CHAPTER TEN – The Truth About The Dragon Part One
A woman walked through the rain, her hair a rich ocean blue, her eyes a pale sky blue. She went slowly, wrapped up tightly in a raincoat, an umbrella in her hand. Finally, she reached the building, the large white walls looming. She stepped inside, smelling the hospital-like scents within. Walking up to the desk, she gained the secretary's attention quickly. She placed the wet umbrella on the front desk and pulled back her hood.
"May I help you?" the secretary asked, smiling fakely and glancing with annoyance at the puddle forming on the wood of the desk.
"Tao Ren." The woman said softly. The clacking of a keyboard rang loudly through the room.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. It appears he was placed in solitary intensive care. Any contact could be detrimental to his well-being. Anything else I can do?" the snide-looking woman asked.
"His doctor, onegai." The drenched lady requested. A phone was snatched up and buttons punched then some quiet conversation.
"He'll be right in. Make yourself comfortable." The secretary returned shortly to her work.
The bluenette removed her coat and placed it on a rack, revealing herself completely. She was a thin woman and not especially attractive, but she had a kind, motherly look about her. She wore an overly large turtleneck sweater and a long skirt that fell to her ankles. On her feet were furry snowboots. Soon a man dressed all in white entered, clipboard in hand.
"Ma'am? What can I do for you?" he asked, extending a hand.
"Tao Ren. I wish to see him." She said as she shook his hand.
"Miss, I'm sure this can wait. He is unstable. The slightest thing could throw him off. He's been here one day and it's doing wonders. We're getting somewhere with him." He stated.
"Sir…I WILL see him. I want to look into the eyes of the one who murdered my children. I will get a warrant if I have to. The law allows me my right to see him and I will not wait. I am Usui Kaede." She said firmly.
The doctor looked displeased but nodded and led her through the corridors. They came to one of those windows where you can see in but the one inside can't see you. Looking through, Kaede saw him. Ren was sat in a corner of the white padded room, his knees held close to his chest as he rocked back and forth.
"Oh, Horokeu…Oh, Horokeu, you've left me…Horokeu, where are you…I've lost you…Oh, Horokeu…my Horokeu…" he kept saying quietly over and over.
"My god…" Kaede murmured.
"He seems to have focused his murderous personality with the name Horokeu. This is his grieving for the killing side he's lost. The progress he's made is incredible." The man in white said.
"Progress! You call this madness PROGRESS! Let me in to see him alone immediately." She demanded. The doctor made to protest but a harsh glare from her soon put him in his place. The next moment she stepped into the room and knelt beside the Chinese boy gently.
"Ren?" she whispered. He halted his movements and looked her direction, but his eyes were so blank he could have been staring straight through her.
"Ren…you have to snap out of this. He's coming for you." She told him hastily. His eyes cleared slightly.
"Horokeu?" he questioned. She nodded.
"I don't have much time. I came to warn you…and tell you the truth. God knows you deserve to know the truth now. Horokeu isn't well…he's never been well. After his father left when he was 8…he's never been the same. He couldn't take it psychologically. When he was 9 we had to send him to an asylum. He…never really got over his time there, but while he was there, he learned to be normal. When he met you, he saw something different. I don't know what triggered it, but he went back to his other self.
He invented his other persona to help him cope with the loss of his father. Now he's using it to help him cope with his entire life. Somehow he's made his other side real…at least for him. He can't stop himself because he's begun to rely too much on the other side of himself. Now you've become an obsession for him…but he may not want you alive much longer. Look at this." She pulled a newspaper from under her arm, showing him the front page. Mystery Murder Kills Off Entire School! Read the article, showing off several photos of the gory mess that was once their school.
"He painted all sorts of words with the blood. Betrayal… lies… Ren… hate… hurt… and other things of that nature. Whatever you did, Ren…you need to get out of here. He's coming for you…I know it." She finished, taking back the newspaper and standing.
"Goodbye." She whispered and left. Ren stared at the ground.
"Horokeu…come for me." He muttered.
Electric blue eyes pierced through the storm, finding the target they'd been seeking. Their owner stood on the tree branch, jumping down and slinking after the lean figure. The person stopped.
"Horokeu." A female voice whispered, and the woman turned, catching sight of the teenage boy standing there. Horo Horo stood there, staring at his mother through the pouring rain.
"Oh, Horo Horo…" she said, dropping the umbrella in her hands to the side and holding out her arms to him, hoping he would come to her.
"Mother." He said, nodding to her, as though she were a respected foe. Her arms fell to her sides and she pulled back her hood, allowing the pouring rain to hit her hair and face.
"Dragon." Kaede said, her voice turning spiteful.
"Horo…I know you can hear me. I know you're in there. Let this be over. End this insanity. Get Ren and go. Go and live your life the way you were meant to…in happiness. You can't be happy like this…killing everyone. Making Ren fear you." She said. Horo shook his head angrily, his face twisting into a scowl.
