Mahono: Welcome and let me once again go over the few warnings that you should already be familiar with. This is a shonan-ai (Guy loves Guy) story. The main pairing is Tetsu and Suzu with Hijikata x Okita and Shinpachi x Heisuke as a side thing. The Tetsu x Saya pairing does NOT work out in the end. So yeah. Oh, and due to recent …things… there is now slight hints at a Shinpachi x Heisuke x Sanosuke pairing… So, don't like it? You have the right to leave. All others? Feel free to read. And don't forget to review either!
Disclaimer: I do not own PMK or SIP (M)…I only own this plot, my fantasies… and my many many horrible grammar and spelling mistakes…I know it ain't much huh?
Kitty Vows-
-Kitty, kitty, don't be scared.
Don't run away I'm here to comfort you.-
Tetsu stared up at the clock that hung on the waiting room wall. How much more time would it take for them to let him see Suzu? All that red sure looked bad. Tetsu just hoped that when Suzu got better that they could get it all out of his hair. Even if it was a bit quirky Tetsu was very fond of Suzu's silver hair. It was so unique.
Something wrapped around Tetsu's hand. Glancing down he saw that his hand was encased by Saya's smaller ones. Saya smiled sweetly up at him and began tracing letters and symbols onto his open palm.
Everything will be all right. Saya tried to sooth him. Pressing his hand to her cheek she tried her best to comfort her friend.
Images of that day's happenings flooded Tetsu's mind and reality re-entered his mind. He didn't deserve any sympathy for his sins. Saya didn't understand what he had done. He had betrayed Suzu. Given him up to the isolated glacier of death, and for what? In the name of what seemed right? Those faceless freaks that inhabited the city didn't care that they had killed Suzu's brother! They had just watched and let him die. Tetsu knew that, he had seen it first hand all those years ago. And then…and then…
To make matters worse those people had repeated their sin. They had watched the blood pool out of Suzu. Those…bastards…didn't care whether or not Suzu died! All they wanted was to go about their own lives. They didn't care about any other living soul other than their own. It was just as big of a sin to watch and not help as it was to actually commit the crime! That was what Suzu believed…that's what Suzu had said when…before…
Suzu had been doing the world a favor by ridding it of those sinners. Tetsu though, he had interfered. He was too weak to take part in Suzu's cleansing of the earth.
He was too impure.
Tetsu's body shook. He tried desperately to compose himself, but to no avail. It was just too hard to keep it all together on the outside when he ached so much on the inside. Deep breathing only made his lungs burn and counting made his head hurt.
He couldn't look Saya in the face. How could she understand? How could she see what a sinner he was and what a god Suzu had been? Tetsu wasn't blind he knew Saya cared a lot for him. She was too wrapped up in her illusions of love though; and because of that she saw Suzu as a rival and hated him for that. She couldn't see Suzu's greatness and she would never understand how his heart ached at the thought of losing his love. To have that one and only person ripped away because of your actions, it hurt. There was no way she could possibly know how that felt.
"I want to see him…" Tetsu choked out.
Saya's hands slowly withdrew from his. She couldn't stand the fact that after all this Tetsu still thought he loved Suzu. Tetsu didn't react at all to her withdrawal, her hands where like ice against his skin anyways.
Tetsu looked up through a mist of tears. "When can I see Suzu again?" Everyone turned their heads away when he looked to them for an answer. They all looked so uncomfortable. Truth was none of them knew just how to tell Tetsu that he might end up seeing Suzu in a coffin.
Susumu finally spoke up, "You can see him if he gets better."
"If?" Tetsu murmured.
Susumu glanced indifferently down at the red head. "Yes. IF he lives you can see him."
Tetsu stared down at the white tiled floor and chewed on his bottom lip. "I want to see him…"
Tetsu's lips trembled as he tried desperately to hold back his tears again. He just wanted to see Suzu one more time. What if Suzu didn't make it? He had to apologize no matter what. He couldn't let Suzu leave thinking he was alone in the world.
"I want to see him!" Tetsu shouted. Bolting out of his chair Tetsu tried to break away. Susumu's hand flew out and roughly snatched the back of Tetsu's collar before he was able to get too far. Jerking him back with his shirt Susumu choked Tetsu before swinging him around and slamming the already bruised and broken boy into the wall.
"Now listen up ya' spoiled brat," Susumu hissed, "You two punks have already caused us enough grief. So how about you get over yourself and grow up."
"Susumu!" Ayumu barked in outrage.
"Shut up!" Susumu turned on his sister, "You take just as much responsibility for this mess as they do. You brought that lunatic in. It doesn't matter what his doctor said, you knew how warped his mind was."
"More importantly," Susumu lowered his voice to a whisper, "You knew why he was put in that mental hospital, you knew the whole story, but you didn't even think to tell anyone about it. You didn't even tell me."
Ayumu bit her lip and hung her head. She knew her brother was right.
Tetsu's hands shook. He knew this whole mess was his fault. Having Susumu scold him for his actions just made him feel that much worse. He didn't know Ayumu's story, and he didn't much care. None of this would have happened if it wasn't for him.
"I…"Tetsu slid down the wall and slumped over, "I should never have hit him…"
Hijikata walked up to Tetsu and crouched down. Taking the green grenade out of his pocket Hijikata forced Tetsu to look at the bomb. "Do you know what this is Ichimura?" Hijikata asked gruffly.
Tetsu stared heavily down at it. "That's…Suzu's." he whispered.
"It's a grenade Tetsu." Hijikata told him, "Suzu was going to kill all those people with this. If you hadn't hit him all those people would be dead."
"Hitting him is about the only thing you did do right today…" Susumu whispered fiercely through clenched teeth.
Looking up into Hijikata's face Tetsu's gaze shook, "They….they killed his brother."
"Tetsu" Ayumu looked sorrowfully at the young boy, "Suzu's brother died of a heart attack."
"No!" Tetsu screamed, "They killed him! I was there I saw him die! He was bleeding…" Tetsu's voice trailed off into a hoarse whisper. "I know…the dream Tatsu…It's not a dream, it's a memory."
Tatsu's expression was pained. The look one gets when the person you tried so hard to protect has gotten hurt. He could hardly look at his own brother he felt so guilty.
"The past doesn't matter." Hijikata said firmly, "Suzu was going to kill those people Tetsu. All of them."
Tetsu stared down at the cool tiled floor in defiance; he knew they wouldn't understand that those people deserved death for their misdeeds.
"All of you would have died those people, you, and Suzu. All dead." Hijikata went on trying to pierce Tetsu's thick skull with what was obvious knowledge.
