Tai planted his feet. "I want to know what the fuck's going on." He didn't know whose voice that was, and he didn't know why Koushirou relaxed ever so slightly at the sound, but he DID know that Kyousuke had obviously done SOMETHING to his Kou-chan. And he didn't think he'd like what was going on once he found out. But it was better than the not knowing.
A sweet sigh, followed by gently exasperated laughter filled the alley, tantalizing the senses. "You were right, Izu-chan. He really is a stubborn one, your Yagami Taichi."
Tai bit back a yell at the figure. It wouldn't solve anything to get angry now, except to lessen his own temper and probably provoke the person in the shadows. Which he might want to do, but was probably not the best idea. He hated probably's. They made it so much more difficult to operate.
"Yagami-kun," the sultry voice addressed him suddenly.
"Yes?" Tai ground out from between clenched teeth. There was nothing he could do but play at this guy's game, and he unfortunately knew it. There was no way he'd win against whoever it was.
"You have a choice." Flowing forth from the shadows, the darkest winter's midnight met Tai's own melting chocolate, stunning Tai for a moment.
Dressed in tight black leather pants, seeming to be cut specifically for him, wearing something that could never be considered a shirt, the youth could have been mistaken for a fallen Angel of vengeance whose wings were purely astral. Long, coal-dark hair brushed at his hips, caressing his slender frame with every step he took towards Tai.
"You either go see Ishida-kun now," the youth stressed the last word, "and hear our story later, or you hear the story now and risk having a chance to talk to him alone again." Eyes sharpened, became as hard as a cliff's face and as predatory as a tiger. "Because I'm sure as hell not letting my Shin-chan see Kyousuke again."
The world began to spin around Tai. There was a connection here, if only he could grasp it. But at the same time, this guy was right. He could always come back and find them, if he so chose, but to put Shin in danger again... No, Tai wasn't ready to spurn Shin's sacrifice when it cost him so much.
"Kou-chan," he began, his voice full of apologies. While he desperately yearned to see Yamato, there was still that twinge of guilt for leaving his friend with this strangely beautiful youth--
"I'll be fine, Tai. An won't let anything happen to me," Koushirou's response came back, his smile forced. He gave Tai a swift hug only accenting the frailty in his frame, and walked to the youth who caught him and held him so gently.
"Go, Yagami-kun. If you want to find us again, go to the third floor of "Yume no Naka". They'll direct you to us IF they trust you, and IF you haven't done anything to Ishida-kun."
Taichi turned and started running, knowing if he stopped or looked back, he'd never have the courage to go after Yama, no matter how much he wanted to see him. Something about that warning made him more than a little nervous about leaving Koushirou with that guy, but what else could he really do? He was so helpless again, as before, as always...
Passing stores and people, he tried to block out the cries of children begging for money, tried to concentrate on finding Yama--
Until a hand stopped him.
Kyousuke felt himself fill with pleasure as Shin gave into his kiss. THIS was what it was all about, THIS was power, THIS was submission. Yamato had a certain kind of sweetness, but this taste of unwilling darkness tinged light was what Kyou loved so much. Even his latest toy didn't have this feeling about him, and Kyou couldn't figure out why.
Maybe it was the fact that only Shin had always been a part of the lower side. Maybe that was this sweet taste of corruption and unknowing seduction. Maybe that was this darkness Shin despised about himself so much.
Whatever it was, Kyousuke loved it.
Breaking the kiss, the two of them walked for a while longer in silence; Kyou's physical grip on Shin was nothing compared to the mental chains he slipped over Shin again.
"So, bitch, are you trying to protect Yamato from me?" Kyou asked conversationally as they passed the unseen but recognized 'border' between the upper and lower sides of town.
A flash of moonlight struck Shin's face just right, and Kyou could see the determination set in his pale face. "No, Kyou," Shin replied softly. "I can't protect him from you."
So then, what was this Shin was waiting for?
Kyou knew Shin much better than either the blonde beside him or his dark-eyed guardian thought. There was no reason for Shin to have returned except if he was trying to do something. So, therefore, there must be someone Shin was trying to help. And the obvious target was Yamato, considering how foolish Shin could be about relations. Hell, he'd stood up for his whore of a mother, never mind that she'd left him to die on the streets.
The answer came to him suddenly. That bastard, Taichi.
Kyou almost laughed at that. So, Shin thought he could get Yamato away using the bond of that failed friendship? What a thought! Besides which, even if Yamato escaped him this once, there was always going to be another chance. Yamato was tied to Kyou in more ways than one at this point. Kyou had made certain of that.
Finally reaching Kyou's newest apartment on the lower side, he ushered Shin in almost gently. "Your lover won't be able to find you," he whispered softly to his captive as he locked the door, keying the combination only he knew. He noted the sudden fear in Shin's eyes as realization dawned.
