Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon-if I did, Takuya and Kouji would be a
couple forever and ever, and Izumi would NOT be paired with either one of
them. :P (Then again, that's just my own personal opinion)
Author's Notes: Wow...for some reason, this chapter was one of the hardest to write so far. I wasn't sure what it was that I wanted to do with it, and then when I finally felt like I was getting somewhere, I'd get stuck. So eventually I had just written it out in sections, and then my only problem was starting it out. So I'll admit, the start of this chapter might be a little bit on the weird side-just to warn you. I also don't think that this chapter is my best one...but...shrugs. And I know I keep on promising that I'll tell you guys who Kouji's new roommate is, and when I say this time that it'll be in the next chapter, I really mean it! No lying on my part this time. This chapter focuses quite a bit on Kouji, so all you Kouji lovers enjoy...
Oh, and a big thanx to everyone who's reviewing and keeping tabs on this fic. I'd thank everyone separately, but I'm too tired at the moment and I've got a lot of writing and betaing to do...so you'll all be thanked individually eventually...but a big hug to everyone who has reviewed so far! You guys really are awesome!
Story Rating: PG13
Warning1-if you don't like yaoi/slash then I suggest that you leave now or forever hold your peace-you've been for warned :p Warning 2-I'm positive by NOW most people know that this is the sequel to Eternity, so if you haven't read that, you might want to go and do that. However, if you haven't read it, and you've gotten this far without getting confused at all, then do feel free to continue reading and just ignore this warning!
Pairings: Takuya/Kouji, Koichi/Izumi
Time Setting: Five years after Eternity
Forevermore
Author: Angel Spirit
Chapter V-Truth and Logic
Kouji Minomoto was now officially late...well, he had actually been officially late about an hour ago. But usually, being late was something only Rei Ashia did incredibly well. Kouji was never one to be late-he was always punctual, always there when you told him to be there, or when you needed him to be there. No, being late was Rei's job.
But tonight it looked like it belonged to someone else.
Someone who Rei was starting to get very worried about. This wasn't like Kouji...he was never, ever late. And yet here she was an hour later still sitting on the front steps of the dorm room where Kouji had told Izumi to tell her to meet him. And he still had yet to show up...and the wait was starting to make her paranoid.
What if something had happened to Kouji? Or was happening to him right now while she was just sitting here? She'd feel horrible if that were the case.
But she'd already dialed his cell phone-twice. Actually, more then twice. And come the seventh or tenth time that she'd dialed it, she'd finally left a message on his voicemail, telling him that whatever had happened, he'd better have a good explanation for ditching her, and that she was worried about him. She bit her lower lip and stood, walking back down the steps and onto the sidewalk as she walked a bit back and forth, trying to maybe catch a glimpse of Kouji running in her direction and apologizing profoundly for being late, giving her some silly excuse that she'd definitely take and accept his apology and they'd be off on their plans for the night.
Pizza, some studying, and then just doing stuff that best friends did when they had spare time to hang out together.
And Kouji had wanted to do it as much as she had tonight...so why wasn't he here? He'd never ditch her. He respected her too much for that, and if he couldn't make it, she knew that he would've called her at the least to tell her that he couldn't make it. He'd never leave her hanging. Just as she had never left him hanging...sure, she was late...but at least she'd call and say she was going to be late, and by now she knew Kouji usually just expected her to be late. Which, was fine with her because then it saved her a phone call.
Closing her eyes and taking in a small breath, Rei wondered what she should do. She knew that Koichi and the other's had plans tonight, and were no where near the University. Katsume was actually here, but studying hard for her midterms, as usual...that was no surprise. Rei didn't really want to go back in, because she knew she'd hear about how she was supposed to be studying for her midterms too...and she would be...as soon as Kouji got here, as he'd promised to help her study with at least the classes they had together.
So she sat down and waited a little bit more, and about fifteen minutes later, Rei's cell phone went off, causing her to jump a little bit as it was a pretty quiet evening. And when she looked on the caller ID screen, she sighed in relief. Kouji.
"Kouji, you'd better have a good excuse for not being here!" She knew it wasn't the greatest greeting in the world, but...she wanted him to know that he was scaring her-or had given her a scare anyway.
But the person on the other end of the line, wasn't Kouji. And when she heard the unknown voice, it sent a horrible shiver down her spine.
