Disclaimer: I do not own PMK or SIP(M) got it? The only thing I own is this plot, which really isn't sayin' much.

Mahono: O.k. You guys should know the drill by now. This is GuyxGuy, yaoi, shonan-ai stuff. Main pairing TetsuxSuzu. Don't like it? Leave. If you do, I'm more than happy to share my creation with you! Just don't forget to review!

Chapter 8

-Seeking Vengence-

Pacing briskly back and forth Tatsu could feel his old ulcer gnawing its way through his stomach. It was all he could do to keep from doubling over and wailing in pain right there and then. Worried thoughts blasted through his mind. Dozens of scenes flashed before his mind's eye. Each ending getting more and more gruesome as time wage slowly on, taunting him until every second that ticked by seemed to bring death one step closer. Was it true what they said? Could you really die from worry? Tatsu hoped he never had to find out.

The entire Inn was in chaos over the two missing boys. Hijikata's rage was burning; it burned just to get near him. Okita seemed to be the only one immune to the burns, trailing after the older officer like a persistent maid bent on sticking to the man's side until every last speck of anger had been dusted from Hijikata's threads.

Not for the first time Tatsu let out a hollow moan, "How could they do this to me? Ohh, Tetsu where are you?"

"If we knew where they were they'd be dead by now!" Hijikata snapped venomously.

The entire atmosphere was thick with worry. Even the comic trio didn't seem up to cracking a few jokes on the issue. If anything the three men seemed to add to the animosity than anything else. It was strange; Tatsu had expected all three of them to be bursting with witting remarks on the boy's disappearance. Sano had tried at first, but when his companions didn't join in it was clear that he felt uncomfortable on his own , so he let the matter drop like a bucket full of heavy lead. In fact with the way that Heisuke and Shinpachi's glances kept on darting towards each other, then reflecting back as if blocked by a shield, had led the worried older brother to believe that something other than the two teen's disappearances was bothering them.

Tatsu didn't have much time to ponder over the strange happenings that put a dent in the trio though. His mind was too preoccupied with vivid images of his little brother's untimely demise. It seemed as if Tetsu wasn't the only one of the Ichimuras to have a naturally over active imagination.

God give me a sign! Tatsu wanted to cry, Let me know where he is so I can find him! Better yet, have him come home of his own accord! Just let me know he's alright!

Tatsu wondered if Tetsu knew how much worry he was causing each time he disappeared from Tatsu's sight. He had to at least know how his older brother worried. He only told him every day! It occurred to Tatsu that this time might just be worse than all the others. Usually Tatsu would be relieved to know that Tetsu wasn't out alone, but now it just made him wring his hands with the thought of two young deaths. Suzu was smart though wasn't he? It was Suzu who had saved Hijikata's life. While one good deeded couldn't brand a man for life, Suzu was a good friend for Tetsu right from the start. Even if they did get into a little mischief Suzu was still there to help Tetsu pay the price for their mishaps. The older brother had to wonder though, whose idea was it to steal Hijikata's car? Who had stolen Hijikata's keys when no eyes were present? Whose grand scheme was it to run off at the break of day without telling a soul? All of these questions and more sprinted across the red head's subconscious mind. If only they had a clue to where those two boys were!

Conflicting eyes stared blankly out at clear glass never seeing the beauty beyond. Once more Saya was trapped in a world all her own. It was always easier to look out a silent window and think in on herself than to watch the bustling of the humans around her. She didn't care so much what was outside of that window only that, so long as she saw no other humanoid soul, she could lose herself in a world with only her, her love, and her hate. Why she wanted her enemy there in the first place was beyond her, she didn't even care to find the deeper meaning on that level of thought. All she worried about was how to get him away from Tetsu, and Tetsu closer to her.

It was only now that she stared out at Hijikata's empty parking spot that her common sense began to worm its way back through her throbbing emotions, causing her to double take the situation that was presented to her itching hands. With all their might her emotions had screamed, "Go! Reveal where Tetsu is! Bring him back to you! Force that demon out of your lives for good," and with all her being she wanted to comply. To jolt from her station and blurt out all she knew. A part of her told her, that if ever she was to speak, it would have to be now. There was a small factor blocking her though. Other than her not being able to speak, which she could easily overcome by writing, a part of her conscious cried out to her. The voice was small and frail, but strong enough in substance to make her stop in her tracks and backtrack just a few steps.

