Argh! .:Frustrated major:. .:slams the keyboard against the wall:. This plot has just about died. I know what I want to happen, it's just getting from point A to point B that's killing me. So, let's try again. Chapter sixteen, take forty-nine.
I am so sorry it's taken me so long to update, really I am!!! I've been wanting to update, but I didn't want to write this chapter. It makes me sad. .:cries:. But I hope you like it. I worked really hard on it and even skipped watching Kenshin tonight. It's also somewhat longer than my other chapters, but unfortunately not by much. V.v
After they came home from lunch that day, Daisuke was informed that he and Koji had been moved to a larger room, one with a window and somewhat more space. He was also told about a school-wide art competition/exhibition to be held the next week.
The art exhibition was now only two days away, and Daisuke still didn't have any ideas for a piece of artwork to submit. He sat in his room, staring at the canvas on the easel set up in the corner in front of the window.
"Dai-kun?" Koji spoke up weakly from his cot across the room. He was resting, as per doctor's orders. "What are you thinking?"
Daisuke sighed and fell back against his own cot. "I'm trying to figure out what to draw for the exhibit. Any suggestions?" He arched his back until the top of his head was flat against the cot and he was grinning at his friend from upside down.
Koji studied the canvas from where he lay sideways on his cot. "Well," he said slowly after a moment, "the canvas is about the size for a portrait; why not do one of Hiwatari-sama? I've never seen him—you've just described him too me." He smiled. "I'd like to see the boy who's already captured my love's heart."
The redhead looked at the canvas again. "You think so? I think that will work." He smiled softly. "I really like that idea. Arigato, Koji-kun."
The younger boy smiled and fell back on his cot. A deep crease formed between his brows as a low moan escaped this throat. Daisuke was at his side in an instant and held his hand tightly. "Koji? Koji!"
Koji's grip tightened to nearly bone-crushing on Daisuke's delicate fingers, but the redhead didn't even wince. "It hurts," Koji ground out. "Gods, Daisuke, it hurts."
"It'll get better," Daisuke promised blindly, stroking the suddenly sweaty bangs from the blonde's forehead. "Wait it out; breathe deep, in and out."
These "attacks" as they called them were becoming more and more frequent, nearly twice a day now. Daisuke didn't like that Koji had them at all, let alone so often. He felt so useless, helpless…
Finally Koji's grip relaxed and his body loosened. He fell back against the cushions, pale as the pillow on the cot, as the snow falling outside. His breath was too fast, thin and raspy, his body heavy and limp. Daisuke continued to gently stroke his hair and cheeks.
"If this… goes on… much… longer," Koji panted after a moment, his voice the soft echo of a whisper, "I think I'll… end it all… myself."
"Don't talk like that, Koji," Daisuke snapped. "You'll get better."
"Dai-kun… I'm just so… tired…" his voice trailed off, and his eyes slid closed. His head fell back against the pillows, blonde hair spreading over the white cloth like a deadly halo.
The redhead sat there on his knees by the cot, head bowed over his friend's body. There were tears in his eyes, slowly trickling down his cheeks. Absently he continued to stroke the young boy's face and hair. "Of course you're tired," he whispered, deliberately misunderstanding. "They put you on sleep aids."
Daisuke…"There's one thing I can do for you, Koji-kun," Daisuke whispered. "I can paint the picture."
Tiny slivers of charcoal whispered to the floor, falling from the razor edge of the craft knife as Daisuke sharpened the end of a coal stick. He was working on a sketch of the portrait of Hiwatari Satoshi he would paint soon, for Koji and for the exhibit. The rough outline was drawn on the paper, and the shading came next.
Koji was sleeping peacefully in the corner on his cot. Clutched to his chest he held a small stuffed bear Daisuke had bought during their short shopping trip that afternoon. Smiling, the redhead placed the knife and coal on the easel tray alongside a small clump of stale bread he used for an eraser and stood. Tiptoeing over to the cot, he knelt down beside the sleeping boy and pressed a gentle kiss to Koji's forehead.
The blonde stirred softly and opened his eyes a crack. "Dai-kun?"
Daisuke smiled. "I'm going to the cafeteria, would you like anything? You need to take something with your medicine in a moment."
