LEGAL DRUG (GOHOU DRUG) FANFIC

Title: Sanguine

Written By: RinoaDestiny (Ann Koo)

CHAPTER 21

"Kakei, think this through." From where he stood, hands crammed deep in his pockets, Kazahaya shuffled his weight from one foot to the next. Saiga-san, in what had to be unintentional mimicry, did the same and then broke the pattern, pacing across the floor. "What would we gain from you being here? From you staying while we run?" The lamp on the nightstand threw long dark shadows on concrete, overlapping pale green with the steady movement of one and the seated silhouette of another. The only shadows missing were his and Rikuo's.

One of the shadows stopped, as if jerked to a halt by invisible strings off-stage. It was Kakei-san, sitting by Rikuo's bedside that spoke. "You know the reason, Saiga. It makes the most sense. You need to be there with them."

"But why you, love?"

Rawness and worry and need. Kazahaya heard the ache behind the man's voice and wondered if the same feeling warred behind those hidden eyes. He's heard enough in his own voice to read the emotions by now. There was something more behind the question – something intimate that only the two men gazing at each other knew. Rikuo and he used to have a relationship akin to that, albeit through squabbling and throwing insults at each other. To reach the level of where Kakei-san and Saiga-san were at...

It seemed impossible.

He blamed Toshiya and all his murderous, brutal, raping thugs for that. For the reasons why Rikuo laid on that bed, overcome by so much pain in the aftermath that drugs were needed. For the reasons why he couldn't hold Rikuo tight when the nightmares came; images blood-drenched and sadistic and cruel and when the sounds of whimpering and half-sobs destroyed sleep. Or the nights when there were no sounds and he found Rikuo curled into himself, losing a fight that had already been lost.

There was that.

Yet, there was the sensation of snow – pinpricks of ice and sudden cold – and Rikuo's fingers curled in his. Rikuo in tears and afraid and hands clenched around metal, words painful and sharp as glass, choking out an experience he'd wish on no one. How Rikuo and he shared that moment of silence, when a squeeze of the hand meant "thank you" and he knew that. How Rikuo probably meant him to construe it as such.

Yes, there was that, too.

"Kakei," and the gruffness of Saiga-san's voice jolted him back, "you don't need to do this for us. They can use your wisdom, your foresight. If you need muscle, I can stay behind for that."

"No, Saiga."

"What will you do if they start asking questions? What if they –"

What if they kill you, he means? Or do worse?

"If all of us leave, they'll know. They'll realize their suspicions were correct. But if the seemingly unassuming one stays, we can keep them guessing. You must go with them, Saiga. What if they show up at the hideout when you're not there? Or while you're away? Do you want to return to see one boy missing and the other one butchered? Or both gone?"

"These men are the same ones who turned Rikuo's ability into piecemeal, Kakei. You and I both know if we come to blows, both of us are dead. Where will that leave the boys?"

"Then what option do you suggest?"

"Come with us, love. I can't see into their futures. You can't fight them all off by yourself if that happens. Kakei," the other man said, moving towards the seated pharmacist, "we've stuck through it by being together. If we split, even for the boys, we're in danger. Don't choose this path, please."

"You've said it yourself, Saiga." Kazahaya blinked, hearing the softer voice catch. "We're both dead anyway if we have to fight. Even if you stay, how long can you intimidate them away from here? I may be slight but I can play mind games with them. Keep them guessing."

"For how long?"

A light laugh; the pale fall of sadness dappling it like fading sunlight. "You sound like me. My own echo chamber. I suppose we can't just leave the boys in safe shelter somewhere?"

"Not by themselves."

"There's also the situation with Rikuo's painkillers." The sudden flash of a white sleeve. Kazahaya swallowed the lump developing in his throat. From the gentle movement, his boss had smoothed back the damp hair from Rikuo's brow. The drugs had done its work and let his partner sleep. He couldn't imagine this new kind of agony. "If we both leave..."

"And he runs out..."

"You see." A smile that wasn't one. "You need to go with them. I need to stay here. One of us needs to act as the go-between in case he runs out."

"A fine trap you've laid there, love. I suppose that means I've lost."

"I don't remember setting a wager."

"You did. You're staying. I'm leaving. It's as simple as that."

"No, Saiga. It's not like that." This time, the slimmer man rose, raising his head so that the frame of his glasses glimmered. "It's a sacrifice. I want these boys to be happy. If that means giving up being with you for some time just to keep them safe, I'll do it."

"Don't give up yourself. Love, don't."

"I have no intent on dying."

"That's not what I meant."

"No, that's not what you meant." The pre-cog's volume dropped to a whisper like rain on silk. "That's not what you meant at all."

Kazahaya unpeeled himself from the wall, padding on quiet feet towards and around the two men focused on each other. He slipped into the much-worn chair; felt himself enshrouded in the silence and the mood of the moment and gazed down at Rikuo. Reached out for his hand and felt his fingers curl around as if they belonged there. To see Rikuo like this; to hear Kakei-san's declaration of sacrifice; to remember Rikuo's own offer, wrenched out of misery and futility and just the hope to see him – Kazahaya – safe made him close his eyes. Offer his own prayers to whichever god or luck or fortune that would have pity on them. That would have mercy for Rikuo. To end his pain. To end this chase...this madness.