"This isn't Kouji. But someone calling to tell you that Minomoto is a bit tied up at the moment. So he won't be joining you this evening." Rei felt her blood freeze, and her hand that was holding her cell phone started to tremble.
"Who are you and what have you done with him?!?" The chuckle that sounded on the other end of the line, threw Rei into sudden panic...it was too creepy for her, and she held back tears of frustration.
"Let's just say that if you saw who I was, you'd know who I am. And as to where he is...well, I'm afraid I can't tell you that...not specifically anyway. But I can have someone show you where he is...and when you get to him, deliver him this message for me Ashia. Tell him that he'd better stay far away from Kanbara, if he knew what was good for him...or else he'll be in a world of hurt...in more ways then one." As the phone line went dead, Rei felt her face suddenly grow pale as she debated whether or not she should run up and get Katsume and tell her what was going on.
But just as she was going to dash up the stairs, she heard the sound of a motorcycle approach, and the driver stopped at the bottom of the stairs. She felt a pair of eyes on her, and she immediately knew that this was who the voice on the phone had meant when he had said that he could show her where Kouji was.
"You're here to take me to Kouji." She had to at least make sure that what she was thinking was correct. The biker nodded and motioned for her to get on behind them. Rei bit her lower lip as she slowly approached the biker, noticing that there was no extra helmet. Sure, she'd ridden on a motorcycle before, but she'd also worn the equipment needed when riding one as well. And tonight she was only in a pair of flared khaki pants, a dark red tang top with her jean coat over that and a pair of ankle high boots...not exactly motorcycle riding material. But, if she wanted to get to Kouji, then she knew she had no other choice.
So she stradled the bike and signaled to the biker that she was ready as they took off second later, and she felt the wind rushing past her.
They seemed to drive on for quite some time, and Rei was starting to get a bit cold, and she looked up to see dark storm clouds coming in off the harbor area, making it look like it was going to storm and she sighed...she was going to get drenched if they didn't get to wherever this person was taking her. And as time wore on, she started to feel more then a little nervous. She shouldn't have done this...she should've gone straight to Katsume and told her what was going on, gone with her first instinct.
"Where are we going?!?" Rei asked, having to holler over the wind, but the motorcyclist didn't answer as he made a sudden left turn, and Rei found herself holding on a bit tighter. Unbeknownst to her, underneath his helmet, the biker smiled at this.
Rei had figured that the biker was a guy...if only from the muscles that she felt underneath his leather coat. And when she heard the voice curse softly when it finally did start to rain, the voice sounded too deep to belong to a female. Unless the female worked out 24/7, and knew how to disguise her voice...
"I thought you were taking me to Kouji! Where ARE we?!?" Before she had even finished her question, the biker suddenly turned and came to a fast halt...nearly throwing Rei off.
"I'm not supposed to do what I'm going to do, but I'm going to help you out tonight. If he ever finds out, he'll kill me...or he'll try to anyway. But what I've seen tonight, I don't ever want to see again. You look like a good person Rei, so if I were you, I'd stay as far away from all this mess as you possibly can...don't get deeper into it then what you are already. And the boss meant what he said about the message he gave you to give to Minomoto. If Minomoto doesn't apply it, more people then just himself will get hurt. Get off the bike." Raising her eyebrows, Rei did as she was told, already getting wet and feeling cold as she felt herself shiver.
"We're in the middle of nowhere. I want to know what's going on." The biker only held up a hand though, and she knew what that meant as she stopped talking and only trembled a bit as a gust of wind suddenly blew hard through the alleyway they'd stopped in.
"Just listen." And she did. Within seconds she heard the sound of another motorcycle tearing its way down the other side of the alley and as the rider rushed passed them, dropped someone off before speeding up again and disappearing into the rainy night.
When Rei saw Kouji's limp form lying on the street, she almost screamed. Instead, she somehow managed to keep her cool as she knelt down next to him and glanced up at the mysterious biker who had yet to actually reveal themselves, and Rei wondered if they ever would.
"What happened to him?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper as the biker looked away for a minute.
"He was in the wrong place at the wrong time." Was all that was said as she heard Kouji groan a little.
"I need to get him out of here, and you said you'd help me." Rei whispered, looking up at the biker who nodded and pointed to the street.