"Did you just kiss me?" A pale flush crept up his cheeks.
"I was checking your temperature," Daisuke explained with a gentle laugh. "That's how my mother always checked mine when I was younger." That's how Satoshi-kun would check it in the cave… But he kept the last thought for himself alone. "You're running a small fever, but it's not too bad."
"Gee, thanks," Koji laughed dryly, then snuggled back under the blankets. "Peach juice?"
"Okay." Daisuke giggled softly and pushed himself up. "I'll be back." He slid from the door.
The air in the hall was cold, and Daisuke wrapped his arms around himself. Though the school provided winter clothing, it wasn't very warm. He'd been in the school for nearly two weeks now, and winter was tightening its icy grip on the area, freezing them all in three feet of snow.
Outside the snow fell.
Inside it was warmer, but not by much. The system was under-financed, and unnecessary utilities such as heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer in the dorms were trimmed from the budgets.
Padding down the hall in his thin slippers, Daisuke's mind was absorbed with thoughts of the pale blonde in their room, and a certain blunet. It'd been nearly a month since he'd heard Satoshi's voice. A deep, painful ache throbbed in his heart.
Oh, Satoshi-kun, he thought achingly. Why didn't I tell you how I felt when I had the chance? I love you…
So call him and tell him.
I can't do that, Dark-san! Daisuke protested. If I do, I might transform. I can't do that here!
Coward. He faded away in disgust.
"Coward," Daisuke mocked, scrunching his nose and mimicking the thief's voice. "Let's see you try calling someone you love…" Muttering darkly, he turned the corner into the kitchen.
On the way back to his room, armed with two cans of peach juice and plates of chocolate cake, Daisuke felt the hairs on the nape of his neck rise. Stopping cold, he turned around on his toes with the agility inborn of a natural host of a legendary thief, but saw no one. It must be the cold, he thought as he felt the draft in the corridor lift his hair from his neck. He hurried back down the hall towards his shared room.
Kazumi leaned out from the doorway he was hiding in. Damn, that was close, he thought to himself and grinned. One way or the other, he will be mine tonight.
"Koji-kun," Daisuke called, "time for your medication! Where are you?" The cot in the corner was empty.
"I'll be out in a moment, Dai-kun," Koji called from their bathroom.
"Okay." Daisuke set the pill bottle and can of peach juice on the bed frame and flopped down on his own bed. He pulled the sketch pad over to him on the floor and flipped through the pages. Pictures, mostly from his dreams, covered the pages. A tiny white, rabbit-like creature with big claret eyes. Snowy windmills and waterfalls. A winding staircase leading to the depths of the fall. And finally, a complex web of blood. He'd shown a few of the pieces to Koji-kun a while back, but had kept the last to himself. There was something personal about the web.
Humming the words to a popular love song under his breath, Daisuke traced the lines of the web with his fingertip. They wove and entwined, entangled until they became one with no end and no beginning.
A heavy weight fell on his back, but Daisuke wasn't concerned. "Koji-kun, you need to take your medicine," he said, not taking his eyes from the paper. "You can look at my pictures with me afterwards."
A hand clapped over his mouth as midnight ebony hair fell over his face. "Hello, my boy-toy. Did you miss me?"
Nishii—Daisuke! Get away from him! Dark yelled in his mind.
I can't—he's too heavy!Kazumi scooped Daisuke's hands up and pinned them over his head with one hand. "My friends have Koji with them," he breathed against Daisuke's cheek. "If you scream, they'll kill him. So you'd best shut up. Understand?"
Daisuke's mind raced even as he nodded the affirmative. The hand was removed from over his mouth and he was roughly turned over. His hands were still pinned over his head. Kazumi knelt over him, straddling the youth's hips. When he breathed, Daisuke could almost taste the liquor on his breath.
The older boy smirked down at the redhead and pressed a bruising kiss against his lips. Daisuke tried to turn away, but Kazumi held his chin with his other hand. "If you fight me," he threatened, "if you scream, your beloved Koji dies. Let it happen and even participate, and I may even leave him alone from now on."
You can do better than that, Dai, get away!
But he'll hurt Koji—!
He's going to die anyway! Would you prefer he die slowly with that damned illness? You'd probably be giving him a blessing if they did kill him! Put him out of his misery!
