Author's Notes
In case you didn't know," Danshikou" translates to "boy's high school." So they sent Dai-kun to a boy's high school/correctional facility. Hai. '-' Mean, hai; cruel, hai; important to the plot, hai. .:Nodnod:. And so, on to chapter fourteen!
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Tick, tock. Tick, tock. Slowly the clock hands wound their way around the moon-shaped face until they pointed at the twelve and three. Daisuke sighed and beat his forehead on his desk. Three o'clock. Time for the damn support meetings. You know, Dark, if it weren't for you, I think I'd go crazy.
Hai, but just make sure you don't speak aloud—otherwise they will think you've gone crazy.
You don't have to remind me. Daisuke stood and gathered up his notebook, being sure to leave the history textbook on the desk. At his new school each teacher taught the same class every hour, and so there was only one set of textbooks. And since the students all were forced to live on campus, there wasn't a real need for the students to have their own copies.
Down the hall he walked. If it wasn't bad enough that the school wouldn't let him wear his own clothes, the new uniforms were all a bright melon-pink colour, short-sleeved and puffy-panted. For shoes they were all given soft-soled slippers. Daisuke was forced to wear his hair pulled back in a ponytail—and it was barely long enough to do that, since he'd gotten it trimmed before he'd been abandoned at this hell-hole of a school. There were bars on all the windows, and the panes in said windows and the doors were all made of shatterproof Plexiglas.
At the third door on the left he turned and slipped into the room. The chamber was well-lit, but not with halogen white lights; rather, the lighting was soft and in blue and violet hues. A charming and soothing aroma was circulated around the room by strategically placed incense and candles, but it was not so overbearing as to choke off the air. There weren't any desks, but instead uncomfortable chairs and sofas scattered here and there around a few low coffee tables.
Daisuke wasn't the first one to arrive—he never was. Lounging in his usual place on top of a table in the corner was Nishii Kazumi. Kazumi had bright blue eyes similar to Satoshi-kun, Daisuke had noted on the first day, but Kazumi's eyes lacked the vibrant life Satoshi's possessed. Kazumi's eyes were matte, cold and hard. He wore his black hair long and refused to wear it in the mandatory ponytail. His dark hair and fair eyes and complexion only served to increase the air of mystery and danger about him. Kazumi wasn't overly tall, but he was slender, quick and strong. He also liked to play punching bag with the new boy—namely, Daisuke.
Kazumi was always careful not to leave any marks on Daisuke's skin where they would show—the redhead's stomach, legs, and back were all a myriad of bruises, cuts, and other damages. And Daisuke had only been there three days.
Kazumi never wore the uniform—instead he lounged in his pink pants and a white tshirt. He seemed at ease wherever he was and with whomever. The teachers all loved him and could see him do no wrong. Kazumi had been at Danshikou for the past four years, and in that time, he'd nearly killed three boys with his "affection" and "concern" for their naïveté of the ways of the school. And still he was an angel in the eyes of the teachers.
Demons lurk in the skins of angels, Daisuke thought bitterly. And it was just his luck that Tetsuo Koji had history today instead of group therapy. Which meant there was nowhere for Daisuke to hide until the sensei showed up with the rest of the class. Kazumi didn't like to beat up his latest toys in front of anyone not in his closest circle, and Koji was Daisuke's only friend at he institution.
"Well, well, well, Niwa." Kazumi lazily pushed himself up and stared indolently at the redhead. There was some sick sort of adoration in his eyes. "Have I told you lately that you're absolutely beautiful?"
Daisuke tried to ignore him. The beating always began that way, with Kazumi complimenting him on his face and body.
Dai-kun, stay calm. Dark stayed with him in his mind, what little comfort that was.
"Fuck off, Nishii," Daisuke spat as he settled himself on the couch furthest from the other boy. He was tired of this game.
"Now, now, that's not very nice." Kazumi stood and sauntered over to the redhead. He placed his hands on the arms of the chair and leaned forward until his face was mere inches from the younger boy's. "And didn't I tell you to start calling me 'Kazumi'? Eh, Daisuke?"
"Niwa," Daisuke bit clearly. "Ni-wa. Not Daisuke—at least, not to you. I don't want you to."
"You will, eventually."
"Don't hold your breath."
"Fine," he breathed against Daisuke's cheek. "I'll hold yours." He leaned in close and pressed his lips against the redhead's. He tried to pull away, but there was nowhere to go. Kazumi knew this and so he pressed closer. His hands rested on Daisuke's waist, pressing brutally into the abused and sore skin. Daisuke cried out at the sudden flash of pain, but it only seemed to spur the other boy on. When Kazumi boldly thrust his tongue into Daisuke's mouth, however, the younger boy retaliated. He bit the other's tongue. Hard. Until he tasted bittersweet coppery blood.
