The ride home from the hospital was very quiet. Anna leaned against the headrest of the passenger seat staring at the street lights. An even hum from the engine was deeply lulling. As fatigue ravaged her senses she gripped her hands tightly in her lap to keep herself awake. Horo glanced at her a few times; he didn't want to veer off of the road, and he kept his speed as consistent as possible. He decided he wouldn't push her, no matter how many questions he had. Anna would need to deal with this in her own way, and he had to respect her wishes if she didn't want him involved. His thoughts wandered without provocation. There were so many things he wanted to know, things he suspected he'd never learn. Waiting for her to volunteer information possibly meant he'd remain in the dark forever.
Upon entering the house, he stepped in front to shield her from any glass on the floor. She yawned lightly and quietly ascended the staircase. He spent the next few hours obsessively cleaning; sweeping up hair, scrubbing away blood...a desperate attempt to make the house look normal. When things were back in place he quickly showered then slipped on an oversized t-shirt and a pair of gray linen pants. He needed to check on her once more before going to bed.
There was overwhelming sadness when he approached her bedroom door. Horo was unequipped to handle these situations, and he feared he was miserably failing her. He knocked softly and opened the door upon hearing a faint reply. She was lying on top of the bed wearing the hospital outfit he gave her: a brown t-shirt with gray sweat pants. Her vacant eyes peered in his direction briefly, and she sat up.
"Can I get you anything?"
"No."
"Do you...want me to call Yoh?"
It was a question he had no intention of asking, no matter how many times he considered it in his brain. He didn't want that man involved in this at all. She rested her eyes on his shirt. There was no response for several moments, but her expression melted into an instinctive scowl.
"Why would I call that useless coward?"
"Because you love that useless coward." It was another unplanned statement, and Horo was deeply worried. Was he pushing her too much?
She closed her eyes with bitter acknowledgment. "I can't...talk to him about this."
Her hand raised automatically to her ear to push a few strands of her hair back, but her fingers were greeted with buzzed stubble. The nurse she consistently yelled at during her hospital stay graciously evened out the hair with a pair of clippers, and now her entire head was fuzzy like a peach. She dropped her hand into her lap as her eyes filled with tears. How did she forget that so quickly?
"You don't need the hair, Anna. You're gorgeous."
Her smile was unexpected and completely genuine, from what he could tell. For a few moments he distracted her from the horrific events of that evening, and she was grateful. He returned the gesture with a slight giggle and scratched his neck.
"If you need anything...it doesn't matter what time it is; I'll wake up, okay?"
"Okay."
He headed into the hallway but stopped when he heard her call his name.
"Can...I...sleep with you?"
"Yeah."
Lyserg lay flat on his stomach against the bed with the side of his face buried against the pillow. There was a small digital clock resting on a nearby nightstand; the red numbers blared through the dark room like lasers. Although he had been staring at it for an extended period he didn't know the actual time. The numbers blurred in and out of focus. His body was frozen in place. There had been no movement on his part for over an hour for two reasons. Moving was difficult and painful; many of his reopened wounds were beginning to bleed out again. His body from the waist down was completely numb. He was unsure if his legs were still attached but couldn't move his head to look at them. His arms were heavy as if full of lead; his hands were limp with his palms tucked underneath the pillow, and his shoulders were rolled into a tensed curve he couldn't correct.
The second reason was more dominant. He was simply too afraid to move. Ren was sitting in the desk chair that he placed beside the bed and was close enough to touch him. He wore a new outfit that he changed into after a long shower. Lyserg felt his eyes observing him, and in staring at the clock he feared the moment his eyes would force him to blink.
"I don't think you understand, Lyserg."
Ren's voice was incredibly soft, but when it pierced the air the sound caused him to involuntarily flinch.
"Do you really think I would ever let you walk away from me?" His tone was cold almost immediately, and his eyes narrowed as he leaned forward in the chair.
There was no answer.
"It makes me wonder if you provoke me because you want me to kill you. Is that what you want?"
"No." It escaped as a frightened moan and was probably indecipherable.
"Understand something..." He rested his hands lightly against the mattress, and Lyserg's entire body trembled. "I'll do whatever is necessary for it to sink in. Until you get it...I don't have a choice."
