Angels Never Cry

**********

By: Ryoko [Raiju]

**********

Sometime after he'd been settled into Omi's bed, Dominique fell asleep, still in Omi's arms.

Ken was the first in the bedroom doorway, his head tilted to the side a little. "So, what happened?"

"He's...going to be living with us for awhile. He needs someone to protect him...and at this rate it's the only therapy that won't drive him to suicide."

"Jeez...Omi, please explain." The brunette closed the door and took a set on the chair by the boy's desk, sitting in it backwards and facing the two boys.

"I saw some...THINGS...that were beyond troubling. His home life...its...its worse than NAGI'S for crying out loud."

"You're going to have to explain better than that."

"Fine." He sighed. "Can you call the other two in here?"

"Sure." He disappeared through the door and returned a moment later with the other two Weiss members.

"Alright, I guess you all want an explanation...so...here goes." He cleared his throat, drawing the blankets higher on the younger teenager's body. "This is Dominique...you've met him before. And these, are the reason I had to investigate." He pushed back the boy's hair to reveal the marks along his neck, and the bruises along the boy's face and shoulders. "The man he lives with chains him up and treats him like a slave. I WATCHED those bastards rape this boy TWICE in the same minute! And afterwards these bruises just appear all over his body. He's been coming into school late for days now, and I had to know what the cause was. I-I spied on him. I had no intention of doing this...but...I had to do something about what I'd seen! He's dear to me and I would DIE for this guy! He's the best friend I've ever had besides the three of you and Nagi. And...he doesn't deserve to hurt like this."

The other three were speechless for the moment, all of them studying Dominique as he whimpered.

"Omi...please don't do this...they'll hurt you. They'll all hurt you...I have to go back..." the brunette whispered, clinging tighter to Omi's arms as he looked up. "My uncle has people all over the city that are probably after me right now! They saw you too! So they'll be after you and'll KILL you if they catch you! Omi, I have to go back!"

"You're not going anywhere, Dominique. You can't even walk on your own." Omi whispered.

"Your uncle? He does business all over the city, does he?" Yohji's curiosity was sparked, and he stood from leaning against the wall beside Aya.

"Y-yes. He does business with everyone from street-bums to the mayor. If he had a shot at the president, he'd do business with him too."

"What does your uncle DO exactly?"

Dominique fell silent, burying his face in Omi's shirt.

"Is it a prostitution ring?" Funny how Yohji always seems to know these things before anyone says anything.

"N-not really." The boy wiped his eyes, looking at the floor. "He only sells out my aunt and myself."

"...You don't mean that EVERY SINGLE PERSON your uncle has done business with has fucked you?!"

The teenager's eyes grew dark and emotionless like before until Omi pulled him into an embrace.

"They have. Not many people request my aunt." He whispered.

"Aww shit...I'm sorry..." he wanted to hold the boy tightly and comfort him better than Omi was doing, like a father could do for him, but his feet weren't going to move forward, only backward.

The entire room seemed to grow depressing and cold, no longer welcoming, like it usually was.

Aya left without a word, pulling Ken with him, both Weiss going for the room in the basement.

"This sounds like something of a mission, Whattaya think?"

"Just contact Manx first. See what she can do. But yes, this DOES seem like the start of an un-announced mission." The redhead moved to the computer, furiously typing away. Ken moved for the phone and did as he was told, relaying the entire story and current situation.

**********

"I'm so sorry, Dom..." Yohji's feet were still rebelling against his will, but somehow he'd forced them forward, now kneeling at the side of the bed and resting a hand on the sobbing boy's back, gently rubbing small circles there to calm him. "Nobody's gonna hurt you now. And you never have to go back there or feel like that again. We're gonna protect you, I promise."

Aya walked into the room and set a glass of water on the nightstand. "Make sure he drinks all of it." He ordered softly, and then was gone.

Omi turned Dominique onto his back, and, holding up his head, eased the water to his lips and had him drink the entire glass, knowing full well that it was drugged heavily.

Both blondes waited until Dominique was asleep before leaving the room, Omi leaving a note that read "We had to go out, be back soon, try to get as much rest as possible because the door is locked", before he left, locking the bedroom door.

"Weiss," Manx announced, standing before the four of the team. "You have a mission." She handed them each a paper with a photo of Dominique's uncle: "Inadoki" and several other men that Omi clearly remembered seeing inside Dominique's house.

"Omi, you'll be a key player in this mission. Can I count all of you in?"

"Of course." Yohji growled. "That bastard has NO right to do that to his nephew. Illegitimate kid or NOT. It's friggin WRONG."

"I'm in."

"In." Aya stared at the picture long and hard, memorizing the man's face.

"What Omi has stumbled upon is included as an underground prostitution ring, even though he only has two people that can be used. He gets paid handsomely for selling out his wife and nephew to any man or woman that decides to employ his business. Since more than ¾ of this city has done business with him, you should be careful. Ken said that he was worried because you were seen, Omi, but that just may help you along. Good luck Weiss." She finished as suddenly as she'd started, going up the stairs before the four of them.

**********

Game Over?

Continue?