"No," Tetsu whispered, "He was going to throw it into the middle of the street. We would have been safe…"
"How wide do you think that that explosion would have spread?" Hijikata growled. "Both of you would have died along with them. Even if you did manage to find cover, you would have been too close to the explosion for any of that to matter!"
"Kitamura was on a suicide mission Ichimura, and you were his sacrifice." Hijikata put emphases on his last words.
Tetsu's breathing slowed as he tried to register this new found information. Dead… he would have been dead. Did it matter either way? He was dead; dead from betraying Suzu, dead for not seeing the truth, dead for letting fear take over him when control mattered most. If he had just let things be, at least he would have died with the illusion of true love still intact.
"I…I love him." Tetsu's voice was barely above a whisper, but its effect was immeasurable.
Everyone had their own expression. Some were shocked others who weren't so surprised hung their heads in embarrassment. Akesato had taken a sharp breath when little Tetsu admitted openly to partaking in such blasphemy. Saya wrapped her small balled fists up in the hem of her shirt; she wouldn't even look at Tetsu. Only one person showed any true anger.
"You love him!" Susumu barked, "The little bastard nearly blows up the city and you say you love him?"
Susumu stormed up past Hijikata and grabbed Tetsu by his hair pulling his face up level to his. "You think loving him will make this all go away? You've barely known the brat for a week and you think you love him."
"What did he do?" Susumu sneered, "Did he play with you? Make you feel things? Is that why you went with him on this little trip? He showed you a few new tricks last night, so you figure you owe him for all he's done for ya'?"
Tetsu's throat tightened and new tears sprung to his eyes. He wanted to scream, to deny all that Susumu accused him of. He wanted to defend his and Suzu's virginity. The anger that burned in Susumu's eyes scared his tongue into uselessness. A tear rolled down Tetsu's flushed cheek, followed by another, and then another. He knew vaguely that Susumu had had a rough round with homosexuals. Something had happened to him to make him think that they were all the same. All sex obsessed freaks. He wanted to prove mullet head wrong, but he just didn't have the strength or the will to fight back.
A long moment passed. The only sound that could be heard was Tetsu's desperate attempt to still his own whimpering. Susumu let go of Tetsu and let him fall to the ground with impact.
"Disgusting…" Was all Susumu could think of to say. He turned around and stalked down the hospital hall. Ayumu was the only one to follow him.
"Please…"Tetsu's begged. "I…I just want to see him…"
After a moment's silence Hijikata nodded in compliance, "Alright…"
Saya had stood beyond all the others and watched as Tetsu crumbled and then tried to pull himself together again. After all that had been revealed he still wanted to talk to Suzu. She had hoped that after what Susumu had said Tetsu would have seen the error of his way. Saya didn't like how Susumu had done it, but she knew that it had to be done. Tetsu needed to see what a bad influence Suzu was. If he got a little battered on the way there, well that was just the price that he would have to pay.
Now Saya walked behind Tetsu in quietly. It was eerie how Tetsu was able to walk so straight and with such determination. He had seemed so broken when Susumu left. Now it was like he had taken any reserve of dignity he had left and pooled it into his legs. She wasn't certain why Tetsu needed to see Suzu so badly. One would think that after everything that they had gone through, he would just run away. She would have preferred it if he did. Esspecialy if he ran to her.
Saya could only think of one reason Tetsu could have for seeing Suzu again. Tetsu had to have questions for that bastard. Like how was Suzu able to cast such an evil spell over him when he had someone so much better for him? She tried to tell herself that it was Tetsu's insatiable curiosity that drove him to try to seek out his one time lover. She tried to lie herself into thinking that it had nothing to do with the emotions that Tetsu claimed to have for the silver haired teen. He was going there only to end it all. That was it. He was confronting Suzu so he could go on living his life.
Hijikata was able to talk the nurse into letting Tetsu see his friend. He just needed a little help from Okita to get her to comply. It was hard to get someone to turn a doorknob when they were too afraid of you to even move.
The room was cold and doused in pure white. Everything seemed so pure. The bleeps that came from opposite end of the room were a stark contrast to the silence that fell in between the monitor's noises. Lying under the white cotton bed spread Suzu neither looked neither at home nor compliant. He merely seemed aware of his surroundings and looked as if this dove hell was of normalcy. He seemed merely indifferent to the four walls that surrounded him and the glairing pureness that seemed to sustain it.
"Suzu." Tetsu choked. Fumbling to his side the redhead fell to his knees breathing heavily on the verge of tears.
For a moment Suzu didn't speak. Saya kept her distance standing by the closed door way. It was hard for her to be in the same room, to look at that ill form that was once nearly drained of blood. She wanted so much to throw open the door and run, but she stilled herself with the knowledge that she would witness Tetsu's last encounter with the beast. For a moment Saya looked into Suzu's piercing blue eyes. When she looked she found an ice that froze the rushing blood in her veins. She had been prepared for his heated rage, but the cold passion of furry that she saw unnerved her very core.
-Kitty, kitty, please come here.-
Shinpachi slumped back into one of the hospitals waiting room chairs and sighed. Sanosuke sat hunched over next to him, obviously uncomfortable in a chair that was several sizes to small for him.
Shinpachi looked mildly about. This place was so depressing it was boring. Puppy Boy and Saya had gone off to visit the Punk and every body else was sitting around mopping. He knew this was a sad time but he had difficulty getting himself down. Suzu was nearly dead, Tetsu had nearly snapped, and both of them had nearly died. Some how though he just couldn't keep his mind off of the one guy he was mad at the most right now.
Scanning the room a few more times Shinpachi realized that that one guy had disappeared.
"Hey Sano…" Shinpachi tilted his head towards his large companion.
"Hmm?" Sanosuke murmured tearing his gaze away from whatever he had been ogling for the past five minutes to look down at his short friend.
"Where did Heisuke go?" Shinpachi asked.
"Oh, uhm he went to go get some coffee I think." Sanosuke explained.
"Dammit." Shinpachi mumbled.
Pushing himself up and out of his seat Shinpachi looked around. "Which way did he go?"
"To the right," Sano told him returning his gaze to the food cart he had been eyeing before. , "If you're going after him, can you bring me back a muffin or something?" Sano pleaded "The nurses here are stingy." He whined.
A touch of an amused smile crossed Shinpachi's face as he laughed, "Yeah sure."
Shinpachi stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked down the hallways Sanosuke had mentioned. It didn't take him long to find Heisuke sulking over the worn out coffee vending machine.
"Piece of junk." Heisuke mussed whapping the machine as he tried to get it to cough up his quarter.
Shinpachi waked up next to his friend and waited patiently to be noticed.
Heisuke glanced down awkwardly at the shorter man. "It's busted." By the way his voice cracked it was obvious that he was trying to start a conversation, and end their awkward moment.