"Go out to where I turned, there's a van waiting for you with it's back doors open. Get in, they'll take you back to where I picked you up. I hope I never see you again Rei...and I'm only saying that for your safety." Before she could say anything else, the biker leapt onto their motorcycle with grace that Rei had never seen before, and then before she could even blink, sped off into the night.
Realizing that she now had to carry Kouji, she quickly picked him up, surprised by how light he was. Then again, she had managed to throw him across the room in their martial arts class the other Friday night...but she didn't think that he'd be this easy to carry.
True to the biker's word, there was a van waiting for her...black, with no windows looking out save for the passenger and driver's side, but those were all tinted, and she couldn't see who was driving it. Biting her lip, Rei knew that she was taking another gamble. But it was a gamble she'd have to take...especially when she realized that the biker had somehow pawned her cell phone off of her, when she went to reach for it from where it should've been in her pocket.
Letting out a low curse, she managed to haul Kouji into the van and then climb up into it after him, slamming the doors shut...and not a second after, the van took off, causing her to fall off balance and landing hard on her rear. Cursing again as she heard Kouji moan once more she managed to crawl her way to him in the dark, and brushed fallen hair out of his eyes. This was actually the very first time that she'd ever seen him without his hair in a ponytail, or with his bandanna on...she had had no idea how long his hair really was.
"Hang on Kouji...just hang on, okay? When we get back to the University, I'll take care of you until Koichi gets back, alright?" She murmured, letting him know that she was there as she sat in the darkness with him pulled up into her lap, for the duration of the ride...
Last night hadn't been fun...not a fun night at all.
And now, she felt miserable...like someone had slammed her head against the wall a few dozen times. Rei found her eyes slowly opening and she groaned as she brought a hand to her head, closing her eyes tightly as the world started to spin about her.
Had what really happened last night, really happened? Had she really been through all those crazy things? The phone call...the motorcyclist...finding Kouji, the van ride...
And yet now here she was, waking up in her own bed in her own dorm room, feeling like she'd been hit by a truck.
"Katsume?"
She had felt another presence close by, and when a cool hand was brought to her forehead, Rei winced at the soft, gentle touch.
"You know, staying out in the rain all night long isn't really a smart thing to do." Katsume's voice sounded louder then usual, and Rei made a face as she struggled to sit up.
"Not so loud...I feel like I have a hangover or something..." She murmured, and saw Katsume shake her head.
"You and Kouji probably both do...you know, I never thought you two were the drinking type." Rei frowned, trying to figure out what Katsume was trying to say.
"Drinking types? Kat, you know that Kouji and I don't bother with the stuff, why...?" Katsume sighed as she brought Rei a glass of water.
"Alec and I found you and Kouji passed out on the front steps to the dorms last night. Alec figured you two might've gone to a bar or something, because you both stank so bad...Alec took Kouji to his dorm room and I took care of you." Rei's frown deepened. What Katsume was saying didn't make any sense.
And then she remembered...the van...she'd suddenly smelled an odor in the back of the van and hadn't felt very well...and she'd passed out.
"How's Kouji?" Katsume snorted.
"Probably just feeling the same way you were. Though Alec said that he looked a little bit banged up, like he'd gotten into a fight or something. That doesn't surprise me with the hot temper he tends to have sometimes." Rei groaned. Now she was stuck with having to listen to Katsume chastise her and Kouji all day long...great.
"None of this makes any sense." Rei murmured, as Katsume shrugged.
"When you get drunk, the next morning never makes any sense." Katsume walked away a minute later, and Rei found her eyelids slowly drooping...
The next thing she knew, she was being woken to the harsh sound of the phone ringing, Katsume nowhere in sight. Sighing, she managed to open her eyes all the way and fumble for the phone. She dropped it once, but managed to pick it up quickly before it hit the floor.
"Ashia speaking...it had better be good." Rei still felt lousy.
"Rei-kun? You sound as horrible as I feel." Kouji. The minute Rei heard his voice, she let out a sigh of relief.
"And you sound as horrible as I feel too...do you feel like you've been run over by a truck a few times over?" She heard Kouji chuckle a little bit.
"Yeah, I do...but...what Alec, Koichi, and Katsume are telling me what happened, doesn't make any sense. I don't remember anything of last night...and yeah, while we've got the symptoms of having hangovers, I've got no memory of getting drunk-what about you?" Rei hesitated for a moment, before she shook her head and ran a hand through her hair.