It felt like a shadow play and they were all a part of it. His shadow intermingled with the overlapping forms on the floor. Three out of four. Many more – darker shapes – if he thought; if he acknowledged that they, too, were inextricable from this mess. The whistling of shards that ripped open Rikuo's back and the man that ordered it done. Yoshiro. The broken body of a girl, throat sliced and slick with blood. Tsukiko. One of the dead. The gentle face and hands of an older man, trying to mend what wouldn't heal. Eichiro. The cast-aside remnants of whatever remained of Rikuo's body and soul and the man and those who caused such anguish. Toshiya. Mikuragi. Jiro and so many others responsible for where they stood today. For why he lingered near Rikuo, aware of the difference between their relationship and that of the two older men standing near him and longed – achingly so – to return to before.

But before was an impossibility and he knew it as well as Rikuo did. He'd been told it once, perhaps twice. He didn't need to be reminded again. The only thing he could do was wait and watch the shadows move; playing out their parts in this cold cruel reality and hope the consequences were doled out to those whom deserved it. By the end – if he survived – his part will be played out as well; yet another shadow being manipulated by fate or destiny or whatever the hell they called it. And with Kei involved – how she fitted in; he had no idea – Kazahaya feared crossing her shadow.

It wasn't that he feared her. She was his sister.

What he feared was who or what she represented. It'd been some time since he'd last seen her and who knew what happened during the two years he'd been gone? Tsukiko was a hostage, held as a disposable pawn until Rikuo appeared. Then, according to Saiga-san and Kakei-san, Rikuo became one to lure him in. But how and why? Was Kei in a similar circumstance, held against her will to trap him? But then why the usage of two people as bait?

It didn't make any sense.

He shivered. If he had to witness Kei in the same light as Tsukiko, that would be...

Unthinkable. He couldn't fathom it, nor would he be able to endure it. He didn't have the stubborn fortitude that Rikuo had and he couldn't conceive the notion of his dear sister imprisoned. Just the thought, the mere image frightened him. That fortitude of Rikuo's only lasted until the knife was drawn across Tsukiko's pale throat and Kazahaya knew his mental strength was less than that. He sincerely hoped that wasn't the case. But if that wasn't, what would Kei be...

Stop. Put a cap on that. Don't go there.

Kazahaya hesitated, halting the shocking train of thought that ambushed him. He did not – did not – want to even consider that possibility. Despite the dreams of Kei, the petal of the lily, and that mysterious hairpiece left behind in Rikuo's blood washed memory, there was no way his sister would ever go along with such atrocities. Yet, he recalled the perfect burn scars circling Rikuo's wrists and shuddered. Unless there were other pyrokinetics there, Kei was the only one he knew. Since he'd left, had she gained mastery of her ability? And if so, why...

He didn't understand. It'd been too long.

Either way, when he found out Kei was involved; Saiga-san and Kakei-san determined that to protect them both, their next best option was to spirit them out. What he hadn't expected was for his boss to volunteer to stay behind. In a way, he was glad Rikuo was out cold, unable to hear Kakei-san chart his path for their sakes. It was one thing for Rikuo to do so, considering the guilt and shame that forced that choice. It was another for Kakei-san, their protector, to throw aside Saiga-san's company and support.

For them. Another price to pay.

"Are we leaving tonight, then?"

"No." A soft murmur. "They might be here already, spying on us. If you leave now, it's very obvious. Leave it for tomorrow when we can get the boys downstairs. Act like it's normal for the three of you to be out."

"Normal?" Kazahaya didn't need to see Saiga-san's expression. "If they track us to the train station, they'll know it's not a daily excursion. How will we be able to....? Don't tell me, Kakei. You're going to be a decoy? A distraction?"

"However did you guess?"

A heavy sigh. "Love, I wish you wouldn't do that."

"I'll ensure that the three of you leave safely. Whatever else happens is up to you. Will Rikuo walk or will you have to carry him?"

"Depends on the boy. If he's able to, he'll probably walk. Wounded pride and all that."

"I'm sure of it. Let him. He doesn't have much pride left to hold onto – might as well give him that much."

"Kakei, you sure you don't want to..."

"I'm sure, Saiga. Keep yourself and the boys safe, all right?"

"You, too. Watch yourself, love. I'll try to come by and visit. See how things are doing. Stay alive till then."

"Shouldn't be too difficult."

Kazahaya bowed his head until his forehead touched his and Rikuo's clasped hands. They were leaving Green Drugstore. He'd always wanted to leave; to strike his own course of independence. Now, they were leaving – here today and gone tomorrow. Like the wind. Like how Kei warned him, all those years back, that all fellow psychics were bound for the same fate. He didn't know his destiny. He didn't know Rikuo's or Saiga-san's or Kakei-san's. He only knew he was leaving the one place he could call home.

It was for Rikuo. All of it, for Rikuo.

Still, that didn't make it any less difficult.