lucky man.
"I wish you both the best, but if things don't work out and you feel like hopping the fence let me know." Flynn offered Aikawa a wink but her expression after this light action was far more serious.
"Hey Flynn, the director wants you!"
"I'm on my way!" Flynn gave Aikawa one last smile. See you around Eri, and tell your Mr. Usami, I'm still holding him to that exclusive… When's he up to it. Though I hope he's much less of a bastard in an interview than his old man." With that the reporter turned and headed off down the hall.
Aikawa looked after her with a stunned expression for several minutes before turning herself and beginning towards the elevator that would take her to Usami-sensei's floor.
So that's it for part one. Will have part two out this weekend sometime.
And my dear readers, I thank you. Your feedback on the last chapter was so wonderful and fulfilling. You make these stories worth writing.