"It doesn't make sense to me either, I told Katsume that and she just told me that the next morning after getting drunk doesn't make any sense. But Kouji...I...what I remember, doesn't involve us drinking...what...what do you remember about yesterday?" Kouji frowned.
"That's the thing Rei...I...I don't remember anything. The last thing I remember is bumping into Izumi on the steps to the registration building and telling her to have you meet me in front of our dormitory...after that...it's all a big blank." Rei sighed, feeling that what little bits and pieces from the other night that she did remember, was all just part of a whacked out dream. Maybe she and Kouji had gone drinking last night, without thinking about it...but she'd remember going to a club or a bar, wouldn't she?
"Rei?" She hadn't even realized she'd spaced out before Kouji called her back to the present.
"I'm okay...just...have a really big headache-too much thinking and confusion for me and...and...Kouji, I...I'll be right back." Her stomach suddenly felt nauseated and she quickly dropped the phone despite Kouji's worried inquiries that she heard as she dashed off to the bathroom, barely feeling like she was able to make it.
About an hour or so later she heard the door to the dorm room open and groaned as she heard Katsume's soft footsteps approaching.
"You scared the wits out of Kouji Rei-kun...you feeling any better?" She whispered, as Rei only shook her head. And whimpered a little bit, as she leaned over the toilet again. She didn't think she had anything left in her stomach.
When she had finished dry heaving, Katsume gently picked her up and carried her back to bed, pulling the sheets over her trembling body and getting a wet cloth to wipe her face and arms down with.
"Just get some sleep Rei...I'll leave a pot by your bedside in case you need it." It was the last thing she heard before she felt herself pass out...
"Rei?" Groaning as she heard her name being called, Rei gradually opened her eyes, and blinked them a couple of times.
"I need you to drink this, okay...?" She knew that voice, or at least she thought she knew that voice. She'd heard it before...the other night...
She felt a mug of something being brought to her lips, and she drank as much as she could, trying to keep it down. Then she groaned and laid back onto her pillows as she felt a cool hand brush itself gently across her forehead.
"Just sleep again, okay Rei? You'll feel better soon...I promise..."
More promises...promises to be broken...Rei wasn't sure how that thought entered her mind, but she soon found herself slipping off into sleep again, wondering why she felt so bad...
"It's the effect of the gas sir. I thought you said that there were no effects?"
"I never said that...I said that there would be potential effects Lieutenant."
"Bullshit, I'd remember if you said that. Now my girlfriend's back at home lying in bed sicker then a dog. You'd better have a good excuse for having had them use that junk."
"I do have a good excuse. Neither of them remember anything of what happened that night, and as I do recall that's exactly what we wanted to have happen."
The Lieutenant snorted.
"This case is getting out of hand. I don't want my girlfriend to be getting involved in it."
"You might not have much of a choice. She's close to Minomoto-too close. I told you to keep her away from him, to prevent this from happening, and what happens? You don't do your job."
"Every time I've tried to keep her away from him, she rebels on me. It wasn't something I couldn't stop from happening. They've got too much in common."
"Maybe I should put someone else on this case Lieutenant?" An angry sigh.
"Hell no. This is as personal as it gets. I didn't plan on falling in love; I didn't plan any of this. All I was supposed to do, was my job...and now it's like I'm living two different lives. Trust me when I say that she has no idea that it was really me the other night, trust me when I say that when I tell her I go off to work, that she's got no idea what it is I do. She's clueless...but she's not stupid. If we're not careful, she's going to figure something out and then our cover's going to be blown."
"You mean if you're not careful Lieutenant. This is your deal, and you can't jeopardize it. That gang's been on the loose for too long now. They've molested more people then I can count on my fingers and toes. It's bad enough that you believe one of them has an obsession with Minomoto."
"I know for a fact that it's a true fact sir. I just need proof."
"You're running out of time for that proof."
"There's something else sir."
"Yes Lieutenant?"
"Minomoto's old boyfriend is back in town...and is going to be attending Shibuya University real soon...like at the end of this weeks midterms soon. There's bound to be trouble and friction. I don't think that I can keep Minomoto away from him if he falls back in love with his old boyfriend."
"Actually, this old boyfriend of his might be the trick we need to lure the gang banger who you think has the obsession with Minomoto out...he might try to do something he thinks he can get away with. Keep an eye on this developing situation Lieutenant. The stake out went well yesterday, but it could've gone better. Next time, don't get your girlfriend involved." Another sigh.