Shinpachi pushed the taller man aside and shoved one of his own quarters into the machine. Following the directions on the machine the little red head pressed the flashing buttons to get the coffee he wanted. The contraption spat out a styrophom cup and filled it with the order.
Shinpachi gave a mocking grin as he handed over the cup of coffee. Heisuke took it a little grudgingly.
Heisuke sipped the beverage. His face twisted a little at the bitter taste of the pure black coffee. "It's bitter." He complained a tad childishly.
Shinpachi gave him a half glare, "Don't complain, at least you got something to calm your nerves."
Heisuke shrugged and sipped the scolding liquid again. "I'd rather have something else…"
Rolling his eyes Shinpachi half shoved a few more quarters into the food machine next to the coffee maker. Punching two of the buttons and reaching into the slot he pulled out the muffin that had fallen to the bottom. "You're about as ungrateful as Puppy boy when we gave him that toy gun for Christmas."
Heisuke's grip tightened around the small cup in his hands. For a few moments he starred blankly down the semi crowded hallway. When he finally snapped out of it he placed the cup on a small ledge of an empty window.
"Shinpachi…" Heisuke began in a whisper.
"Hmm?" Shinpachi half turned to look at his companion.
Heisuke chewed lightly on his bottom lip. He weighed his words carefully, trying to decide if it would be better to be blunt, or evasive. Neither seemed very good, but he had to find out. He settled on blunt. "Do you really think that I've slept with a kid?"
Shinpachi moved his gaze away from his friend. He felt a stab of guilt knowing that his pedophile comment had actually hurt his friend. "Well…" Shinpachi looked down studying the brown plastic wrapped muffin in his hands, turning it this way and that as if the muffin held some sort of safety passage out of the situation. "It's just that…the way you're always going after those boys…it's kind of suspicious ya' know?"
He crossed his arms and rested his elbows on the window seal next to the cup of coffee that Shinpachi had given him. "No…I guess I don't know."
"Oh come on!" Shinpachi growled exasperated, " You're always making lewd comments about them and… and it's like every time you see one you go berserk and start obsessing over them. It's kind of suggestive!" He snapped.
Heisuke played slightly with his cup. "I've said more suggestive things about you and Sanosuke than I've said about the kids" Heisuke grinned impishly at the many memories he had created by teasing Shinpachi and Sanosuke about their inability to ever remain separated for more than five seconds.
Shinpachi seemed to be remembering the same kind of scenes because a slight blush took over his face before he snapped, "Yeah and even that's disturbing!"
Heisuke grinned widely turning his head to look over his shoulder, "I don't suppose it would help if I tried to justify my actions would it?"
Shrugging his shoulders Shinpachi walked over and leaned onto the windowsill next to his taller friend. "Go ahead."
"Would you believe" Heisuke mused innocently, "That each of those little boys that I adore so much remind me of you?"
The started look on Shinpachi's face made Heisuke's grin widen, "It's true!" He exclaimed, "Tetsu especially! If you just got rid of his ponytail and gave him freckles he's look like a mini Shini!"
"Mini Shini?" Shinpachi looked at him oddly, "You really are cracked."
Heisuke laughed at the compliment, "The little boy with the freckles, and the kid with the big green eyes, both made me think of you."
"Quiet truthfully every one we meet either reminds me of you or Sanosuke." Heisuke said somberly.
Shinpachi stared out the window taking it all in with a look of mild disbelief. "Everyone ya' meet huh?" Shinpachi sighed, "Alright…I guess that makes sense."
"Still though." Shinpachi turned his head an animatedly disturbed expression over his famous kitty smile, "While the little boys?"
"Because they look so adorable and small!" Heisuke turned scooping Shinpachi up in a cuddling huh, "Just like you!"
Shinpachi's eye twitched while Heisuke continued to cuddle him in mid air in front of all the randomly passing strangers. "All right all right! Just put me down!"
Heisuke placed Shinpachi neatly on the ground, "So…does this mean you'll go on a date with me?" Heisuke questioned hopefully.
Shinpachi sighed and nodded, "Yeah…we can go one a date."
"Yes!" Heisuke jumped and danced around the smaller man turning many heads their way.
Heisuke leaned over Shinpachi's shoulder and nuzzled his neck, "Oooh and I have soo many idea's for what we can do!" The deep purr in his voice suggested something a little more than a trip to the local Amusement Park.
"It's just one date!" Shinpachi yelped blushing.
Heisuke shrugged and grinned wickedly, "Better than the alternative, I suppose."
Shinpachi sighed and smiled slightly while Heisuke went and picked up the nearly forgotten coffee cup and plastic wrapped muffin.
"Atleast we know who's going to be wearing the pants in this relationship." Shinpachi grinned cockily.
"Mm…"Heisuke mussed, "I'd rather you not wear any pants at all." He grinned.
Shinpachi twitched and kicked Heisuke in the seat of his pants, "Just go pervert!"
Heisuke stumbled forward laughing as he tried to keep all the coffee safely in his cup and the muffin in from falling to the ground.
Heisuke nearly danced down the inhabited hallway merrily holding the cup of coffee that Shinpachi gave him in one hand and the muffin intended for Sanosuke in the other.Shinpachi mussed silently. Somehow that picture implied something of a completely different nature.
-I want to make sure no one ever harms you.-
Susumu half stood slumped against one of the hallway walls glaring down at the cold tile floor underneath his feet venomously. He didn't see the floor though. What he saw was the look on Tetsunosuke's face when he claimed he loved the silver haired brat he had known for less than a week and the wrenching sickness in his gut that he felt when his mind finally pieced together that the little red head that he had so avidly picked on all these years was really gay.
He had never had a reason to hate homosexuals until several years back. Hell he had hardly known that guys could do something like that with each other. He had still been a little bit of a crybaby then, but he it was the time when he was slowly changing. He hadn't even met Tetsunosuke yet.
Ayumu had taken him to one of her work parties. Susumu supposed she wanted to broaden his horizons and get him used to the differences of people around him. Or maybe she just wanted to screw with his head. He didn't care to try to defend her actions or anyone else's for that matter.
She had introduced him to one of her homosexual friends. Ayumu put an undeniable emphasis on the fact that Dr. Ito was gay. She had left him with the man to go chatter uselessly with one of her peers after kindly asking the older man to take care of him.
Dr. Ito was several years his senior. Susumu was just a boy of ten while Ito had to be in his late twenties or early thirties. It was here that Susumu tended to stop the memory. Everything went downhill when Ayumu left them alone. Susumu tried not to think of the fact that the doctor had been a little bit tipsy. He tried not to recall how naive he had been to believe that the doctor really had something he needed to get out of his office. The smell of alcohol the taste of that foul liquid on his tongue, the feel of his skin being pressed by foreign hands, he tried not to remember. Mostly he tried to forget the pain and how he had sobbed, crying out desperately for help to the empty halls.