This was Kyou's new 'play' house. Sound-proof walls and technology prevented any method of escape Shin could possibly think of, and there was no way in for even a master thief unless they were with Kyou. If that pretty boy wanted to come and kill Kyou, Shin would be trapped in here forever.
And now he knew it.
Kyou began to weave his deadly web of pain and terror, feeling Shin's obvious fear fill him with even more pleasure.
An held Koushirou close for a moment before he started to feel the sobs racking the body of the boy he'd come to call friend. "Shh..." he soothed gently. "I know, Izu-chan," he whispered, trying to ease the soul-pain in the other youth. "I know. He'll come back."
Pain filled eyes met An's for a moment, followed by the soft question An had known was coming. "Did you ask Ai-chan?"
An wished by all the gods he'd ever heard of that he hadn't asked their little darling about what his Izu-chan wanted to know. He wished Koushirou wouldn't look at him like that, trapping him. He wished the answer was the one Koushirou DIDN'T know was coming.
But wishes came to nothing.
Nodding slowly, he held Koushirou tighter. "I asked her, Izu-chan."
Koushirou was silent for a moment or two, and then sighed, heart-brokenly sad, clutching An closer and close, as if fearful of the world. "I was right, wasn't I, An? I'm going to--"
"It's not sure, Izu-chan," An cut in, not wanting to hear Koushirou speak the words that would seal the fragile youth's fate. "You know Ai-chan's been wrong about things before."
"But not when asked directly," Koushirou replied softly, accepting the truth.
What could An say to that? There was no doubting that Koushirou really was dying, his body abused by both the streets and Kyousuke, his mind and soul broken by the harshness and cruelties of life as well as by his own doubts. There was nothing--no one--who An wanted to see get out of this hell hole more. Shin, Ai, Nozomi... they would all survive.
But Koushirou, his Izu-chan...
When it came down to it, Koushirou didn't have the type of personality that would allow him to survive on the streets. He wasn't strong enough, he belonged inside, in a building doing good for the world. NOT here, where everyday he had to fight against himself.
"There's still a chance, Izu-chan," An whispered softly, choosing his words with the care of an artist choosing the paints with which to color his or her masterpiece. He'd thought this over several times, and--while he hadn't spoken with anyone else about it--was fairly certain he could pull it off.
"What chance, An?" the bitter, hopeless reply came. "LOOK at me!"
An didn't need to look. He knew what he'd see if he glanced at his friend again. But something inside of him made him reevaluate the sitation. "Upside, they've got a new doctor, Izu-chan. Some people say he works miracles--for a price of course. If we could get him to take a look at you--"
"And where would I get money like that, An?" The sorrow in Koushirou's voice was almost too much to bear. "I won't take yours--"
"I'm not asking you to. I'm telling you I can get you the money--not my own if you don't want it, but I can get it for you!" An closed his eyes in frustration, trying not to remember others who'd died because they doubted him. "Please, Izu-chan," he begged softly.
Koushirou must have seen the pleading on his face, heard it in his voice. "Maybe, An," he conceded. "Right now... I just don't know. Can you just... Maybe?" Koushirou replied helplessly.
"I can try."
The world swirled around Koushirou again, and he clutched An closer. It wasn't that he wanted to disregard what An was saying--in fact, it was closer to the opposite. It was the fear that there was something so wrong with him that even a miracle-worker couldn't do anything. Fear that An would end up facing down heaven and hell for him.
And the worst part was, An would.
Ridicule and ruin by his classmates in college had landed him back here in Odaiba, on the streets. Chance and sheer stupidity had gotten him as Kyou's 'property'. Luck and whoever loved him had given him Shin and An to see him through this hell. They, in turn, had given him Ai and Nozomi, who were closer to Koushirou than sisters.
Koushirou already owed so much to An, he wasn't sure if he could accept any more help.
But he would, if he had to. If that was his only hope.
Of course, that didn't guarantee anything. An was a hopeless optimist, no matter how cynical the streets had made him during the years he'd been here, no matter how many times he tried to deny it. Most likely, he had heard of this miracle-maker and hadn't bothered to check out his or her credentials. There was probably very little hope.
He didn't CARE! He wanted to LIVE, damnit! He wasn't even sure what was wrong with him, and he'd been putting Shin and An off about seeing a doctor because he wasn't sure he could deal with it if he knew he wasn't going to get any better, that he was going to die without seeing Tai or Yamato or any of the other Digidestined, or anyone who had ever cared for him in his life ever again. That he would never see Jyou again.
Damnit.
Jyou, Jyou, Jyou... NO. Koushirou had been--was still--Kyousuke's little 'pet'. He'd stay his 'pet' until he found the courage to get away, or until An finally snapped and went against what both Koushirou and Shin kept telling him, what Ai kept warning him NOT to do. Why the hell would Jyou ever want to see him again?