He stood from the chair, an action that conjured a desperate whimper from his counterpart, and ran his fingers gently through his hair.
"You're so stubborn." He grabbed the hair and pulled it. "Stop pushing me."
Lyserg closed his eyes as his face saturated with his tears. He couldn't control them. Ren knew this, but it fueled his anger anyway.
"Stop," he said.
But the demand forced more hysteria. Lyserg grabbed the pillow gingerly with his hands as he attempted to muffle the loud wails.
"Stop crying." Ren released his hair. It was an infuriating display.
Lyserg coughed lightly as the liquid drowned his throat, but he was quickly interrupted when he felt a tight pull against the back of his head. The force was enough to roll his body onto his side, but he dully swung his arms as an instinctive response. Ren punched him in the ear but only forced increased volume. His eyes were tightly closed; he was flailing tight fists in the air like a child having a terrible tantrum. The erratic movement landed him on his back. Ren wrapped his hands firmly around his neck and squeezed until the pressure forced his arms to fall limp.
"STOP." It was a low growl. The movement and sound abruptly ceased as Lyserg stared into his eyes with frozen terror. Ren straddled his legs over him as he leaned into the move and bared his teeth.
The force was unnecessary. Lyserg couldn't breathe but seemed unaware he was lacking oxygen. Their eyes remained locked in an uneven exchange for several uncomfortable seconds. Ren's eyes were widened with uncontrolled rage; Lyserg's eyes appeared dilated and shallow.
"Stop, Lyserg." He shook him violently by the neck as he said it but quickly released him into the pillow.
Lyserg continued his mystified expression that seemed permanently painted on his face. His body was rigid; he didn't move. Ren tightened his jaw and slapped him. This action reset things, and Lyserg's face immediately relaxed.
"Stop looking at me like that." His eyes filled with tears as he spoke; he punched the pillow near Lyserg's head with his fist.
Lyserg mumbled under his breath. Ren exhaled and closed his eyes.
"I can't even hear you."
"Please...get...off. It...hurts."
Ren obeyed the request with a startled expression. The action was so automatic he didn't realize he was doing it. Lyserg looked at the ceiling and softly exhaled. His demeanor was abnormally calm; his fingers twitched a few times against the mattress. He knew Ren was crying now, but there was no reaction.
"You can't...leave." Ren couldn't properly project his voice, and that was frustrating.
"...I know."
"I mean it, Lyserg." Ren tightened his hands into fists and traced his mutilated body with his eyes. He was lost in his thoughts momentarily and paused. "...I'll never let you go."
Lyserg wearily closed his heavy lids. This wasn't the time to fall asleep, but fatigue was overwhelming and he needed a break.
"Your apartment..." He bit his bottom lip. "Is it cramped? I can buy a bigger one if—"
"It's okay."
"If you really hate the job I can move you."
"London is fine."
He walked toward the window and pushed back one of the curtain panels as he stared at the moon.
"Where did that junk come from?" There was slight aggravation in his voice.
"Ryu brought it."
"The chefs downstairs have your menu."
"He just...wanted me to eat."
"You ate that crap?"
"I...liked it," he mumbled.
"You'll be sick."
"...Yeah."
Ren clenched his hands into fists. The moonlight seemed much brighter the longer he stood in front of the window, and the glass felt cold.
"Why was he here?"
"He wanted..." Lyserg paused abruptly.
Ren turned around and walked toward the bed. Lyserg's eyes were open, and the nervous expression increased his anger.
"What did you say to him?"
"Nothing." The answer was too fast.
"Ryu just came over here and poisoned you for no reason?"
He didn't answer.
Ren climbed into the bed and smacked his forehead with an open palm. "You're going to play stupid?"
"He's my friend..." He spoke with infantile curiosity. "Because...he cares about me. That's what he said."
"That son of a bitch doesn't care anything about you."
"Maybe he does," Lyserg said softly.
"Fine, Lyserg. Be his friend." He lay beside him and tapped the small space between them with his fist. "Let him use you until he's bored. And when he abandons you, don't come running back to me."
His eyes were wet again, and he closed them.
"You can't trust him...or any of them."
"They're...my friends." He seemed unsure of the statement, and his voice faltered.
