Entwined by Fate
Chapter Five
The blonde sighed as leaned back against the wall of the small room, resting his blue eyes. It had been such a long time since the scientists had given either of them a break from the testing. He wasn't quite sure what to do with himself. Suguru was quietly reading in the corner, mouthing the words as his eyes ran down the pages. Touma frowned, his mind refusing to relax when he was finally able to.
'They never give us a break. Either one or both of us are in testing. So what's so special about today? I'm sure something is going to happen. I just don't know what.' he thought as he opened his eyes. His gaze swept across the room and he took in the bed across from himself that hadn't been used in ages. Since they were both so young when their parents were killed they had always shared the bed. As time went on and they got older they felt no need to change that fact. His brother slept more calmly if he was with someone then alone.
Both males jerked suddenly when the door to their room slammed open. Eyes widened as several men entered, each carrying a limp figure in their arms.
"Take care of them," one ordered the two prisoners, before the three younger men were dumped into the room. Two of them tossed on the other bed while the one was placed beside Touma. The other men didn't even acknowledge the two before all of them exited the room, locking the door behind them.
"What do we do?" Suguru asked, on his feet in an instant as he ran to the two lying on the other bed.
Touma stared at the green-haired young man beside him. He appeared to be in his twenties, maybe only slightly younger than himself. He was clad in only a pair of dark blue swimming trunks and nothing else, although a pink stuffed rabbit was tucked in the back pocket. He pulled the toy out, staring at the black eyes. 'What in the world would a grown man be doing with this?'
He glanced over at the other two, studying their appearances. The one was probably around 19 or 20, with long red hair that draped down his shoulders. He was wearing a simple pair of blue jean shorts and a white tank-top. The other male was much younger, perhaps around his brother's age. He had wet blonde hair and was wearing a swimming suit just like the first male had been. Obviously the two had been swimming right before they were taken. The other might have been watching them from the shoreline.
"Touma?" his brother question again, a look of total confusion prominent in his brown orbs.
The blonde shook his head, focusing on the task at hand. No matter where they came from they needed help now. "Ok, well first off let's dry off these two. Then we need to see about changing these two out of swimming trunks and into normal clothes. They'll freeze in here if they stay like that."
"I don't think my clothes will fit either of them," Suguru admitted as he pulled several towels out from the bathroom. He quickly set about the task of drying the two wet individuals. While he was doing that Touma dug through his clothes, pulling out anything that was loose on him and would possibly fit the other two. After his brother was finished he pulled a blanket over the blonde, covering him as best as possible before slipping the trunks off his body. He murmured a silent sorry before slipping a pair of green cotton pants and a white tank top. The top was a bit tight but otherwise the outfit was fine on the young man. He then turned his attention to the green-haired individual on their bed, stripping and changing him just as he had the other. When he was done the blonde frowned, trying to decide what to do next.
"Should we just cover them with blankets and wait until they wake up?" Suguru inquired.
Touma shrugged. "I suppose so. Not much else we can do. Hopefully when they wake up they'll give us some answers as to why they are here."
Suguru used one of the spare blankets in the room to cover up the two on the one bed as his brother did the same with the other. He then wrapped himself in a blanket as well, shivering from the cold. Touma sighed inwardly, indicating for his brother to come to him. Both curled up together beside the green haired figure, eyes fixed on their sudden visitors.
"Do you think maybe they captured them because they're like us?" Suguru asked quietly.
Touma blinked at the question. "I suppose it is possible. I know there are others like us but having been in here for so long it's hard to remember that."
"I know... but maybe if they are like us they can tell us about our world. Where we came from. I know you said mom and dad used to tell us but I can't remember it. This way I would get to hear it from someone how has actually experienced it," Suguru murmured.
"Why does it matter? What we are is a curse. If we were normal we wouldn't have to deal with any of this. Frankly I don't want to have anything to do with our world," Touma said bitterly.
The younger male sighed as he rested his head against his brother's shoulder. "I know you don't. I still do however. I want to know everything about that world we've been locked away from. I want to know about both of them."