Susumu fought against his natural reaction to gag at the bitter memory. His left hand covered his mouth to hide the evidence of his teeth biting down on his tongue. He wasn't one to run for anything, so he let the memory take its coarse.
Eventually they were found. Found by a worried Ayumu looking about desperately for her little brother and the boss that she had left him with. Ayumu had screamed and kicked Ito, she bloodied up the older man's face with her nails and knuckles causing the older man to lose a few teeth and her to sprain her fingers. She berated him for manipulating a small child, she damned him for everything that he was, and as she final blow she left the hospital making them lose their hardest working and most competent nurse. Nothing she did though could make what happened go away though. Nothing she ever would do in the years to come would make the sickening wrench of his stomach when someone mentioned 'those people' go away…
The hallow clicking of heals over slick plastic made Susumu jerk his head up painfully. Ayumu stood before him looking coldly down at the trembling hand that once covered her little bother's mouth.
"You're thinking about him aren't you?" Ayumu whispered a tad harder than she had meant to.
Susumu's response was to shove both of his hands into his jean pockets. He looked away from her. It was just so hard to look straight into the eyes of the woman who had delivered his body into the hands of the devil.
"It's not his fault you know…"Ayumu said quietly. When Susumu's cold eyes flickered to her face in disbelief Ayumu finished her sentence hastily, "Tetsu's I mean."
"I've never blamed him for what happened to me." Susumu stated the emotion in his voice as unyielding as stone.
"If you're going to blame anyone," Ayumu went on as if she hadn't heard his reply, "Blame me. I was the one who wanted you to keep an open mind."
Ayumu sighed turning to look out at the group of people sitting out in the waiting room, "I just wanted you to accept all kinds of people."
"Are you trying to defend yourself?" Susumu sneered.
Ayumu drew her self up straight, her face becoming as hard as Susumu's words, "No. I wasn't trying to defend him either."
"Then what is it that you want?"
Ayumu turned to look at her younger brother, "For you to apologize to Tetsunosuke."
Susumu's eyes seemed to look in on himself for a moment, "I said nothing that wasn't true."
"You can't go around hating every man who finds themselves attracted to other men." Ayumu stated firmly.
"The idiot claims to be in love with a potential murderer." Susumu snapped, "You expect me to think that he even knows what the hell he's getting into?"
"No," Ayumu said calmly, "I expect you to ask him to forgive you for you pushing your prejudice against his kind on him."
"What are you talking about?" Susumu said icily.
"You blame every gay man on the planet for what happened to you five years ago." Ayumu snapped, "Do you realize that Hijikata, the master that you so obediently adore, is currently holding a homosexual relationship with Okita?"
"Even if you have ignored the signals, you can not tell me that you didn't know that they were together when they came home last night covered with each other's sent." Ayumu turned her back on her brother to look out at Hijikata slumped back in his chair with Souji's head resting on top of his shoulder sleeping.
"You can damn Dr. Ito all you want. He deserves it." Ayumu whispered, "But don't blame them all for his mistake, don't drag the innocent into your hatred."
Without waiting for her little brother to reply Ayumu walked back into the waiting room. Susumu watched as Ayumu endorsed her self in conversation with a worried Tatsunosuke. He could still hear Ayumu's unspoken words ringing in his mind.
"Hate him all you want, but don't kill those who share one similarity with him. Don't become a mass murderer." Her voice went on coldly. "Just don't be like Suzu."
A sad smile hardly to be recognized as such pressed its way onto Susumu's features. "Alright," He whispered to her unhearing ears, "I won't give in to insanity just yet."
-Kitty, kitty, don't run away.-
Tatsunosuke looked up into the sad eyes of the woman who had housed him and his brother for the past few days. "I'm sorry…" Her voice whispered.
"Ayumu," Tatsu smiled sadly, "None of this is your fault. Please, it's I who should apologize."
Ayumu's laughter was bitter sweet, "For what? Tatsu, what could you possibly apologize for? You've done nothing wrong."
"I'm afraid I need forgiveness for what I will do, not what I've done." Tatsu told her, "I'll be moving. We will, I mean, me and Tetsu."
"I see." Ayumu sighed.
"Forgive me Ayu." Tatsu pleaded, "It's nothing you've done, and I just think that Tetsu would be able to get on better without this city to remind him of everything that has happened."
"You want to take him somewhere where he won't have any contact with Suzu don't you?"
"Yes," Tatsu stated evenly, "That would be another reason."
Ayumu placed her hand on top of Tatsu's head and ruffled the short bush of hair he had there, "I understand. Everything and anything for your brother correct?"
Tatsu nodded somberly in reply, "You can come visit us anytime, so long as Suzu is not with you." Tatsu told her, "I think Tetsu would like that. We'll be able to write and call, but … I don't think I could ever bring Tetsu back to this place. There's just too much that has been done."
"I know Tatsu," Ayumu smiled, "You don't need to explain anything to me."
Ayumu looked out at the hall that Tetsu and Saya had disappeared down not too long age. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, "When are you going to tell him?"
"When he gets back, this will be the last time he will talk to Suzu." Tatsu murmured his last words under his breath, "So long as the gods favor me."
"Alright," Ayumu took her hand off of Tatsunosuke's head, "If you need help moving, just call me or Susumu. Don't worry about Suzu. By tomorrow he will be reinstated into the mental hospital."
"Thank you Ayu…" Tatsu whispered.
Looking past Ayu, Tatsu caught a glimpse of her younger brother. The coldness of the boy's face made his skin crawl. He knew that he should be furious at the teen for his abuse towards Tetsu, but he couldn't bring himself to do anything about his anger. If he looked into Susumu's eyes he had a feeling he'd find mockery. He could hear a small copy of Susumu's voice berating him for running away, coldly sneering at him for trying to shelter Tetsu.
I want him to get better, Tatsu hissed back in his own mind, I want Tetsu to smile again. You can't judge me like this. Sometimes running is the only way to solve anything… Susumu turned his back on him without a word.
-If you do I won't be able to help you.-
Tetsu clasped his hands around Suzu's and kneeled beside him. "Suzu," Tetsu began, "Oh god, you're alive…" His breath became weak and shallow.
Tetsu made an effort to shove down the tears than sprung into his eyes as he looked at his boyfriend's frail body. He was alive… he was breathing… what more could he possibly ask for in this moment?
