Chapter One
Looking for Something Special
Raian left home to find something special. He wanted companionship for the night, and he was more than willing to pay for exactly what he wanted. He was looking for someone that wouldn't mind a few marks, and perhaps a little rough treatment. He was looking for someone who could handle him when he got really going. For him, it didn't matter the gender, only how tough they were. He bedded people like he fought them, so it was no surprise it wasn't easy to find what he wanted in Kure Village.
He often brought people home, and sometimes he was in the mood for something softer, and he would find a woman that he wanted to bed usually then, because the truly effeminate men didn't catch his interest at all. No, if he wanted something womanly, he looked for a woman. If he wanted something rougher, sometimes a man would fit the bill, but he didn't want one that he could break. He frequently bought companionship because he honestly had no romantic interest in any of them at all, he wanted to fuck, and that was it.
Hotel Midnight was coming up, the only Love Hotel in Kure Village, and he could already see a couple figures standing outside it. He grinned, dark eyes alight with excitement. It would be a challenge to find what he wanted, but if he did, the fun he would have tonight.
"Candy!" he called out as he approached.
The woman standing there turned and grinned at him. She wore impossibly high heeled shoes and what looked like a French maid's outfit in pink instead of black. "Well, if it isn't Raian Kure."
Raian shoved both hands in his pockets and nodded to her. "How's business?"
"Surprisingly good. Weather's been good lately, so that helps matters. You looking for something tonight?" she grinned, moving to cup his face with her manicured nails.
"Something rough tonight, so anyone like that? That can take a little, or a lot, of pain?" he grinned even wider.
Candy stepped back and looked thoughtful. "I know someone. He's got a pretty face, lovely hair, too, but he's into rough fucking and pain play a whole bunch. He's kinda new around here, just showed up a few weeks ago. Strange, too, he just fit right in, so I think he's done this before."
Raian arched a brow and nodded. "Alright, sounds like what I'm lookin' for," he thought it sounded just right.
"Sure, he's inside," she said, turning and leading him into the foyer of the love hotel where there was a dark-haired figure seated on a sofa. He turned his head toward them as they came into the area.
Raian blinked a couple times because he recognized him. He'd been the guy from the tournament that was obsessed with Ohma. He grinned again. Oh, this was too perfect. He would rub it in Ohma's face.
"You'll do," he growled out, reaching down and grabbing him by the arm, pulling him to stand.
What he got in return wasn't resistance like he would expect, but pliability, and he turned his eyes to meet Raian's. For a second, something whispered in the back of Raian's mind that this was wrong, because there was something wrong with this guy in the head if he remembered right. But then it went away when he felt a jolt to his dick. He jerked on his arm and headed back with him without another word, even to discuss payment.
-oooooo-OOOOOO-oooooo-
Ohma woke up when the smell of food permeated the room. He smiled as he sat up. He winced a little because the scar on his chest pulled now and then, but then it had only been a year since he had his heart completely replaced. He was in the Kure mansion, where the old man was more than convinced he was going to marry his granddaughter. He hated to tell him, but he wasn't interested in that. He was here to get better, and that was it. The Kure clan could help him get back to the shape he needed to be in to fight once more. That, of course, was his goal even if he didn't talk about it much. He wanted to fight again and maybe see Yamashita Kazuo.
He got up and dressed, pausing to look in the mirror at the scarring on his chest. He slipped a t-shirt over his head and went to the dining room where a lot of the Kure clan were already sitting around having breakfast.
Ohma got his breakfast and sat down. Just as he was about to start eating, though, he heard someone call his name. He looked up to see a grinning Raian coming toward him. Ohma sighed, wondering what he wanted.
"Ohma! Guess who I have in my bed?" he said, grinning even more if it was possible.
Ohma blinked, and Hollis called from the next table. "Raian! The breakfast table is not the place to talk about what you do in the bedroom!"
Ohma nodded. "Yeah, and I don't care."
"Come on, you have to wonder. It's someone you know!" Raian crossed his arms with a self-satisfied smile on his face now.
Ohma blinked, wondering who Raian could have taken to bed that he knew. "I have no idea who you're talking about."
"Come on, I'll show ya."
Ohma looked longingly at his breakfast but got up and followed him to Raian's room. He had to admit some curiosity as to what Raian was talking about. He opened the door and Ohma didn't see anyone.
"Well, there's no one here," Ohma stated.
Raian stepped into the room and looked around. "Dammit! He left already! He didn't even get his money yet!"
Now, Ohma was curious. "Okay, who was it?"