"You don't have any friends," Ren sighed. "Those people tolerate you. They don't even like you."
"...Okay."
"Don't start that, Lyserg. That...sarcasm."
"Please, Ren...I'm tired."
Ren knew that was Lyserg's way of being dismissive. He used fatigue as a means to avoid uncomfortable conversations and although he hated it, the technique was extremely effective.
"Fine. Take a nap."
Lyserg didn't answer as he allowed the exhaustion to overtake him. He was asleep within minutes.
Yoh stood over the bed with a tense stance. He was wearing a pair of boxers and a white t shirt, and his presence was cloaked in the shadow of the dark room. Tamao was lying naked in the bed. Her light snoring was barely audible, and a thin sheet covered her body below the waist. Her back was lightly exposed with various strands of her hair covering the pillow wrapped in her arms. After his bath he locked the door and waited for as long as he could to tire her out. The plan seemed to have worked. At some point she collapsed in waiting for him, and he was relieved she appeared unconscious. He took a deep breath and walked away. When he entered the hallway and softly closed the door Tamao opened her eyes.
She stared at the mattress with anger. Yoh couldn't tell she was faking, which bothered her, but she was more distracted by his audacity to lock himself in the bathroom. As she sat up in the bed, she clutched the sheet tightly in her hands and clenched her teeth. Yoh's actions confirmed all of her insecurities about Anna's phone calls. Why was he talking to her, and why was he lying about it?
This was unacceptable. He needed to be punished.
Tamao tiptoed down the hallway wearing a thin satin night gown with nothing underneath. He was sitting on the sofa in the living room as expected, and she stood behind him staring at his hair. Yoh felt the sudden warmth, but she grabbed a large section of the thick brown mass with her hand before he could turn around. She jerked his head back against the sofa and leaned into his face.
"Come to bed, Yoh."
He didn't respond. His body was frozen against the cushion, and he stared into her eyes as the beveled points of a small taser lightly pricked his neck.
"Now."
Horo had to be honest. Being this close to Anna...having her in his bed...was frightening. Her small form appeared so fragile resting against the mattress. If he were to fall asleep and roll over, would he crush her? She changed into a pink tank top and a pair of loose white pants before coming there, and now her femininity was more difficult to ignore. They were facing each other; he rested his head on the pillow as he watched her subtle breathing, and his hand was flat against the sheet. She was staring at it because his hand was less intense than his eyes. They were sharing one pillow, but her head barely covered the bottom edge. Her eyes traced his arm and paused at his shirt. Horo surveyed the bandages along her forearms, and his heart skipped a beat when her neck and lip came into view.
"Why?" he asked absentmindedly, without really expecting an answer. He took a shallow breath and rolled his hand into a weak fist. There was this instinctive need to hold her he was trying to fight off, and she didn't seem aware of it.
"He...changed his mind," she said as a tear rolled over the bridge of her nose and onto the mattress.
"About what?"
"There wasn't enough time. He knew you were coming."
Horo couldn't control the onslaught of tears that filled his eyes. He knew what she was trying to say, and her words were both relieving and terrifying. There was nothing he could say in that moment. The need to protect her was strong, and every frail word of encouragement he could think of was ripped to shreds by a burning desire to find Ren. His confusion fueled this rage, this hatred for a man he called his friend for so many years. Ren could never explain something like this away. There was no justification for harming a woman so violently, and the only suitable reaction would be more violence.
"I'm sorry for leaving you alone. If I had known—"
"You didn't. It's my fault."
Anna glanced at his shirt and paused. He was confused by the statement but was afraid she would stop talking if he pressed.
"I should have acknowledged the truth," she said. "I didn't want to believe it. I just...wanted to be strong."
"You are strong."
"I forced myself into a corner. It could have been prevented."
"Anna...I don't know what you mean."
"He scares me." It was a frail whisper, but her voice gained depth as she continued. "I wanted to believe I could handle him and was strong enough to fight him if necessary. But he's too strong."
She was crying again, but he didn't interrupt.
"I was being stubborn...because I honestly believed he wouldn't go that far. And when he did...there was nothing I could do to stop him."
"No one expects you to fight Ren all by yourself, Anna. I've never won a fight against him in my life. He's an animal. Everyone knows that."