"God you have no idea how happy I am to see you." The words that were choked out of his constricted throat sounded horse. He tightened his grip around Suzu's boney fingers. He was alive…
Suzu didn't say anything, and if it weren't for the rise and fall of his thin chest Tetsu would had feared that maybe the machines that bleeped and buzzed around him were lying. His ice blue eyes were fixed, not on the wall in front of him, but on the inner workings of his own mind. Suzu laid there remembering a singular moment repeatedly like a broken record playing over and over again in his mind. The record would not let him forget his pain; it wouldn't let him move on in life. This was the music which he lived his life by. The picture witch fueled his every action during the day and his every dream during the night. He couldn't breathe without knowing that this breath was taking him one step closer to the goal that the music and the pictures had set for him. He now wondered: What had I done wrong? What step had I taken when I didn't move towards my destiny? When had my dedication wavered? Was this failure punishment for that moment in time, or was it just a fluke brought on by the fact that I was once apart of mankind?
Suzu's fingers tightened around Tetsu's as his mind slowly drifted away from these thoughts and back to the present. His shallow breath drew in slowly before he spoke.
"Tetsu…" Suzu's voice came out in a breathy hiss, "Do you know what it is like to lose someone close to you?"
Tetsu stared vaguely at the chalky brown fingers between his own flushed hands. He was remembering the emotions he had felt when his parents died. That nauseous sensation that ached in the back of his jaw and down the front of his throat. The sickening emptiness of his own stomach as he was force fed the belief that his mother would never again sing him his favorite lullaby and that his father would never pull out quotes of strange languages that confused him, but left him feeling a little more confident, a little safer, and a little bit happier. He recalled the buring sensation that swallowed his eyes and stayed for days on end forcing him to never forget that moment and to cry until there was nothing left inside of him. He remembered the nightmares that haunted him for years of his parent's death and the blissful dreams that he enjoyed about their return that left him feeling even emptier than before when he woke up.
He remembered that bitter twist of his stomach when he had wrestled with the thought that Suzu might die. He knew of the two tragedies his parents death had felt much worse. He knew it was only that way because the death of his parents had been final while Suzu still held a chance of life. The notion that if Suzu had not survived he would be reliving that bitter sickness that came with his parent's death made Tetsu's heart ache. Tetsu never wanted to go though that pain again, not now, not ever.
"Yeah…"Tetsu laughed bitterly with grief, "I know what it feels like…"
Suzu drew breath and hissed out painfully again, "Do you know what it's like to sit there, crying out for help, unable to move? To have everyone watching but not moving?"
"They just sat there and watched, Tetsu…they never gave a damn." His last words came out as a low growl.
Tetsu wanted so badly to reply. He wanted to scream out to him, "Yes, I know how it feels. I know the pain that you felt that day. I know how badly your wounds fester. Please…let me heal you…" He couldn't though. His own memories were coming back to him in an onslaught of raw emotions.
The blood that dripped from his hands onto the ground as he held Suzu's bleeding skull. The hundreds of eyes that stared at him blankly from a distance seemed to mock his efforts. His throat had gone raw from all his screaming at those deaf faces. The tears he cried slid down his face mixing with the blood that had sprayed across his face. Worst of all was the physical feeling that tainted the nerves in his hands. He could still feel the warm gush of blood that ran over his fingers, the heat of his open wound could not hide the sensation of Suzu's flesh slowly loosing its warmth. If only they had helped him…if only they had helped Suzu…maybe…
Tetsu's train of thought was broken when a voice pierced through the fog of his memories. The memories of today and the overlapping memories of those years ago dispersed when he heard his name being called.
"Tetsu…" Suzu whispered his name harshly, "Do you know Tetsu…how it feels to be free only realize you'll be locked up again? To fail in your only goal in life? To trust someone so deeply as to let them share your moment of glory, only to have them betray you?" His voice had become shaky with repressed emotions by the end of his barrage of questions. Suzu's breaths became jerky, like violent gasps. Pupils dilated, his eyes went past the physical and straight into Tetsu's soul. Yet, for some reason all he could see was the illusion of the black heart Suzu had accused Tetsu of harboring.
Suzu wrapped his fingers tighter around Tetsu's, squeezing so hard that the bones in his hand grated sharply against each other. Pain shot through Tetsu's arm in a violent tickling sensation. Wincing Tetsu tried to withstand the fresh pain. His clenched jaw made his ears ache. Tetsu refused to shut his eyes though, he said he wanted to see Suzu and he wasn't going to let anything stop him. Tetsu bit his tongue to keep himself from crying out in pain when Suzu's hand clenched tighter nearly snapping the bones in his hand.
Maybe…Tetsu hoped desperately; if he could take this pain he could break through to Suzu. Maybe…he could show Suzu how much he was willing to take for him.
From across the room Saya watched in horror. Her lips trembled behind her small hands. When was she supposed to step in and stop this atrocity? Her plan had been to let Tetsu say his final goodbyes, and console him when he broke down after. Suzu was screwing everything up though! It was so like him she wondered why she never expected it. Should she let Suzu lash out at her Tetsu? Was is better to let him brake Tetsu so that Tetsu would be able to understand the full extent of this man's evil, or was his evil too much for anyone to take?
Hastily she made one small step forward. Indecisive, Saya fought with herself. Should she stand down and let him take it full on or was it better for her, and Tetsu, if she came to his rescue?
"Don't." the small gasp was hardly audible, but it cut through Saya like a knife.
It came from Tetsu. The redhead was on his knees. With his hand still clamped tightly in Suzu's his head was half bowed with his hazel eyes looking straight up into the face that held him.
He wouldn't even look at her. Saya realized he wanted to face his demons head on. Tetsu was going to fight Suzu on his own. She wondered though. If he was so intent of winning this battle why did it seem as if he was trying to tame him instead of conquering him?
"Don't what?" Suzu hissed down at the crumpled form that kneeled next to his bed. "Don't speak of the truth? Don't hurt you? Don't make you squirm by your own faults?"
"You betrayed me. Do you think I'm going to let you walk away without making you feel miserable?" Tetsu didn't answer.
"Traitorous bastard!" Suzu swore, "Was this your plan from the start? Get me to show you my dreams my weaknesses so you could tear all of my hard work to pieces! You swore to stand by me always! You lied. Traitor! Liar! Heartless bastard!"
Blinking back the tears that stung his eyes Tetsu opened his mouth to speak. He couldn't force a sound past the lump that had expanded in his throat though. What would he say anyways? If he denied Suzu accusations, would he believe him?
Finally Tetsu gasped, "How…could I be plotting…if you hit on me first?"
Suzu froze. The fact seemed to wind itself around his claims. It challenged all of them down to their very foundation.
The moment didn't last long though.
"Did Ayu put you up to this? …She knows of my past…she watched my every move…Did she put you on watch and tell you to stop me should I try to carry out my plans?" Suzu's voice was low. He was still contemplating the probability of this scene.