"That crazy guy that followed you around at the tournament," he said, shrugging. "He's still crazy, but not a bad lay."
"Crazy guy? Are you talking about Setsuna?" Ohma frowned.
"Yeah, that's him. Kiryu or something. He was at the love hotel last night when I went looking for a partner. He's a fucking masochist in bed, too. He took one hell of a rough night last night without complaint. Candy said he did the pain thing, but damn," Raian grinned at him.
Ohma stared at him for a good minute before he blinked and growled. "And you just left him alone?"
"Well, I hadn't paid him yet, so I didn't think he'd up and leave!" Raian returned.
"I need to find him," Ohma said, turning and heading down the hall.
"Hey, wait, you aren't in any damn condition to be running around like that yet!" Raian called, running to catch up with him.
"Well, I have to find him! He's not the most stable guy. I need to find out what he's doing here and why he's doing this!" Ohma said, noticing they were attracting attention as he headed for the entrance to the mansion, and was walking through the dining room.
"What's going on?" Retsudo said as he came over toward them.
"Setsuna was here, but he left. I need to find him," Ohma said, glaring at Raian who was still standing in his way.
"You can go running all over the village right now," Raian said, crossing his arms.
"Raian's right," Ohma heard from behind him. He turned to see Hanafusa standing there. "You're still recovering. You can't overtax your heart by running all over the place looking for someone."
"What do you want to find him for, anyway?" Raian asked. "I mean, he's just some prostitute now. He seems fine with it."
"Look, I gave him a second chance. I want to know why he's wasting it like this!" Ohma said with a deep sigh.
"We can go look for him," Horio said as he walked up with Reiichi.
"So can I," Retsudo nodded. "I remember what he looks like."
"You stay here and let them do this," Raian growled out at him.
Ohma sighed and nodded. "Fine. Just find him and bring him back. He needs help."
-oooooo-OOOOOO-oooooo-
Setsuna was a little off right then, to say the lease. He hugged himself, trying to ignore the pain in his throat and the stinging of his skin. He glanced up to see it was late afternoon and he'd spent the better part of the day with this client. He wasn't sure exactly how long, though, as he couldn't remember much about this morning except leaving the Kure mansion as quickly as he could. Perhaps he should have waited for Raian to come back, but he was worried about what someone who knew who he had been recently would react to him. He shook his head, dizziness trying to take over. He couldn't let that happen, though. He had to get back to the studio he rented. If he could just do that and lie down, he'd be fine.
He stumbled a little and was startled by his own reflection in the glass of a shop. He blinked, seeing that his throat was raw and marked redly. He reached up and gingerly touched the mark. His client had been interested in breath play. He thought he might have gone overboard since there was chunks of time he couldn't remember from the time he was there. He turned, glancing at his back, and saw that he had bled through the light-colored shirt he was wearing. He frowned, hoping he didn't run into anyone because they'd ask questions and questions were something he didn't need right then.
"Hey!" he heard. He snapped his head in the direction of the voice and saw a Kure running toward him. He didn't know her, just recognized the eyes. "You're Setsuna, right?" she asked, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm fine, leave me alone," he said, trying to push her off.
"No, I'm calling for a car," she said, and she pulled out a phone and made a call. "Yeah, I need a car. By the grocery. Yeah, right away." She put the phone away. "What happened to you?"
Setsuna waved her off, or tried to, but he found he was weak. "Just not something you should worry about. I'll be fine once I get home." He had no idea why the Kure Clan cared anything about him.
"I'm not letting you leave like this," she said, and Setsuna knew that he couldn't very well resist her in his condition. Pathetic, he though.
He heard a car come close and blinked wearily. He held his head for a moment and then looked up. He blinked in surprise because was that Ohma? He was supposed to be dead… Just as that thought crossed his mind, darkness slipped over his mind and the world fell down around him.
-oooooo-OOOOOO-oooooo-
Setsuna hadn't been scared in his life very often, if at all. There was one time, though, that someone scared him and made him truly fear for his life.
He had wanted to beat him. And Setsuna had no problem with that, after all, that's what he was known best for. Of course, usually, when a client wanted to beat him, they got aroused by the act and even got off while they were doing it or afterward when they decided to fuck him. It didn't matter to Setsuna, whatever worked for him. He was paying a price, after all.
This guy, though, was only looking for someone to punish. He was very angry, and the entire time, he just caned and slapped him as he yelled and screamed at him. He never got aroused by it, which was odd. For a little while, Setsuna contemplated breaking free of his bonds and running. He could have, even with the injuries he had already. He was strong enough to overpower such a simple weakling. He hesitated, and wondered if this guy was going to kill him if he didn't free himself.