The peaceful silence was broken by An's clearing his throat. "Um... Izu-chan?" the soft voice asked, normal smooth, sultry tone broken by something sounding suspiciously like nervousness.
If there was one thing about An that Koushirou knew, it was that he didn't get nervous.
"Yes, An?" he asked, more than a little suspicious. The LAST time An had been nervous, it had been that time he'd gotten drunk without Shin's knowledge and Koushirou had been supposed to cover for him and decided to side with Shin instead, TELLING An this...
"I... you might want to know what you're getting into..." he fumbled with the words, one of the traits An DIDN'T exhibit. As graceful with words as any poet, he usually found the best way to explain something.
"An."
"I sort of..." An took a deep breath, steadying himself. "According to the few sources I have on the upper side, Izu-chan, this 'miracle-worker' is someone you know rather well."
He didn't need to say anything else.
Shin fought tears as he gave in. This time there would be no escaping Kyou. He'd miscalculated, and now he was paying over and over again. By now, it was well after sunset. An probably knew, and would look for him as soon as he could, but... there was nothing An could do for him now. He was lost, he couldn't make it through this, he'd die...
Yes, he'd die.
That was it. The only way he knew to get out of this without endangering the others. Oh, if there was an afterlife, An would probably come after him as soon as he got there--through natural or accidental causes, An wasn't stupid enough to suicide when there were two young lives depending on him--and scream and yell at him. But... although Shin was sorry he had to do this, it was the only exit he could see.
He wouldn't become Kyou's again. The pain, the fear, the intense AGONY of soul and body mixed into one through the harshness of Kyou's actions and the words that twisted a knife cleaner and deeper than any blade of metal could... he couldn't survive that again. And he'd rather die at his own hand, while he still had the will, than die at Kyou's convenience.
An was unstable mentally, at times, yes. But he knew Ai and Nozomi, and hell, even Koushirou, wouldn't survive the streets without him. Not without losing who they were, WHAT they were.
THAT would keep him alive.
Or so Shin hoped.
Yamato had been walking for a while now. He wasn't sure how far from the party he'd gotten, but he knew he was on the lower side. There were too many cries for him to be on the upper side.
Then again, there were probably just as many. It was only that on the upper side, no one could hear those cries.
He'd been planning on finding his usual drug dealer and losing himself in the painless joy of the high, but something stopped him before he got to the corner where Ariata sold.
A youth about the same age as Yamato shooting out of an alleyway. Well, it wasn't just any alleyway, it was the one where Yamato had first come face to face with a gang, when Kyou had first saved him. And it wasn't just any youth, it was one Yama knew very well, one he'd been dreaming of for too long, one he tried to, and should have, forgotten.
In a dream, he reached out and touched Tai's arm.
Frightened, frustrated, BEAUTIFUL pools the color of the heartwood of an oak met his for a moment before they filled with recognition, losing all traces of frustration, and fear. "Yama?"
Too late, Yamato realized he wasn't in a dream. Stumbling over his words, wondering how he was supposed to talk to the boy of his dreams when he was technically going out with one of the most powerful guys at school, and Tai was STRAIGHT, as far as anyone knew, and they HADN'T talked in years... "Yagami."
The HURT in Tai's eyes at that. Intense anguish, covered quickly with the happiness Yama was used to. But this time, Yama saw through the veil Tai had called up so easily, so quickly, saw through to the tears he couldn't shed because this was who he was SUPPOSED to be.
"What are you doing here?" Tai tried to smile.
"Walking." So easy to slip back into the coldness, the ice that could coat him. To hide the panic. He wasn't SUPPOSED to be talking to Tai, Kyou would get angry, Kyou would get SO angry...
Did Yama still care?
"You?" he heard himself ask, amazed he could sound so calm when there were two halves of him fighting with each other.
"Looking for you," the answer came back, honest and wavering, Tai's control obviously slipping.
"Me?"
A nod from Tai, all normal genkiness gone.
Yama knew he couldn't keep this up for long. Tai was STRAIGHT he told himself. And Yama couldn't afford friendships. Stupid crest anyway. Friendships only ended up with both sides getting hurt.
"Yama?" Soft voice, caressing his name, even as it wavered.
"Yeah?"
"Why are you going out with Kyou?"
Yamato closed his eyes for a moment, then began walking, knowing without opening his eyes, that Tai was following.
So, this is what it came to.
He opened his lips to answer...
All right! Next time will probably be the last ep... Just letting you know in advance! Of course, that doesn't mean there won't be an epilogue or two! Please read A New Gundam Wing Fanfic, if you like Gundam Wing! Just a hint, you MAY see some characters you MIGHT recognize... *grin*