"What would YOU know? You're the one who made us like this! You're the one who made dad go away and HIM come!" he shouted at her, making her flinch. He made a small laugh.
"The only thing you ever said right…you said just now." He said. She looked up in surprise and hope. He looked her straight in the eyes, blue meeting blue.
"I'll end this insanity…this will be over…and so will your life." He growled out slowly, his eyes narrowing as he took a menacing step forward. Kaede closed her eyes in acceptance, smiling as the pain settled, as her own son killed her.
Ren breathed out loudly, listening to the faint sound of the rain pounding outside.
"A perfect night for blood to pour, Horokeu." He said, knowing Horo would most likely take advantage of the rain that swept away the crimson flow and the evidence of his guilt.
"Exactly, kitten." The insane voice came from the doorway, and there was Horo Horo, his hands stuffed into his pockets, wearing his usual heavy jacket and shorts with sneakers, completely drenched in rainwater.
"Horokeu." Ren whispered, a small smile gracing his face.
"Kitten…come." Horo pulled a hand out of his pocket, revealing the blood red color that dripped from it, holding his hand out to Ren. The Tao stood and walked slowly to Horo, reaching out and taking the offered hand. His hand was clenched tightly as the older boy dragged him out, allowing the Chinese to see the blood staining the walls, the disembodied human parts randomly thrown about. He gasped in horror, though it shouldn't have surprised him.
"Halt! Murderer!" it was then they both saw the policemen coming into the hallway, setting themselves up with their guns pointed at the two boys. Horo jerked Ren back into the cell and slammed the door shut, the automatic lock clicking.
"What do we do now?" Ren asked. Horo reached down between the padding of the wall and floor and found his prize, pulling out the chain and yanking open a secret compartment.
"We get the hell out of here." Horo answered, dragging Ren in with him and shutting the door behind them. They were in a long tunnel lit by the occasional florescent light.
"What is this?" Ren asked. Horo didn't answer but yanked his arm and pulled him along the tunnel, seemingly knowing where he was going despite the maze of turns and forks in the path. They went quickly for a few hours, until Ren could take it no more.
"Horo…I need to rest." He said, the exhaustion evident in his voice and showing all over his face. Horo took one look at him and hauled him over onto his back, carrying him as he continued. Soon the Ainu could tell the younger boy had fallen asleep, his breathing slow and even and his body slumped. Horo smiled slightly.
"Sweet dreams, kitten." He muttered and continued on his way.
When Ren awoke, he found they were no longer in the long corridors of the tunnel, but instead in a room within the underground maze. He was laying in a huge bed with satin sheets and a cotton bedspread, designed crudely with Ainu markings. A chest of drawers was set up in the corner with a chest beside it. A bookshelf was set up in another corner, it's shelves filled to the brim.
Beside the bed was a small table, holding a tray with warm soup and a glass of milk upon it, waiting for him. A small note was to the side of the bowl. Ren picked it up and read the scrawling Japanese.
Out taking care of business, kitten. Will be home soon. Eat soup and drink milk. –Dragon the note read.
Ren looked it over again. 'Taking care of business' was the part that scared him. What kind of business? He shook his head and began to eat the soup, sighing in content at the delicious taste on his tongue. It seemed to flow down his throat easily and into his stomach, warming him from the inside out. A small sound of a door closing was heard and Ren looked up to see Horo taking off his jacket and hanging it on a hook. Horo shoved his hands into his pockets, looking tired and worn out…even slightly depressed.
"I'm home." He muttered in a drab, monotone voice as he kicked off his shoes and went over, flinging himself backwards onto the bed and closing his eyes in exhaustion.
"You seem tired." Ren said softly, wondering what he was supposed to do with the murderer. Horo nodded slowly. Ren shrugged it off and decided he should simply follow his heart, which was saying it was time to take care of his koi.
"Here." Ren pulled Horo up slightly, propping him up against some fluffy pillows, and moved behind him, beginning to massage his shoulders. Horo sighed softly, a small smile gracing his face as he leaned into the massage. Ren continued his work, but he couldn't help but feel…tempted.
He decided to give in to the temptation and tilted his head slightly, nibbling on Horo's ear. Horo Horo fidgeted a little, but made no protest, so Ren took it a little further, beginning to kiss his love's neck, nipping gently at the sensitive skin. Horo's eyes shot open and he jerked away, turning around to face the Chinese, his eyes narrowed.
"Trying to trick me again, kitten?" he asked in a dangerously light tone. Ren looked up at him innocently.
"No. Horo, I didn't do that back there. The police were after me, not you. They think I'm the one who killed everyone. That's why I was in the mental institute. When I first came to your school, I was just playing around with you…but I'm done with that. I've seen what stupid things like that can do. From now on I'm only following my heart. I love you." He said gravely.
"I…If you're lying, I swear to god, I will kill you with my own hands." Horo said angrily. Ren nodded carefully, closing the space between their lips.