"No." Tetsu said, "Ayumu has nothing to do with this. She never even spoke to me about you."
"So it was all of your own accord then." A slit of a grin spread eerily across Suzu's face. "You betrayed me with no reason, no one to force your hand. You struck at me with no motive." Suzu laughed, "You're more twisted then all those so-called doctors at the institution!"
"Please Suzu." Tetsu pleaded, "I love you…please…"
"Love!" Suzu barked. His cold laugh echoed off of the white plastered walls filling every corner with its icy complex.
He tightened his grip once more around Tetsu's bruised hand. He seemed to relish in the pain that etched itself on his ex's face. His voice was hard and cold as he said "Do you think you're love is going to bring my brother back! Is your love going to get me my revenge! Your love won't give me back all those years I spent plotting. Your love won't keep those freaks from dragging me back into my cell." Suzu lowered his voice into a venomous hiss "Your love isn't even real..."
Tight silent was strung between them. For a moment neither of them could move. Tetsu's head hung limp, tears flowed over the bridge of his nose as he stared blankly at the floor. Suzu stared down at the exposed nape of Tetsu's neck his gaze empty.
Suzu's hand relaxed releasing Tetsu's bruised knuckles. Slowly Tetsu's pale hand slid from Suzu's tanned one. There fingers lingered briefly together until finally Tetsu's hand dropped hitting the cold tile floor.
The seconds that ticked by seemed much too long for either of them to bear. The thing that broke their heavy silence was the slight rustling of the bed sheets as Suzu pulled his hand back onto his bed. Tetsu came out of his dazed state, but he didn't lift his head. He didn't want to see Suzu's blue eyes looking somewhere other than him, he didn't want to see the firm line that had let into his jaw. Tetsu didn't want to bare witness to Suzu's utter rejection.
"Leave." The word held no layer of emotion. It was just a simple command for what should have been a simple action.
Tetsu's knees ached as he pushed himself onto his feet. Never touching the bed and refusing to look at Suzu one last time he turned toward the door. The light scuffle of his tennis shoes against the floor was the only sound any of them heard. When he reached the door and turned the knob the light click of the lock seemed empty. He pulled the door open and before another word could be spoken he disappeared.
Saya stared sadly after him. It was all for the best. That's what she tried to tell herself. How could something so painful be all right though?
"He's all yours you know." Suzu's voice slipped into her subconscious. She nearly didn't recognize his voice. It sounded so foreign when he used it to talk to her. He had only spoken to her once before. That day seemed so far away now even though it was only yesterday.
Turning Saya looked innocently at the tan teenager and waited for him to explain.
"It's what you wanted isn't it?" Suzu smirked. She was used to him smirking, but somehow this one just seemed creepier than all the others. "You can have him. He's not much of a prize anyways.
Was it just her, or did his voice sound a little forced? It was like he was…lying? No, it couldn't be. He hated Tetsu now, and Tetsu would soon grow to feel the same.
As Saya turned on her heals and left she tried her best to leave all her doubts about those two boys in the room behind her. When she closed the door behind her she hoped to lock all those ill feelings with the door. When she went forward to comfort Tetsu who sat hunched over on a nearby chair she prayed that she was walking towards a future where Tetsu and love wouldn't be so far apart. She hoped, she wished, she prayed, but miracles seldom come to those who pray.
-Kitty, kitty, please don't be sad.-
The hallway was empty with the exception of him and her. It was silent with the exception of her heals clicking across the white tile as she walked over to his huddled form. Saya didn't really know what to say. She had thought of a million and one comforting phrases to use to console her best friend with, all of them just seemed empty when she thought of writing them. Instead she placed her hand on his back and slowly rubbed up and down as a symbol of her sympathy. The shaking was slight, and even though his face was hidden by his wild orange hair she could tell that he was crying.
"It hurts…" Tetsu whispered while cradling his battered hand.
Should I get a doctor? Saya elegantly etched the words onto his back with her finger. She had asked, but she knew that it wasn't physical pain that Tetsu was suffering from.
Tetsu shook his head slightly and gave a small hallow chuckle, "No…I'll be fine…"
A moment of silence passed between them before Tetsu finally wiped his tears away with his forearm sniffling. He looked up at her from pained eyes. "What do I do Saya?" He asked quietly, "I've never hurt this much before…"
Saya's face tightened in determination. Flinging her arms around his neck she pulled him into a tight embrace. Clenching her eyes shut she held back her own tears moving her fingers franticly over his back in a message.
Lean on someone let them help you shoulder your burdens. Lean on them and grow. That's what love is all about.
His hands trembled as he gripped her shoulders gently. "I can't Saya…" His voice was little more than a gasp of regret. "Please…forgive me Saya, but…I…I just can't. Not while I still feel so strongly for him."
Hearing these words just made Saya cling tighter. Forget him! Her words seemed to hiss at him. Forget him! I'm here for you and I won't go away.
"I know…" Tetsu smiled sadly. With a small push he pulled her off of him and looked at her hurt face. She refused to look up at him; she just stared intensely at some spot on the ground.
Tetsu stood up looking away from her. He knew how much she wanted him to love her, but he just couldn't.
"Maybe someday…" Saya's head shot up and looked up hopefully at him. "But I can't love you or anyone else, not while I'm still thinking of him…It wouldn't be fair."
Saya nodded her head slightly. She couldn't understand why he still harbored feeling for that bastard, but she knew that she wouldn't be able to stand holding him when he was off dreaming for Suzu.
Tetsu pulled her into a friendly hug and smiled into her hair. "Thank you Saya… you're the best."
She wound her arms around him, but she looked up away from him. Thinking now, she couldn't help but wonder. Could she really wait for 'Someday'?
-I'm here to hold you.-
Valentines Day had finally arrived. What was supposed to be a day of love and celebration had turned into a day of wistful goodbyes. The day was sunny, but no one had forgotten the events that had taken place a just a day or so back. Nearly everyone had come out at some time during that day to wish Tatsunosuke and Tetsunosuke the best of luck in their new home. This might be the last time any of them saw the two brothers again.
Sanosuke, Heisuke and Shinpachi had left earlier that day, but not before making a scene with Heisuke announcing that Shinpachi had finally given into his demands and that they were going to get married next week. Shinpachi however, denied this little outburst and sagely admitted to agreeing to going out on one date with the perverted younger man. Sanosuke gave off the air of feeling somewhat left out, but instantly felt better when Heisuke said that they might just be able to squeeze him in too. Tatsunosuke was not the only one to be more than a little disturbed by this turn of events. Susumu made a point to keep a little farther out of reach than normal.