Eventually, he stopped and untied him. He was quiet then, just telling Setsuna to clean up and get out. He threw the money at him, spreading it out all over the bed where he'd been tied. Setsuna gathered it up and left, hoping to never see the guy again. He would later find out that the guy was decidedly not popular with the other prostitutes in the area. It had taken a while to heal from that incident.
It was those thoughts that were in his head as he blinked, noticing he was somewhere new. The room was clean and white and dimly lit. He couldn't tell what time of day it was immediately as the curtains were drawn entirely. He turned to see someone he vaguely recognized. Dr. Hanafusa.
"You're awake," he said, grinning at him. "I wasn't sure how long you were going to be out. Your body really has taken a beating, and not just the recent one, either."
Setsuna didn't say anything, but glanced away from Hanafusa. "Yeah, that's not your business."
"This time, you had some severe lacerations and there was a close call with one wound near an artery. You were lucky. And then the damage to your throat was pretty severe. You'll probably be hoarse for a few days, I'd think." Hanafusa just watched him for a few moments.
"Did I-did I see Ohma?"
Hanafusa nodded. "You did. Ohma is very much alive."
"How?" Setsuna turned back and narrowed his eyes at him.
"You see, we were able to give him a heart transplant after his heart gave out. We've been here in the Kure Village for the last year so he could recover. It's coming along nicely, I think, but he almost overtaxed himself when he found out you were here. We had to assure him we would find you." Hanafusa stood up and walked over to adjust the bandage on Setsuna's shoulder. "But you rest now, then you can see Ohma again."
"Why can't I see him now?" Setsuna frowned.
"Like I said, you need to rest. Then you can worry about Ohma, alright? You slept an entire day and night already, so obviously your body is in need of rest desperately." Hanafusa pulled the cover up on him. "Someone will be in with something light for you to eat in a few hours."
Setsuna watched him go. For a moment he contemplated just getting up and leaving. He could do that, he supposed. But then, he was very tired. And he wanted to see Ohma again. So, that meant he had to stay after all.
-oooooo-OOOOOO-oooooo-
"You can see him," Hanafusa said.
Ohma nodded. "Is he well enough?"
Ohma stood outside the room where Setsuna had been taken. He had fretted over the situation for the last few days as Hanafusa said that Setsuna needed rest more than anything. So, Ohma had waited, albeit not very patiently. He really wanted to know what was going on with Setsuna, especially after he gave him a second chance at life.
Hanafusa opened the door. "As I said, you can see him."
Ohma walked in to see Setsuna, looking much the same as he had a year ago, sitting in the bed. His back and shoulders were bandaged still, but he didn't have any weeping wounds remaining. Ohma just stared until Setsuna turned to stare at him. His eyes were different, more haggard and worn, Ohma decided. Obviously, the last year had not been kind to him.
"Setsuna," he said as he approached the bed.
"Ohma, it is you. I thought they were still lying to me somehow and you were actually dead," he said, looking over Ohma with those tired looking eyes.
"Yeah, I'm alive," he said, putting his hand to his chest. "Thanks to Dr. Hanafusa. He saved me."
"I'm glad to know you're alive," Setsuna said, smiling lightly.
They were silent a moment and then Ohma sighed. "What are you doing? Why have you been doing this, living on the street as a prostitute, and letting people do horrible things to you?"
Setsuna didn't say anything for a moment then bit his lip thoughtfully. "You let me live. And I thought that I had to atone for my sins instead of seeking to die. So, I went back to what I used to know, the only way I knew how, and let people use me as my penance."
Ohma was quiet again, thinking it over. He believed that Setsuna was being truthful with him. And he believed that Setsuna truly felt that this had been the only way for him.
"If you want to atone, you don't do it like that," Ohma said finally, his voice firm and strong. "I saw the scars and marks you have on you. You shouldn't get those this way. They should come from fighting fierce battles, not letting people abuse you."
Setsuna snapped his head to stare at him, his eyes going wide. Ohma's words had triggered a memory, one that Setsuna had put away and forgotten.
Taira Genzan had been his teacher. When he was first training with him, Taira noticed that he had marks on him that weren't from training. When asked, Setsuna confessed the truth. He'd been biting his own skin until he bled. Taira had scolded him, telling him that such marks should only come from battles or training, not from harming himself.
Setsuna's eyes filled with tears then. Ohma was taken aback, and not sure what to do.
"I didn't know any other way, Ohma," he whispered.