"Yes sir. I'll try not to...I...I'm sorry."
"Sorry is just a word Lieutenant. Actions speak more then anything else. So get going...I don't want to see you back here until you've got some proof. And keep an eye on that girlfriend of yours by the way. I hear that cheerleading squad's getting nasty tempers as of late."
"Yes sir."
Kouji took a deep breath of fresh air as he headed down the stairs and walked across the street, heading toward his Trig class. He had been hoping to meet up with Rei and walk with her, to talk about what had maybe happened to him the other night.
But from what he heard from Katsume, she still wasn't feeling too well, and probably wouldn't make it to her morning classes.
Koichi hadn't been too happy about what he and Rei had supposedly done.
'I didn't think that by leaving you alone for one night you'd get into so much trouble...' His exact words the next day after Kouji had woken up with a killer headache.
And none of it still made any sense.
And he still couldn't remember anything-it was starting to drive him crazy, really it was. It was like having a day erased from your memory, and yet you knew something had happened. Something important...
He decided to take a detour to the café and get some coffee. He knew that he told Sen a few weeks ago that he didn't drink it. And normally he didn't...only every once in awhile. And this was definitely one of those times when he felt like he needed it. And there was this little place inside the café with a barista who made an awesome mocha...
By the time he got to his Trig class, he was shocked to see who was sitting in the seat next to his usual spot. Rei had decided to come to class, but still looked pretty wiped out. She offered him a wry grin as he slipped into he seat next to hers, somewhere toward the last couple of rows in the classroom.
"I thought you weren't going to come." She chuckled.
"I was actually planning on coming...Katsume didn't think I looked well enough to come, but I needed to come...this is one of the few last classes before our midterm and I need to turn in the assignment from the last time- remember? Any assignments she gives us this week have to be turned in the next day or they don't count? Mean instructor...and I didn't want to miss this class as she's going to give us information we need on our midterm final. And you got coffee and didn't get me any." Rei pouted, and Kouji grinned as he took a sip and handed it off to her, glad that he got a Grande sized coffee.
She only grinned back at him in return as she took a long gulp and sighed before passing it back.
"Good java...good...you went to that one person you like making your mocha's, didn't you?" Kouji chuckled and nodded.
"But of course. If I get coffee, I want it to be good."
"And you don't mind sharing with me?" She held out her hand for the cup again as Kouji passed it to her.
"Nah. I knew there was a reason for me to get the slightly bigger size today." Rei laughed softly as the instructor-Ms. Penn, came in and briefly smiled at her students before heading to the front of the class to begin the lesson. If it was one thing Rei liked about their trig instructor, it was that she didn't mind if they had coffee, any other type of drink or food in the classroom as long as they cleaned up after themselves afterward. It made sense, as it was one of the early morning classes offered. Most early morning teachers were fairly lenient-so Rei had found out plenty of times.
Thanks to the coffee Kouji had gotten, they'd both managed to stay awake throughout the class and take a sufficient amount of notes to study from.
When class was excused, Rei yawned as she stood and Kouji followed suite shortly after.
"That was fun." He murmured, and Rei scowled.
"We've got History next-that is so going to suck...I'm feeling miserable again and I always end up falling asleep during that class...do we have enough time to get more coffee?" Kouji chuckled as he glanced at his watch.
"Probably-only if we hurry though. Want to share another one?" Rei nodded.
"Definitely, I can never finish a full cup myself. Let's make it another Grande and I think I might be able to make it through the rest of the day without anything disastrous happening." She flashed him the best smile she could manage as she slung her arm around his shoulders and quickly guided him back to the coffee stand in the café...
"How were your classes for the day?" Rei nodded as she slipped of her shoes and grinned at Katsume, who was sitting at the table drinking a mug of tea.
"Fine...I managed to get through them without falling asleep anyway." Katsume smiled at her as she came up and wrapped her arms around her. Rei could've sworn that she saw Katsume's smile grow a little wider at this.
"Any homework or studying you've got to do tonight?" Rei hesitated before nodding her head a little bit.
"Yeah, just some Trig that's all...it's an easy assignment, Kouji and I got it mostly done during our hour and a half break earlier today. I've just got a few problems left."