This part of her whispered simple words that weren't encrypted with second and third meanings. All this voice asked her was, what about the consequences? How would Tetsu react knowing that she had betrayed him to the others? What would he do once she had successfully ripped every strand of bondage from him to Suzu? Would he realize how much she cared; or would he be too blinded by grief to care? Would he even want her now that he had known the fallacious black pleasure of a same sex relationship?

Those were the questions that had kept her from alerting the others the two teens' whereabouts. It was the thought that her love may never be requited that kept her feet glued to the floor and her eyes trained on the old dusty dirt road down which her lover had disappeared, perhaps for good. Forcing her eyes to focus Saya battled away from such thoughts and looked away from the taunting rout. It would do her no good to sit here and stare off helplessly thinking of what could have been.

"They went to the city, didn't they?" A cold voice slithered into Saya's ear unrepentantly.

Coming to her senses Saya looked at the dark reflection of another teen in the see-through window. Silently Susumu hung over her, looking down that same dirt road that once held her captive.

"You saw them go," He muttered under his breath in a whisper foreign to her ears, "So why don't you tell anyone?"

Saya couldn't think of one word to say. In all irony even if she could she wouldn't be able to voice her reply. She pondered on that thought bitterly before once again accepting her lameness.

"It doesn't matter." Susumu finally stated sternly, breaking the heavy silence that had been crushing Saya's chest, "You can hide, but I won't keep secrets from my master." With those final words Susumu departed.

As Susumu relayed his information to a blustering Hijikata, Saya praised and damned the boy at the same time. Praised him for doing what she could not, and giving her a way to start the search without endangering Tetsu's feelings for her. She had to curse the boy for all his subtleness and cunning ways that sent chills rushing like waterfalls down her spine though. He wasn't even much older than her, but the sneaky brat was colder than ice and as sneaky and quick as a lone wolf! She was surprised his sister hadn't croaked from a heart attack yet! Though, Saya supposed, in her own way Ayumu could be just as sneaky and sly. In short, the Yamazaki's were weird.

"You're certain that they headed to the city?" Hijikata growled as he tried to still his anger.

"The tire tracks lead me to believe so, sir." was Susumu's dull reply.

"Some how I highly doubt that those children would be," Susumu searched for the word vaguely, "astute enough to try to trick us about their whereabouts. Also, the driver seemed to be in somewhat of a rush to get to his destination, judging by the depth of the tracks."

"Great, any clue as to where they would be heading to in that damned city?" Hijikata breathed as he took out a cigarette and lit it, trying desperately to sooth his frayed nerves.

Saya watched carefully as Susumu let his gaze flicker briefly over to her before answering, "None sir."

Saya bit her lip to keep from letting out a breath of relief. It was obvious to her that Susumu had though that she held the answers that the older man sought. Mentally she held a wiry grin. Little did Mullet Boy know that she had just as much of a clue as did anyone else. Tetsu had taken to confiding in that cursed Suzu lately, so she was let completely in the dark. She hadn't even had a warning that the two little boys' planes to elope, for lack of a better word for their escapade.

"It might just prove a waist of time to go search for them," Akesato nearly seemed to glower with this comment, "Tetsu's clueless sometimes, but not completely stupid. He'll end up calling eventually, if for no other reason, at least to ease the worry of his brother." Saya watched as her mother shot a sympathetic glance at Tatsu. The poor guy was literally sick with worry. She had never seen Tatsu so pale before.

"And if they run into trouble?" Okita questioned solemnly, "As far as we know they have no money, and even if they did, there can be several circumstances of which they would not be able to reach a phone to contact us." Okita's point stopped everyone cold. Tetsu wasn't a street kid, he was too innocent. Though nothing was know of Suzu's street ability, it didn't bring any comfort to be left guessing at whether or not he had the ability so save both of them should push come to shove.

"We'll just have to go out and search for them then." Yamanami sighed sadly.

Hijikata nodded in bitter agreement, "Right, someone should stay here unless those brats try to call."

"I suppose that would be the women?" Akesato sighed.

Yamanami gave his wife an apologetic smile, "That might be for the best yes."

Okita smiled pleasantly at Ayumu, "Ayu, may Hijikata and I please borrow your car? Due to recent events we no longer have the wheels to carry out this little search party."