He's not an animal, Dark! Daisuke yelled angrily. He's a human being! He trusts me! I can't let them kill him!
Then get Nishii off you and rescue him! Or transform into me—I'll do it if you can't!
Transform? But I have to be experiencing love— The thought was brutally cut off when he felt the cold air hit bare skin as Kazumi managed to wriggle Daisuke's shirt off without releasing his hands. The frigid air immediately caused his nipples to pucker in protest.
Kazumi smiled. "Are you that happy to see me?" he taunted.
"Get off me!" Daisuke hissed, minding not to yell. Koji—
Finally he saw an opportunity. While Kazumi was distracted with trying to undo the knot in the string belt that held Daisuke's pants up, the redhead managed to get a knee up, and he slammed it into the juncture of Kazumi's legs.
The older boy howled with pain and fell over sideways, clutching his groin, as Daisuke scrambled up and off the cot. He made a mad dash for the door, but the knob wouldn't turn—it was locked! His hands were shaking too badly to disengage the lock, and by the time he made them quit, it was too late.
Kazumi caught him around the waist and threw him back on the cot, pinning his wrists down again and this time bracing the redhead's legs with his own. "Damn, you sure do kick for a pansy," he rasped. "But I like it when they fight. All you're doing is turning me on. Don't forget—one word from me and your little friend is dead!"
"Why are you doing this to me?" Daisuke cried.
Dark, help me!
Daisuke, I can't—
I'm scared! I'm scared, okay?! Dark—!
"Because," Kazumi hissed in his ear, "you're mine. And you need to learn that. Now shut the hell up and—"
"Daisuke!" A whirling blonde mass knocked Kazumi from Daisuke, and a slender body was hurled across the room. Koji got his wind back before Kazumi, somehow, and was back on his feet. He barreled into Kazumi, who was just then sitting up. "Daisuke, get away!"
Numbly the redhead looked up and saw the bathroom door swinging open. It was a bluff, he babbled to Dark. He never had Koji-kun… he was bluffing… His thoughts bordered on the edge of hysteria.
You're still in danger, Daisuke. Go, now! While he's distracted!
But Koji—
Never mind him, just go!
"Daisuke, go!" Koji yelled, echoing the thief's command.
The redhead managed to get his feet in gear and stumbled to the door. "I'll go get help, Koji-kun!" He fumbled with the lock, clumsy.
Finally with a click the lock came away and he pulled open the door. When he turned to grab Koji's arm and pull him away from the melee, everything slowed down. Time nearly stopped, and he would remember the next moment in vivid detail for the rest of his life.
Kazumi had staggered to his feet and was leaning on the easel while Koji was in the process of picking himself up from the floor a few feet away. He was in pain again, but was struggling through it to protect himself and the boy he loved. The canvas containing the half-finished portrait of the Azumano police commander lay on the floor in pieces. Koji stumbled at Kazumi as the older boy's fist closed around the craft knife. Within seconds it was all over.
Koji fell back to ground, a wide look in his eyes. His hands were closed over the knife handle embedded in his chest. Kazumi was staring at him with a horrified light in his eyes. All three were frozen in place.
Finally Koji broke the stillness. He glanced down at the knife sticking from his chest. Brilliant blood cascaded down his chest, blossoming against the stark white of his shirt. A strangled gasp escaped his throat. His eyes rolled up into the back of his head, and he collapsed in a crumpled heap on the floor.
Kazumi looked up and his eyes met with Daisuke's. He held his reddened hands up in the air, his marbled blue eyes horrified. "I…I…I didn't mean to… It wasn't my fault!" He fell to his knees, silent tears running down his cheeks. He continued the mantra: "It wasn't my fault... it wasn't my fault..."
Daisuke backed up a step, horror-struck. He shook his head in furious denial. "No… Koji? Koji! No!"
Tears flooded his eyes and he ran. Whenever anyone stood in his way, he bowled them over without a second thought. He ran and ran without direction until he could no longer support himself and he collapsed in the road.
The snow fell.
Author's Notes
This chapter makes me cry… Wish it was longer, though… and I'm sorry again it's taken me so long. Gomen nasai! .:Bowbow:. Domo gomen nasai!! (Does that work?)