"Maybe I can help you with them?" This time Rei didn't hesitate before nodding. Katsume was in Calculus with Izumi and Koichi...she knew what she was doing when it came to math. And besides, the faster that Rei got her Trig homework done, and her History reading completing, the more time she could spend with Katsume...if that was what Katsume was indicating that that was what she wanted.
"You have the night off work tonight or something?" Katsume nodded, and Rei smiled.
"Awesome...so if you help me with the last few Trig problems I've got and let me finish reading that awful chapter in my history textbook, then..."
"Then you and I can have some fun." Katsume finished as she stood.
"Why don't you start reading your history assignment while I start making dinner?" A Kastume-cooked dinner compared to the stuff she sometimes got from the café...Rei really liked the sound of it as she nodded at Katsume and flashed her another big smile.
"Sounds good to me. And then later maybe we can watch a movie?" Katsume nodded at her before she disappeared into the kitchen, and Rei silently pumped a fist into the air. Tonight was getting better, and better...then again, a night without arguing with Katsume was always better...
Kouji sighed as he slammed his Trig book shut, grumbling about how stupid math was as he stood and stretched, deciding to head over to the small kitchen to find something to eat.
He debated about whether or not to call Rei and invite her to go and get something to eat with him, but then he remembered how tired she had looked all day...that and the fact that he hadn't heard the sound of her arguing with Katsume at all that night, and figured that maybe it was one of those nights that Rei liked best.
So he decided to leave her be...only hoping that she'd remember to get the homework they had all done.
He couldn't call Koichi, he knew that Koichi was spending time with Izumi tonight...just the two of them, alone. Sure some of it involved studying, but Kouji knew that lately Koichi hadn't been able to actually get much alone time with Izumi.
He knew that something was up-everyone was being really quiet toward him. Including Junpei, who looked like he had a secret he wanted to tell Kouji so badly but couldn't.
So were they all hiding something from him?
And what about what had happened to him and Rei the other night? Why could he still not remember anything? Was he really not supposed to remember anything?
He tried not to think about it, as he rummaged around in the miniature fridge for something to eat, when he heard a knock on the door.
Wondering who it was, knowing that most of his other friends were busy, he debated about going and opening it. What if it was Sen on the other side, only coming to bother him on a night he really didn't feel like being bothered? But he heard the sound of rustling as he looked toward the door to see a slip of paper being shoved through the small slit at the bottom of the door.
Frowning, he headed over to pick it up, and unfolded the note, smoothing it out so that he could read it. In big, block letters that had obviously been cut from a newspaper or magazine clippings, it read:
DON'T FORGET WHAT YOU'VE BEEN TOLD TO DO
Kouji bit his lower lip, trying to figure out the meaning behind the note. Problem was, he didn't remember what he'd been told...
TBC
Author's Notes: Wow...for some reason, this chapter was one of the hardest to write so far. I wasn't sure what it was that I wanted to do with it, and then when I finally felt like I was getting somewhere, I'd get stuck. So eventually I had just written it out in sections, and then my only problem was starting it out. So I'll admit, the start of this chapter might be a little bit on the weird side-just to warn you. I also don't think that this chapter is my best one...but...shrugs. And I know I keep on promising that I'll tell you guys who Kouji's new roommate is, and when I say this time that it'll be in the next chapter, I really mean it! No lying on my part this time. This chapter focuses quite a bit on Kouji, so all you Kouji lovers enjoy...
Oh, and a big thanx to everyone who's reviewing and keeping tabs on this fic. I'd thank everyone separately, but I'm too tired at the moment and I've got a lot of writing and betaing to do...so you'll all be thanked individually eventually...but a big hug to everyone who has reviewed so far! You guys really are awesome!
Story Rating: PG13
Warning1-if you don't like yaoi/slash then I suggest that you leave now or forever hold your peace-you've been for warned :p Warning 2-I'm positive by NOW most people know that this is the sequel to Eternity, so if you haven't read that, you might want to go and do that. However, if you haven't read it, and you've gotten this far without getting confused at all, then do feel free to continue reading and just ignore this warning!
Pairings: Takuya/Kouji, Koichi/Izumi
Time Setting: Five years after Eternity
Forevermore
Author: Angel Spirit
Chapter V-Truth and Logic
Kouji Minomoto was now officially late...well, he had actually been officially late about an hour ago. But usually, being late was something only Rei Ashia did incredibly well. Kouji was never one to be late-he was always punctual, always there when you told him to be there, or when you needed him to be there. No, being late was Rei's job.