Ayumu nodded meekly, "Of course." It didn't take her long to disappear and reappear with her car blue Mercedes car keys.

Saya hardly paid attention to the exchange that went between most of the adults. They acted as if she wasn't there so why should she acknowledge them? She just turned her head back to her clear window and retreated back into her own world of love and fantasy.

The little burnet didn't pay attention when they men left. She didn't focus her eyes when the cars filed out of the driveway one by one. She didn't turn into the embrace that her kind mother wrapped her in once everyone had finally vanished in a cloud of dust. The only thing she thought of was the black Jaguar that had left her so long ago that it seemed like an eternity in her own time.

If the wide eyed child ever cared to look back on this experience one thing would undoubtedly stick out in her mind; the look on Ayumu's face before she began to break down and cry. If Saya ever cared to think about it in the future, her mind would wonder why Ayumu seemed like she had something to hide. Did Ayumu know where the two boys where going? What they were doing? If she did, why did she hide it? Why did she keep information when it seemed to be tearing the woman up inside?

The sun shone with a vengeance. It boiled down on the two teenagers as if it was demanding them to quench the dry thirst that plagued it. The black top of the concrete roads of the city seemed to sway with the mid morning heat. Tetsu thought for once that maybe a black leather seats weren't such a practical idea when driving in the sweltering heat of the equator. So when the time came that Suzu brought up the frosty thought of that sweet snow that man had dubbed Ice Cream Tetsu lunged at the idea. Literally. They had to go through a semi painful experience of prying the two sweat slicked boys' skin apart, and the darker's lewd comments about the kinky situation only made it worse when the red head burn hot with embarrassment.

Parked between an old wood flower shop and the red block ice cream store the two lovers reveled in the shade that the two buildings provided. Behind them was a large empty in garbage can and a wooden fence some few paces back. Tetsu and Suzu sat on the hood of Hijikata's prized car and watched as the morning city slowly came alive. While eating Tetsu couldn't help but feel a small pull nagging at the back of his mind that this place was a little too familiar. He tried not to dwell on the thought, but it was stubborn and kept popping back up again and again.

The entire time the silver haired kitten rattled on and on about the people in the city. He would point out a car or a random woman just strolling down the street and pour out the person's life story. Some of the things seemed normal; like that one man had worked at a department store for several years before switching to his real love cars. There were other parts of the stories that Suzu told that would disturb Tetsu though, things that it seemed like it wasn't natural for the lean teenager to know about. Suzu had explained to him that the same man that now sold cars had a wife and two grown kids, but every weekend he would go downtown to the strip club and spend hundreds of dollars on kinky pleasure with woman who used whips, spikes, and chains. To say in the least Suzu seemed to know everything about everyone. It was almost as if he had stalked every single person in the city.

"You sure know a lot of people here Suzu, have you lived here your whole life?" Tetsu asked curiously licking his double scoop of green mint ice cream.

Suzu let out a tiny chuckle with one of his famous smirks, "Something like that."

Time passed and the streets became bustled with activity. With each minute that passed the nag that clutched at the back of Tetsu's brain held tighter and tighter. It soon got so bad that Tetsu couldn't help but let out a spasm of a small moan and a painful shiver.

Suzu glanced worriedly at his companion, "You ok Puppy?" He queried tenderly.

Tetsu tried his best to shake the sickly feeling off and barred a huge grin. "Yeah, just a bit of brain freeze."

Suzu just couldn't keep his sarcastic comments to himself when he blurted out, "Oh, so you really do have a brain?"

"Hey!" Tetsu pouted in protest. The childish gesture only forced a burst of laughter bubbling out from the silver haired teen's lips.

The innocent moment passed by in a flash. Seeming to control himself Suzu slid smoothly from the waxed black top of the Jaguar. His entire face set into a serious expression. It kind of scared Tetsu to see Suzu in such a dark demeanor, but he had to admit the guy was pretty sexy like that.

"Tetsu," Suzu spoke softly but firmly gently bringing the red head out of his train of dirty thoughts.

"Y...yeah?" Tetsu stuttered. His own voice surprised him, why was he so shaky? What did he have to fear?

A doting smile lightened Suzu's sharp features calming his lover a bit, "No need to fret love." He spoke in such a soothing note that Tetsu couldn't help but relax under it.