Tetsu had spent the past few days in his room hardly speaking to anyone. Not even Saya could bring herself to open that door to speak with him. Today though, Tetsu came out but his mood didn't seem to improve. He talked to the others, he laughed at the trio's jokes, and he ate all of the food Ayu gave him, but his heart just didn't seem into anything.
The news that he and Tatsu were moving didn't seem to hit him as hard everyone thought it would. To him it was just another dull ache to add to his throbbing heart. He would miss everyone, Saya and Okita especially. He might miss Susumu…maybe.
The afternoon sun beat down on Tetsu as he dragged his luggage down the dusty driveway to Tatsu's car. They were leaving in a few minutes and this was the last suitcase that needed to be thrown into the trunk.
Slamming the trunk closed Tetsu turned around to head back in and tell Tatsu that they were ready. Someone stood in his path though. Susumu stood there, studying him as if Tetsu were some kind of puzzle waiting to be solved.
"You here to tell me to get over it?" Tetsu asked quietly.
"No…I…" Susumu for once seemed at a loss as to what to say.
Susumu had come to apologize. He just couldn't get the words out of his mouth. He knew Ayumu had been right. He just wasn't one to openly admit to making a mistake easily. Especially to some half pint brat.
"I wanted to say…" Susumu's words trailed off without him again.
Why was this so damn hard? Hijikata was gay, Okita was gay, hell nearly everyone around him was gay! He knew better than to judge them because they had the same preferences as Ito. Hijikata was his boss; he'd do anything the man asked of him. He respected Okita too, though not to the same extent. The guy was just way too feminine sometimes. He might not have respected Tetsu as he did those two, but he should have still been able to take back his words. Why was this so damn hard?
"Look," Susumu growled, "I just wanted to tell ya'--"
"Tetsu!" Tatsu voice cried out from the front porch over the long dusty drive, "Are you ready!"
"Good Luck." Susumu spat the words out so fast it barely registered that that wasn't what he meant to say at all.
Tetsu looked from Tatsu to Susumu a tiny quirk lifted one side of his lips, "Thanks…"
Tatsu walked down to the car followed by Ayumu, Akesato, Yamanami, Hijikata and a particularly bouncy Okita. They all came out to say their final goodbyes. Saya wasn't there Tetsu noted. It was just as well, he couldn't bear to see her cry.
"We'll miss you Tetsu." Akesato smiled kindly down at the small red head bending down to scoop him into a heartfelt hug. Yamanami stood behind her smiling.
"I'll try to get Saya to go down and visit you soon ok?" Yamanami grinned in a silent apology for his daughter's absence.
"Thanks." Tetsu smiled looking up at Saya's empty window sadly.
"Don't get into much trouble ok Tetsu?" Okita smiled with Saizo angrily oinking in his arms.
"I'll try." Tetsu answered the older man not letting go of his sad smile.
"Yeah right." Hijikata snorted blowing a stream of smoke from his pipe. Okita chuckled giddily hanging onto Hijikata's with his only free arm.
Ayumu handed Tatsu a box of food she had made for their trip home. "It's not much but hopefully it will get you through." She smiled.
"Thank you Ayu." Tatsu bowed gratefully accepting her gift.
"I'll miss you Tetsu." Ayumu told him as she ruffled his hair with her hand.
Tetsu jumped forward wrapping his arms around Ayu's waist. He murmured his goodbyes into her shirt. No matter what had happened, he had Ayu to thank for helping him meet Suzu. She had looked out for them, she was the one he was most grateful too.
Susumu stood off to the side just watching everyone say their goodbyes. It wasn't until Tetsu and Tatsu had climbed into their car that his sister walked over to him.
"Did you tell him?" She whispered into his ear as everyone else headed back into the Inn.
"…No…" Susumu muttered under his breath.
Ayu didn't press the matter any further. She just turned and headed back in leaving her little brother to stare out after the shrinking figure of the Ichimura brother's car.
Susumu wondered if Tetsu actually caught the meaning behind his words. Did the little punk actually know what he was trying to say? Has Susumu been forgiven, or did Tetsu not even know that he had asked for forgiveness? It was too late to ask. He couldn't make out his face from this distance, so he couldn't read his emotions. All he could tell was that Tetsu was looking back, whether at him or past him he didn't know.
"Idgit." Susumu swore at himself.
-Kitty, kitty, let me whisper in your ear.-
Down the white halls he walked passing nameless faces with unknown purposes unable to hear their thoughts. The hallways were cool and no one seemed to mind. He walked passed door after door, each as identical as the next. There was no way to tell one from the other, but he knew where he was going. It was two-thirty on Valentines Day.
He finally found his door, his destination. Opening it he walked in to reveal an utterly plain room with an inexplicitly unique inhabitant. Sitting up on a white bed staring out a white curtained window in the middle of a white room sat a teenaged boy with dark brown skin, strikingly silver hair, and blue eyes that had become so cold that they were nearly as icy white as the room around him. The boy turned to the open door in a silent acknowledgement of the taller man's presence.
"What do you want?" Suzu asked in a clearly platonic voice. He didn't care why the man was here, he only asked because it was the only thing he could say.
"I want to talk to you of course." The man's voice was of a slightly higher pitch and all too happy, "I thought I could bring you a little holiday joy."
Suzu just stared blankly at the man as if the thought of celebrating this day had never occurred to him before. The man thought it possible that he never really had. "Your name is Okita right?" Suzu's voice held a hint of curiosity but nothing more than that.
Okita smiled pulling up a chair to sit on next to Suzu's bed. "That's right, and this cute little guy is Saizo!" Okita held up his little round piggy for the teenager to see. The pig glared at Suzu, Suzu glared back.
A small silence fell as Okita rested Saizo on his lap petting the small pig. "He's left." Okita stated simply, "Him and his brother have decided to move away to a new house. You'll be hard pressed to find him once you get better."
"Who said I was going to go searching for that brat?" Suzu sneered looking away from the purple haired man and his deranged pig.
Okita shrugged innocently and smiled, "Heisuke told me a strange tale once."
The sudden change in topic confused Suzu a bit. He turned his head back to look at Okita silently questioning the man's motives. Why was he here? Suzu had never ever really talked to the feminine man. He had seen the man when he first arrived, and he had witnessed his confessions and more indecent moments with Hijikata, but he had never engaged in conversation with him before. Was he here to cheer him up as payment for saving his lover's life? If that was it, he really couldn't care less.
"He told me," Okita went on, "that for every five acts of love passed between lovers one man dies."
Suzu looked at the purple haired man incuriously. Why was he telling him this? What was its point? Was this guy just weird or what?