Kazumi cursed and pulled back, wiping a dribble of the red liquid from his chin with the back of his hand. Anger flashed into his eyes and fear began to climb up the back of Daisuke's throat when suddenly the door slammed open. In flowed a small stream of a half-dozen boys all dressed in uniform pink, followed by a taller man clothed in the faculty's deep blue.
Ebai Sensei cast his eyes over the two across the room uninterestedly. "Niwa, restrain yourself and quit bothering Kazumi-kun. He didn't do anything to you. All you've done since you arrived here three days ago is torment the poor boy and make up lies. I'm telling you now it will all stop."
"But Sensei—!"
"Tojikomeru!" Ebai Sensei's eyes flashed a dark, menacing black as he settled himself regally into an armchair. "Now, let the meeting begin."
Daisuke sighed and slumped back in his chair. Kazumi smirked at him from across the room behind the teacher and blew a kiss. The redhead shuddered.
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If the Danshikou Correctional Facility had one redeeming quality it was that they served actual food to the inmates—I mean, students. Daisuke sat moodily in the corner of the courtyard and poked at his beef stew with a plastic spoon. It was nighttime, dinnertime, and the boys were scattered around the large dining hall and the fenced outdoors courtyard, talking amongst themselves to just to themselves. Daisuke was trying to keep from site, away from where Kazumi might see him. He sipped his chocolate milk.
"Daisuke-kun? I heard you got into some trouble earlier."
From the darkness Koji materialized. Koji was on the slender and sickly side, with pale and sallow skin. Golden blonde hair hung in a somewhat limp braid down his back. His eyes were a large chocolate brown, a mirror to his every thought and emotion. He'd been Kazumi's victim before Daisuke and as such understood what the redhead was going through. The two had become fast friends as soon as Daisuke had arrived.
Daisuke looked up and motioned for Koji to sit down beside him. "Nothing more than usual, I guess."
"Kazumi again?"
"Hai." Daisuke sipped his broth quietly. "He... this time it was different."
"I heard him talking with Nakamura Minoru and Suzuki Toshiya earlier. Tonight he's planning on sneaking into our room. He's going to tell the nurse I wasn't feeling well and get them to make me stay in the Infirmary tonight." Koji picked at his role.
Why doesn't he stand up to Kazumi? Dark asked Daisuke softly.
He's frightened. I'm frightened, Dark.
I wish I were there to protect you.
I'll be fine. He only wished he could be so sure. Still, he pushed the uncertainty aside. "So what's your plan, Koji-kun?"
Koji was still new to thinking for himself and was shy when it came to discussing any of his thoughts, even to Daisuke. Still, he was making progress. "I... I was thinking I could sneak out of the Infirmary right after light's out. They'll have moved my cot from our room for one of the kouhai to use, so maybe I could... with you..." He broke off, touching the tips of his fingertips together. He stared at his hands.
"Sleep in the cot with me?" Daisuke clarified.
The blonde nodded. "Kazumi will stay away from you, and me. We'll both be safe."
"I think that's a good idea." Daisuke smiled encouragingly at Koji. "You're very smart."
The blonde flushed and continued picking his role into tiny pieces. "Thank you," he mumbled.
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"Koji-kun?"
"Nani?"
It was a little past midnight, and the two boys were lying together in the cot, waiting for Kazumi to make his move. Koji and Daisuke shared the tiny closet-sized dorm room. There was only enough space in the chamber for both their cots, nothing more. There weren't any windows on the walls, and because of that, there was almost no light in the room. Koji was shy and still half afraid to sleep on his own, and so he curled up against the other boy with his head resting on Daisuke's chest. Daisuke didn't mind—he felt oddly protective of the younger boy.
"How long had Kazumi been...with... you before I got here?"
"Ever since I got here... that was...four years ago." He snuggled closer to Daisuke under the blankets.
"Why were you sent here?"
There was a small silence in the room while Koji considered his answer. Finally he asked, "Do you want the honest truth?"
"Hai."
"I... I killed somebody."
Daisuke stilled, his arms still locked around the smaller boy. "Na...ni?"
Tears choked the smaller boy's throat and voice when he spoke again. "I didn't mean to, Daisuke-kun, you have to believe me. They... did horrible things... expected me to... every night... with others... and... she hurt me... I couldn't take it... Daisuke-kun," he whimpered.
"Shh..." The redhead gathered the other boy close to him and stroked his hair. "It'll be all right. I don't hate you. You're fine and safe here with me."
Koji sniffled and tried to relax a little. "Why are you here?" he hiccupped.
"Well... I'm not sure," Daisuke said after a moment. "I'm an orphan, and I guess my family didn't want me anymore. The orphanage wouldn't take me back, so they put me here instead."
"I'm sorry."
"Me too." He hugged Koji lightly. "Me, too."
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Author's Note
Sorry it's so short and it kinda sucks... I was in a kinda angsty mood. But that's okay, this goes along with the story. .:nodnod:. I'm satisfied with how this turned out, actually. I love poor Koji-kun... Review, please!!!