Standing before Tetsu Suzu leaned close placing his hands on either side of the smaller teen. His eyes pierced Tetsu to the core. Copper eyes so feverish with desire it took Tetsu a moment to register just what exactly it was Suzu was saying when he saw those soft lips move.

"Do you remember the promise you made to me Light?" Suzu purred his new nick-name for the red head with unbound pleasure.

"Promise?..." Tetsu croaked out softly.

"Mm. Hmm…" Suzu slipped the object of his affections closer to him, "I asked you if you would stay by my side, forever." The last word was said with a strange finality contrasting with the lust evoking tone that he had used before.

Tetsu just nodded dumbly. His mind was too hazed to recognize the feeling of warning that tried to fight its way though the thick fog.

"I have a secret to tell you." Suzu went on, "One so dirty and vile it has placed me in a dire situation, one that I need you by my side to accomplish."

"My brother, my only family, was killed just steps before us." Suzu whispered softly, rage biting bitterly at his voice, "Slain by the tainted bastards of this city!"

Flames of hatred licked at Tetsu's flesh. He could feel the burn that consumed his lover. The flame seeped into his flesh making his feel the rage that Suzu held so deadly close to his heart. Hatred mixed with passion, the fire that lit Suzu's soul was so hard to decipher. It doesn't take much to mistake one for the other, but it won't take long for the two to combine either. The furry of murder that had scorched Suzu for so long, the passion he latched possessively to in the name of vengeance; they were neither one nor the other anymore. Now they had become one forming an obsession.

"They killed him Tetsu; they watched him die in awe and fright." Suzu choked back the tears that flooded his vision, "Not one of them moved to help."

Tetsu could hardly breathe; he didn't know what to say. How could you comfort someone like that? Tetsu knew what it was like to lose a family member, both his parents were dead, but he still had someone to comfort him. He still had Tatsu. Suzu had no one though, not a single living person to call his blood and share in his mourning.

When Suzu's powerful arms slipped around him holding him as he stood rigid in his own despair Tetsu had to struggle once more to hear his lover's words over the anguish he felt for the dark silver haired teen.

"That's why I need you Tetsu," Suzu whispered heatedly in his ear.

Moving back Suzu slipped his hand into his front pants pocket. Pulling his hand back out he reviled a hand grenade. Holding it up close to his face his maniacal grin shone like a lighthouse. He placed his free hand over Tetsu's and comfortingly squeezed his lover's hand.

Tetsu didn't have to ask where Suzu had gotten the artillery. Before it didn't seem all that strange how, almost over eagerly, Suzu had pointed out the weapons store just a block or so down. It had seemed natural for a boy to be jumpy about gadgets of war. Tetsu himself had been a little excited. The only question that plagued Tetsu about t he explosive was how the teen had gotten his hands on such destructive equipment.

"I would never ask you to stain your pure hands with the blood of these loathsome creatures." Suzu spoke through half hooded eyes, bringing Tetsu's pale hand up to his tan cheek and pressing it against his flesh, "I just want you to stand by me, to give me strength, like you promised you would."

A million thoughts and more must have rushed through Tetsu's subconscious mind. Nothing registered though. When Suzu pulled him from to car to stand, Tetsu didn't understand how Suzu must have been dwelling on this one single act for years. As Suzu walked him to the edge of the ally Tetsu didn't realize how they were standing on the death bed of the eldest Kitamura. When Suzu's hand left his to touch the bomb that he carried so tenderly; Tetsu couldn't grasp the fact that Suzu would really kill these faceless people. When hot blood sprayed his face and the gut wrenching sound of cracking bone echoed nauseatingly in his ears the only one thing registered. He was in pain, and none of it was physical.

Mahono: That actually wasn't where I planned on stopping at first. I had a really hard time writing this chapter. I didn't even really wanna write it. It made me so depressed thinking about writing the climax, I think I actually put it off again for another chapter…sorry. Good news is I have foreign fans! And in Chile no less! - I feel so special! Cough not that I don't love all my other fans too! I really appreciate you guys poking me in the ribs to keep me going! Tennis is over now, so I should have chapters up faster. If I don't, flame me mercilessly! Sorry if my spelling sucks, I really do try to catch every single, mistake! I always use spell check! Maybe id I just had someone to check my own other than me… Any who, please review again! You guys are really the only thing that keeps me from ditching my stories! I love you all! Review please!