"It's sad really." Okita sighed placing one finger cutely at the tip of his chin pouting. "Just think. The love of two people could be the catastrophe of another human being. If you think about it, a full life filled with love for one couple could lead to the death of hundreds…no thousands of people."
Okita's gaze turned sneakily to Suzu's face. The young teenager wasn't looking back at him though. He was looking in on himself, thinking, doing the math, letting his calculative mind crunch the numbers and turn them to his advantage.
"Of coarse…"Okita licked his lips tentatively pressing his luck, "It only works on true lovers." Suzu's eyes snapped up to meet his, but Okita turned his gaze to the ceiling, "And we all know how few of those there really are."
"Very few…" Suzu whispered in agreement.
A genuine smile spread over Okita's face as he saw the realization dawn in Suzu's eyes. Closing his eyes Okita scooped Saizo up into his arms once again and stood up from his chair. "I'm sorry I couldn't spend more time with you Suzu. This holiday really should be spent with someone close to you." He smiled down at the young teen.
"Good bye." Okita told him making his way to the door.
Just as Okita was about to step out he was stopped. "Mr. Okita." Suzu called out respectively.
"Yes Suzu?" He turned smiling.
"Thank you…" Suzu told him in a hushed voice his head bowed.
Okita's smile widened and nodded his head in acceptance. He finally turned and walked out the door leaving Suzu to contemplate this new found information.
"He'll figure out you're lying sooner or later you know." Hijikata's rough voice pierced the air once Okita had made his way far enough down the hall.
"I know." Okita smiled giddily up at him, "I'm hoping for later though. Much later."
"He'll hate you if he ever becomes sane again." Hijikata said in a supposedly scolding voice.
"Only for a moment, and then he'll understand." Okita told him while walking by his side. Hijikata just snorted in disbelief and let Souji wrap one of his arms around his as they headed out of the cold white hospital.
Suzu sat in his room. A million thoughts rushing into his mind at once he could only grasp onto one of them long enough to glance on it before another one knocked it away.
Had Tetsu known this? Maybe he had. It was possible that Tetsu had wanted to tell him that there was a better easier way to exact his revenge. A way that he'd never get caught or blamed and that neither of them could get hurt during. If Tetsu had really loved him as he had said, then they could be true lovers. They could kill all of those bastards and no one would have any proof.
"We could…" Suzu muttered aloud. Was there anyway of telling if your killing the right person? Probably not, but the odds that that one person they kill was in this city would increase with each action right? If they just … they could do so many things in one day and that would kill…Eventually… it might take a long time but eventually they could get all those faceless heartless freaks. What better way than to prolong their suffering? Wasn't torture always better when stretched out over time? Let them squirm with the uneasy feeling of a curse being laid upon their heads. They'd be scurrying about franticly wondering who would be next. Who would be the next in line to die in their deranged society? None of them would know that eventually they would all die. By his hand…no by their hands, by their lips, by their love no less!
It was perfect… utter perfection.
"Kitamura Suzu, you are to be transferred to the local Mental Institution. Any resistance will be met with a prolonged sentence." The man's voice never even hit Suzu's ears as several strong looking men in white surrounded him and began to tie his restraints into place.
Suzu didn't give a fight. His mind was too busy contemplating, plotting, and scheming. He would get out again; it was only a matter of time. With good behavior and a few well placed lies, he'd be out again in no time at all. Then he could begin his search. Then he, with Tetsu at his side once more, could claim his revenge. Sweet vengeance would be his. He began to plan so many things he and Tetsu could do, things that he could find that would make the body of their victim whither in an extended death.
The men carried pulled him to his feet and without the conscious order of his mind his feet began to walk. Laughter was waiting to explode bubbling at the back of his throat. It was just so simple, so easy, and all too sweet.
I'm coming for you Tetsu. I'll find you I swear, even if I have to hunt you down to the ends of the earth just to let you in on my revelation. I will find you my love and no one will stop me this time. Suzu couldn't contain his joy. As he was forced down the white halls of the hospital and into the back of a large white truck his laughter trailed after him lingering and echoing in every corridor, heard by every last occupant in the area.
It's only a matter of time brother…Suzu called up looked up to the heavens eager for his brother's redemption. I swear vengeance will be ours. And his love will be mine…
-Because I need you to know, I love you.-
Mahono: Ba dadada dum. Yep that's the end of Love Kills Thousands! Screwy ending ne? Alright… now for me to thank all the reviews I got for the last chapter.
To:
Udyjay- You still scare me…but you are the reason that I started writing again…I really don't want to die people… I'm glad you like my story, but I'm hardly a 'holy-one'. sigh ah well I guess every story needs one creepy reviewer like you huh? So thanks for the kick in the pants to get me started again! (p.s. Maybe this isn't a good story? No one died…so now I'm confused…)
DAK- Well I hope you're happy I didn't kill Suzu. I'm a huge fan girl of his too. I just got the Chrono Nanae's Art book not to long ago and let me tell you there is just SO much of Suzu's sexiness in there I nearly died…drool defiantly worth the 42 bucks I paid for it.
K-chan- Sorry… no cute ending. Please don't hate me! ; maybe in the next one. Be on the look out for another fic I'm planning on called Rich Kids. It's humor and…well you can find more about on my profile, but I'm certain it will end cutely. Again, sorry if I disappointed you!
Kiharu-sama- Stop crying he's not dead! Xx yeash…so many caps this one…Tetsu will smile again…someday… I think.
Ayuki-chan- I'm glad you like my writing, and I'm proud that it was the saddest thing you ever read (that's what I was aiming for), but please don't look up to my writing. Not yet. I still have bad grammar and spelling problems. Plus I tend to use Purple Pro (which is where you use so much detail it sounds stupid) I'm trying to fix it, and I did better in this chapter, but I have a ways to go before I am worthy enough to become anyone's idol.
Vampira the Damned- 1. Yes I am called Mahono. Fully Mahono Ryuketsu. It's my writing/artist name, but I put Jrock-chik before I came up with it. 2. The fact that you jump to conclusions means that my story is hitting something in you that makes you want more. That's good for me but bad for you because you might go mental with it ; your ideas for the ending were pretty good, I hadn't really thought of making it into a cycle, but I had to end it how it was. Thanks for the new ideas though.
Suzu-the-Vampire- Uhm…you reviewed for chapter one... but whatever! I hope this story ends to your liking. I don't know if there's really a 'love scene' in this chapter, but there is a lot of drama. So I hope you liked it all the same!
Thank you all for reviewing! A lot of you really stuck with me all the way, even those who didn't review, thanks for reading! Just remember, I need reviews because they jab at me to get writing, not because I want to be praised…but praise is also good! Hope to see you all again soon!
You're friend,
JRock-Chik / Mahono Ryuketsu