He paused. Maybe that was a poor word choice, but it was definitely accurate. Ren fought with the intent to maim or kill. It was an instinct that was never normal to his friends for as long as Horo could remember. But even a man with that nature would have limits of some kind.
Or so he thought.
"I've never...felt this before."
"Maybe you should talk about it."
She shifted against the bed, turning her back against him. He moved back slightly, but her head brushed against his chest. He wrapped his arm around her waist without much thought, but his fingers trembled as soon as he made contact. For several moments she lay still and didn't recoil, and he released a nervous sigh.
"I want this to end. I don't want to live my life constantly looking over my shoulder, wondering if he's watching me or waiting to find me alone."
"Do you think he would do that?"
"I don't know. I don't want people protecting me. I don't want to be that person."
"A victim?"
She closed her eyes and rubbed her face.
"You are a victim, Anna. It doesn't make you less of a person."
She rolled onto her back, decreasing the space between them, and exhaled. He rested his arm lightly over his hip and stared at the floor.
"I considered calling Hao like a scared little girl," she said with a frustrated laugh. "Can you believe that? I was going to tell him to come get rid of the Boogie Man. How pathetic is that?"
He swallowed hard.
"I gave him exactly what he wanted." She grasped the mattress and stared at the ceiling with a frown. "I fell apart...in front of him. I cried...like a stupid child. He wanted me to beg, and I did. I let him do that to me! I let that bastard win!"
"Anna, it's not your fault."
His statement activated a trigger he didn't expect. She cupped her hands over her face as uncomfortable, unfiltered wails escaped her throat. The more she tried to quell the hysterical crying, the louder and more desperate the sound filled the air. Horo couldn't bear the sight of her being in so much pain. He gently wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head, and she buried her face into his shirt.
She cried for several minutes. Long, stress-filled moans went uninterrupted as he held her securely. It was exhausting, and she eventually tired from the exertion. Horo didn't release her as she fell asleep in his arms. He stared at the floor with worry. This night, at least, he was determined to keep her protected with his own body. He would hold her in his arms until sunrise. Until then, she would be perfectly safe from the Boogie Man, even if it meant sacrificing his sleep.
Ren stood on the side of the bed staring at Lyserg with puffy, reddened eyes. There were too many confusing emotions flooding his brain. Lyserg lightly awoke as he felt the change in the air and caught a glimpse of his back as he walked away.
"Where are you going?"
"I need air," was the response. Ren returned to the bed after a long pause. He could hear Lyserg's breathing quickly elevating, and he knew he had to soothe him.
"Don't...don't...leave me here." The whimpering resembled that of a child being abandoned by his parents.
"It's okay," Ren said. "I'm just going out for a while."
"No...please...please don't leave," he repeated with bitter tears.
"Calm down. Just...rest, okay?" He rubbed his head gently with his hand. "I'll be right back. I promise."
Lyserg rubbed his face against the pillow and heavily exhaled. He was too tired to keep this protest going. Ren waited until his light snoring resumed before quietly leaving the room.
The buzzing of the elevator was calming. Pain in his stomach subsided, and he was grateful there were no stops between Lyserg's floor and ground level. He stepped into the front foyer and sighed heavily when he was spotted by one of the clerks.
"Mr. Tao!" he said. "Are you going out? Would you like for me to have your car brought around?"
"No, I can walk."
"It's pretty late, Sir. I can call an escort for you."
"That's not necessary. I'm fine."
"But...Sir—"
"Leave me alone." He walked away before the man could argue.
The parking garage was full when he entered. He knew most people were asleep this time of night. The soles of his sneakers hit the pavement in a pattern that annoyed him. He sped his pace to change it. When his black sedan came into sight he pulled a set of keys out of his pocket but paused before reaching the driver side door.
He recognized the brown sport car parked across from his space immediately. Hao spent three summers through high school saving up enough money to buy it, and he told everyone he would never part with it no matter how old it became. A smirk crossed his lips momentarily as he stared at the pavement. That was no coincidence. He tightened his grip on the keys and walked to his car, but when he pressed a small button on the remote in his hand he realized the doors were already unlocked.
"Interesting." He chuckled to himself and opened the door.
The cabin air was flat, filling his nostrils with leather, vanilla and...cedarwood soap. The soap was out of place. He dropped his hands lightly into his lap.