Both froze when a soft groan sounded from across them. Both blinked as the red head slowly began to stir, blue eyes opening as they struggled to focus on their surroundings.
"Why does my head hurt so much? What happened?" the groggy individual muttered.
"We were kind of hoping you could tell us that," the blonde pointed out.
The redhead carefully sat up, pausing as he struggled to gain his bearings. "I was out on the shore, watching Ryuichi and Tatsuha play in the water... Ryuichi and Tatsuha! Where are they? Are they alright?"
"Well if they're the two individuals besides us in this room then yes they're alright," Touma answered.
The red-head quickly turned, sighing in relief when he caught sight of them. "My name is Hiro by the way. We were out playing when suddenly these men who were supposed to be studying the environment gassed me. I figure they then grabbed Ryuichi and Tatsuha and took us here. I'm not quite sure why though."
Touma nodded but before he could reply the blonde beside Hiro began to waken as well.
"I swear... give me that number of the bus that hit me and I'm going to report him," the blonde muttered, rubbing his forehead.
"You feeling ok, Tatsuha?" Hiro inquired.
"I guess so. Heads a bit groggy though. Wish I could remember what happened though. How did we end up here?" the blonde questioned.
"You were brought here by scientists who test on us," the small blue haired figure stated, finally breaking his silence.
Hiro blinked. "But why would they do that?"
"Because they're not normal. They're of a special race and we humans will do anything in our power to gain the abilities that they have by nature," a voice sounded from outside the door. All eyes turned to the door as it opened and a slender man in a white lab coat entered. He grinned at them, ignoring the looks of hatred he received from Touma and Suguru.
"I suppose I'm taking Touma again this time aren't I?"
The blonde frowned. "I knew a day off was too good to be true. Just leave my brother here and I'll come peacefully. Besides someone has to stay here to watch these three."
"Well to watch at least the one that hasn't woken yet. I'll be taking the other two with me. Should be interesting to test them in the same way we test you," the scientist said with a smirk.
The two brother's eyes widened as they gasped.
"You mean... I was right? They are like us?" Suguru inquired.
"Like what? No one seems to be making much sense here at all," Hiro exclaimed. 'What in high heavens is going on here? A special race? Could they be like Tatsuha? Maybe they can both breathe under water as well?'
Tatsuha's mind meanwhile was in a whirlwind of disbelief. All he could think of was that the little stories to scare children at night were actually true. 'The humans here do experiment on our kind. I never wanted to believe it but the proof is right here in front of me.' His gaze raked over the two brothers, seeing them both in a new light with this new information. 'I wonder how long have they been testing on them? I've never seen them before but our world is pretty big so that doesn't really mean anything. I've heard several stories of adults coming down here and never returned but never a story about any children. Shuichi was the first that I know of.'
"You can play innocent all you like. But my men captured you for a reason. There must be something about you hidden and I intend to figure it out," the older man stated.
"And I think this guy is off his rocker," Tatsuha added, grinning as the figure glared at him.
Suguru and Touma both struggled to stifle their laughter.
"Do I have to get the guards to bring you with me or will you follow willingly?" the man said shortly.
Touma sighed as he pulled himself away from his brother. He then leaned forward, whispering into the other's ear. "I'll be fine. Just take care of Ryuichi when he wakes up. Try to explain to him what's happening."
Suguru slowly nodded before wrapping the blanket they had shared firmly around himself. The other two males slowly rose to their feet, pausing a moment before following Touma as he led them out of the room.
"You know the direction quite well Touma. I'll stay in the back and make sure there isn't any funny business," the scientist informed as he followed the three out of the room.
"So do we get a tour or just shoved into the main attraction?" The younger blonde remarked, his eyes raking over the cold white walls of the hallway, "Although if this is all there is I suppose I tour really isn't necessary. Just take this one hall and times it by a hundred."
"You certainly are a loud one aren't you? Hopefully we can change that soon."
Tatsuha laughs. "Good luck with that. My brother has been trying for years."
The blonde's laughter died when they ended the large room, his eyes landing on the large tubes of water in front of him. 'That probably isn't a good thing.'
The scientist chuckled. "Let's begin shall we?"
TBC...