It's A Secret

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By: Ryoko

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Track 01:04:00

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"Damn it's dark in here…and so quiet…gives me the creeps…but I can't say I don't like it." Haru whispered to himself, resting his head against the concrete wall. "Only twenty minutes in here and already I'm about to go stir crazy. Damn it!"

Sinking down, he pulled his knees to his chest and rested his chin on them, closing his eyes and trying to think of something besides the current situation.

"I want YOU to be my daddy!" "Don't leave me! DADDY!" "Looks like they hurt her all the time. And you're the first person in the world to show her kindness." "You mean a lot to her Hatsuharu, don't leave her in the dark like her parents did. That would be like something they'd do…you said so yourself." Why am I remembering this now? Yuki? Ashura? Why am I remembering THEM? Especially NOW, of all times?

Opening his eyes and coming back to the harsh reality he was living, the teenager eased himself into his side, trying to imagine the floor as the most comfortable bed he was going to get, for a long time. Resting his head on his arm, he stared blankly at the door, trying his best to erase his mind.

The few memories, which Ashura had left within him, were starting to hurt now. They were starting to make him want to cry.

But tears…weren't an option right now. He'd just have to wait…until he was more alone than this…THEN he could cry. No…he wanted to be in Yuki's arms, or have both Ashura and Yuki in his arms, when he broke into tears.

***

Tohru sat, defeated, at the top of the staircase, head resting on cold folded hands, eye cast downward in an all-out display of angst.

"Still can't get him to come out?" Kyou stopped on the stairway close to the girl, looking emotionlessly at her.

She shook her head, wiping her eyes in secrecy before looking up.

"You've been crying. Is it because of the situation? Or because of Yuki's situation?"

"Both, I guess you can say. I feel so badly for everyone here…but poor Yuki…I've NEVER seen him this upset."

"Hmph. He'll get over it. He always does." he whispered in her ear, disappearing down the hall and stopping in front of the nezumi's locked bedroom door.

He paused, at first, not really WANTING to go in and talk, but also wanting to at the same time. As if his hand had a will of it's own, he knocked softly on the door, waiting for a response.

Hearing nothing but silence, he pressed his ear to the door, listening intently. On the other side, he could hear a series of soft whimpers and cries.

Was Yuki crying?

He knocked again. "Yuki. Let me in."

Still no response.

"Forget this…" Kyou growled, twisting the doorknob until it made a popping sound. This meant the lock was completely broken now. Once the lock had snapped, he opened the door, stepping in and closing it behind him.

His heart broke, seeing the teenager on the bed, leaning against the corner, covering his face with one hand and fighting down rivers of tears. He'd been broken again.

"Yuki…" the neko whispered, moving closer with great caution.

Only when he got closer, did he see just how much the boy was shaking and fighting back all the emotions he could.

"D…don't. Please…don't…don't look at me…"

"Yuki…" he slid onto the bed, wrapping the boy in a strong and possessive embrace, cradling him close and tightening his grip gradually in an attempt to soothe the nezumi's trembling. "Yuki…try to calm down. It's okay. Shh…calm yourself. C'mon Yuki." He whispered.

Only once before had Yuki been completely heartbroken like this…that was when Akito had beaten him, brutally, for disobeying him, and nobody found him until two days later. That was years ago…and he still carried both the physical and emotional scars…yet…something was now being added to the pain…the loss of Hatsuharu and the thought of never getting him back…was that what was crushing him so much now?

He'd always been the one to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders, and nobody was ever there to help…now, poor Yuki was hitting his breaking point…pretty hard too.

"Shh…"

***

The imprisoned teenager was awakened by a sudden light flooding into the room. Two shadows appeared in the doorway, staring with emotionless, robot-like eyes, at him.

"Hn?" he looked up, shaking his head as he straitened his upper self and leaned against the wall.

"We have only a little more questioning to do with you, then you'll be released."

"Released?" he asked, groggily, as he followed the other shadow's motion to stand up. Like a mindless drone, he followed the two into the brighter hallway, wincing at the glare from the lights. "Whattaya mean 'released'?"

"Someone paid your bail, kid." A larger, more burly-looking man said plainly, opening a door to a dimly lit room. Inside, there was only a large table, and a number of chairs. He was instructed to sit on the farthest wall, facing the table, at which several older men and women sat, along with Ashura's parents, and…Ashura herself in the arms of Momiji, who was next to Hatori and, surprisingly, Ayame.

At the sight of Ashura, his heart skipped a number of beats, and his stomach did flips of excitement. Everything in him just wanted to run for her and hold her as tightly as humanly possible, but first things first…he had to go through the interrogation…and even after that…he might not be able to even TOUCH her AGAIN…

"Alright." One of the oldest-looking men sighed, flipping through a stack of papers. "We all agree that you were just the middle-man in this child's whole case. So you're exempted from that. However, there are still the charges, of assault, at hand. Don't you agree?"

"Yes sir." Hatsuharu felt his heart stop again, knowing a little of what this was going to revolve around, which, for the most part, wasn't good for HIS end of the case.

***

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