"How did you get in my car?" he asked without turning around.
"Your alarm system is a joke."
Ren smiled and glanced briefly into the rear view mirror. He couldn't see him in the back seat, and that bothered him.
"So to what do I owe this honor?" The tone was annoyingly sarcastic.
"You know why I'm here."
The next few moments passed in utter slow motion. He grabbed Ren with a strong arm against his neck and pulled him roughly between the driver and passenger seats. His grip was powerful. Ren couldn't stop himself from being dragged. He kicked the dashboard a few times, but once in the back he was pinned hard against the seat. As he swung his arms in the air, feeling through darkness, he was startled by a hard punch to his face.
"You should calm down, Tao. You're making me think you don't want to see me. Don't hurt my feelings."
Although the pale florescent light from the parking garage wasn't enough to completely illuminate the tight space, Ren saw his face when he leaned closer. His almond eyes were filled with intense hatred he couldn't match, and thick tips of his auburn ponytail rested against his shoulder.
"Get off of me." It was a whimper he didn't intend to make but knew he couldn't take back.
Ren held the hooded jacked Hao was wearing tightly in his hands. His arms were bent against the seat, and his hips were pinned beneath his body. There was a hint of sweet apples lingering on his breath. It was completely unnecessary for Hao to be this close to him in his mind. He felt...violated.
"You look pale," Hao said with a sinister grin. "What's wrong?"
"Get the hell off of me!"
"Oh, that's right..." He leaned back with his hair brushing the roof of the car. His grin faded immediately, and he glared down at him with menacing eyes. "You like being on top."
The statement made him shiver, and he dropped his hands. He could no longer see Hao's face, as it was hidden among the shadow of the cabin. This absence of light ravaged his limbs with rising fear. He watched Hao pull a small syringe delicately from his jacket. The barrel was full of a partially transparent liquid with beige hues and—
He couldn't concentrate on that. Ren squirmed beneath him, punching him frantically in the chest, arms...anywhere he could reach. Hao punched him again to stop the movement. Ren cursed under his breath as the blow crunched into his face. That man was unbelievably strong; he was quickly incapacitated. Hao leaned into his face again close enough for his hair to tickle his ear.
"Behave yourself," he whispered.
He removed the plastic protective cap with his teeth then inserted the needle into his neck. As the mysterious substance slowly entered his bloodstream Ren gasped for air in a panic. Hao watched his eyes broaden in a strained manner as he moaned incoherent muffled noises.
"Burns like hell, doesn't it?"
Ren punched the seat with tightly clenched fists.
"Stay here for a minute," Hao said quickly and tapped his forehead with his hand.
When he exited the back Kanna was leaning against his car with her arms folded firmly over her chest. The black sedan was rocking back and forth in erratic fashion, but he ignored it as he approached her.
"Take my car to the yard." He handed her the keys.
"You didn't say anything about him, Hao." Stress filled her face. "You're going to get yourself killed."
"I'll catch up with you." He ignored it.
"Ren has an army of security. They'll catch you."
"Do you not have any faith in me now?" He flashed a playful frown, but this only increased her anxiety.
"The entire police force will be after you. This will be a war, and you don't have enough guns."
"I'm sure I'll manage."
Although she was unconvinced he kissed her delicately on the cheek, and that was enough to distract her into taking the keys.
"I'll meet you there."
She glanced at the sedan with concern after noticing the movement stopped then twirled the key ring around her finger.
"Be careful," she said before disappearing inside of his car.
He smiled in response and waited until she pulled away to walk back to the sedan. Sitting in the driver's seat was exciting. Ren's car was luxury class at it's best, full of bells and whistles no auto owner would ever need. He would definitely enjoy himself. Shallow, asthmatic breathing filled the space and distracted him. Hao turned around with an annoyed frown. Ren was now lying on his stomach with his legs awkwardly bent against the seat. One arm rested along the floorboard; the other leaned against the door handle. His fingers wrapped around the shiny chrome as if he had been trying to escape but couldn't. Although his eyes were open his expression was vacant, and after a few more of these strained breaths, his chest collapsed against the leather.
"We're going for a ride, Tao. I'll let you sleep on the way."
