Akira followed the police officers down the staircase. If it had not been so narrow, he would have tried to pass the man ahead of him. It felt as if the stairs had no end.

Finally, he stood in a brightly-lit corridor. Needing to catch his breath after his sprint he leaned forward a bit to rest his hands on his knees, silently damning himself for his lack of constitution. Firming his resolve he began to push through the police that blocked his way. He felt someone try to take hold of his arm, but his angry look made the officer loosen the grip and he pulled away easily, ignoring the questions and the orders to leave.

Closer now, he could understand some of the English spoken around him but just bits and odd words. Suddenly there was the sound of someone shrieking, a sound of pain or insanity or both. Pressing still closer, he realized that he knew the voice. It was Jamison screaming like a wounded beast. "If that was the case, then the one who has been shot…"

Akira did not finish this thought as he finally broke through the crowd of policemen. There, three police officers were struggling to hold Jamison down while a fourth tried to handcuff the man. There was nothing human left of him. He acted like a cornered animal that would rather die than surrender.

Finally Akira could discern words in those screams and then he finally understood what Jamison was screaming over and over: "You'll pay for this Shindou; you'll pay for letting me live!"

Akira pressed close to the wall of the hallway and made his way to the closest room since the door had been conveniently left open and he wanted to keep a low profile. He did not want to risk being stopped this time. He had to find Hikaru.

Passing through the door, he tripped on something and fell to his knees. Before he could pull himself up he noticed a hole in the floor in front of him and inside, something flat and shiny. A bullet?

Slowly he scanned the floor for blood but instead he saw a pair of dirty, bare feet. He looked further and further up, following the line of legs up to the torso. His eyes did not miss a single bruise on the naked body. Finally he looked up into Hikaru's face, their eyes finally meeting.

The boy was crying soundlessly, tears streaming down his cheeks following paths that tears before them had cut into the dirt on his face. With a sound that seemed incredibly loud, Hikaru placed the gun on the desk.

"I… I couldn't do it… I'm sorry."

Finally Akira was able to break free of his stupor and he took the naked boy into his arms. Tears were freely running down his face, unnoticed. He could feel the chill of Hikaru's body and tried to give him some of his warmth, all of it if he could.

A sound of pain escaped Hikaru's lips and Akira realized that he was hurting him.

Instantly he let go. He took off the jacket he was wearing and placed it over Hikaru like a blanket. Finally someone came, part of the team searching the whole estate. Akira called for emergency medical help and soon the wounded boy was strapped onto a stretcher. Hikaru had lost consciousness again but Akira's watchful eyes noted the up and down motions of his chest. Making sure Hikaru was still breathing.

Outside an ambulance was already waiting for them. Akira who hadn't left Hikaru's side since finding him wanted to go with him but an FBI agent stopped him: "Only family," he stated coldly. "We also need you for questioning."

Before Akira could reply he felt a warm hand on his shoulder. His father stood behind him and simply said:" Go. I will take care of this," he reassured him simply. Before the doors of the ambulance could close, Akira jumped inside, surprising the medics. He took place next to Hikaru and held his hand during the whole ride to the hospital, not letting go once.


****


Hyatt almost laughed when he realized what was going on. He had no idea how Shindou had escaped his prison cell, but judging from his outfit he had to have had help.

" My, my. It seems I underestimated you once again. How did you get out? And dressed too. A pity. Interesting though. I don't remember having anything in your size here and definitely not in that style."

He waited for an answer, but none came. He had hopped that he could find out the simple way who was the boy's accomplice. Had it been Touya Akira? His thoughts were cut off when his wandering eyes fell on the picture behind Shindou. He could see the image of one of the security monitors mirrored in the silver frame.

The police.

In the house.

Had he been betrayed by his father?

Was the boy really here to kill him, sent by his father?

What a splendid plan. His father knew best how much he hated closed places, having used his fear often to punish his son.

It was his final choice then: the police and prison or death by this boy's hand.

That was no real choice. Hyatt chose death.

He looked into Shindou's eyes giving his unsaid approval.

The boy pulled the trigger.

But there was no pain. Surprised, Hyatt opened his eyes that he had reflexively closed and saw the smoking hole at his feet. Shindou had dropped the gun in his lap and was crying. Damn that boy for not being able to do such a simple thing.

Suicide was not an option. He had tried before and knew he didn't have the courage. He turned around and fumbled for the door lock. If he was lucky he might be able to get out before the police could find the hidden rooms. He didn't have much time. He knew that they had heard the gunshot. But there was more than one way out of this hell-hole.

Finally the door opened. Hyatt stepped out into the corridor. He could hear foot steps coming down the stairs; there was no time to lose. He ran in the opposite direction. There was a way to escape from the office room on the lower floor; he would have to use that one. He reached the hidden door leading further down and pressed locking mechanism. It did not move.

He fought the sense of rising panic and tried again. Nothing again. Screaming, he kicked the wall, but still the door refused to open.

Consumed by fear and panic, his reason failed him. He ran back to the office. He had to get the gun.

If he had the gun he might be able to get out or use the boy as hostage. That or die trying. But it was too late. Unable to stop in time, he ran into a group of police officers who seemed just as surprised as he. But the police, trained and skilled professionals, grabbed him within moments.

Hyatt tried to regain his freedom, using martial arts skills that he had been taught, augmented by sheer panic and his absolute fear of capture. He kicked and bit and scratched everyone that held him, screaming like a madman.

Somewhere inside of him, a sane part of himself watched and pitied what he had become. He was nothing more than a cornered animal fighting for his life.

He felt cold metal snap around his wrists. Full of rage he cried out.

"You will pay for this Shindou; you will pay for letting me live!"

He screamed over and over. Until there was nothing. Only darkness. Lonely, scary darkness.