But tonight it looked like it belonged to someone else.
Someone who Rei was starting to get very worried about. This wasn't like Kouji...he was never, ever late. And yet here she was an hour later still sitting on the front steps of the dorm room where Kouji had told Izumi to tell her to meet him. And he still had yet to show up...and the wait was starting to make her paranoid.
What if something had happened to Kouji? Or was happening to him right now while she was just sitting here? She'd feel horrible if that were the case.
But she'd already dialed his cell phone-twice. Actually, more then twice. And come the seventh or tenth time that she'd dialed it, she'd finally left a message on his voicemail, telling him that whatever had happened, he'd better have a good explanation for ditching her, and that she was worried about him. She bit her lower lip and stood, walking back down the steps and onto the sidewalk as she walked a bit back and forth, trying to maybe catch a glimpse of Kouji running in her direction and apologizing profoundly for being late, giving her some silly excuse that she'd definitely take and accept his apology and they'd be off on their plans for the night.
Pizza, some studying, and then just doing stuff that best friends did when they had spare time to hang out together.
And Kouji had wanted to do it as much as she had tonight...so why wasn't he here? He'd never ditch her. He respected her too much for that, and if he couldn't make it, she knew that he would've called her at the least to tell her that he couldn't make it. He'd never leave her hanging. Just as she had never left him hanging...sure, she was late...but at least she'd call and say she was going to be late, and by now she knew Kouji usually just expected her to be late. Which, was fine with her because then it saved her a phone call.
Closing her eyes and taking in a small breath, Rei wondered what she should do. She knew that Koichi and the other's had plans tonight, and were no where near the University. Katsume was actually here, but studying hard for her midterms, as usual...that was no surprise. Rei didn't really want to go back in, because she knew she'd hear about how she was supposed to be studying for her midterms too...and she would be...as soon as Kouji got here, as he'd promised to help her study with at least the classes they had together.
So she sat down and waited a little bit more, and about fifteen minutes later, Rei's cell phone went off, causing her to jump a little bit as it was a pretty quiet evening. And when she looked on the caller ID screen, she sighed in relief. Kouji.
"Kouji, you'd better have a good excuse for not being here!" She knew it wasn't the greatest greeting in the world, but...she wanted him to know that he was scaring her-or had given her a scare anyway.
But the person on the other end of the line, wasn't Kouji. And when she heard the unknown voice, it sent a horrible shiver down her spine.
"This isn't Kouji. But someone calling to tell you that Minomoto is a bit tied up at the moment. So he won't be joining you this evening." Rei felt her blood freeze, and her hand that was holding her cell phone started to tremble.
"Who are you and what have you done with him?!?" The chuckle that sounded on the other end of the line, threw Rei into sudden panic...it was too creepy for her, and she held back tears of frustration.
"Let's just say that if you saw who I was, you'd know who I am. And as to where he is...well, I'm afraid I can't tell you that...not specifically anyway. But I can have someone show you where he is...and when you get to him, deliver him this message for me Ashia. Tell him that he'd better stay far away from Kanbara, if he knew what was good for him...or else he'll be in a world of hurt...in more ways then one." As the phone line went dead, Rei felt her face suddenly grow pale as she debated whether or not she should run up and get Katsume and tell her what was going on.
But just as she was going to dash up the stairs, she heard the sound of a motorcycle approach, and the driver stopped at the bottom of the stairs. She felt a pair of eyes on her, and she immediately knew that this was who the voice on the phone had meant when he had said that he could show her where Kouji was.
"You're here to take me to Kouji." She had to at least make sure that what she was thinking was correct. The biker nodded and motioned for her to get on behind them. Rei bit her lower lip as she slowly approached the biker, noticing that there was no extra helmet. Sure, she'd ridden on a motorcycle before, but she'd also worn the equipment needed when riding one as well. And tonight she was only in a pair of flared khaki pants, a dark red tang top with her jean coat over that and a pair of ankle high boots...not exactly motorcycle riding material. But, if she wanted to get to Kouji, then she knew she had no other choice.
So she stradled the bike and signaled to the biker that she was ready as they took off second later, and she felt the wind rushing past her.
They seemed to drive on for quite some time, and Rei was starting to get a bit cold, and she looked up to see dark storm clouds coming in off the harbor area, making it look like it was going to storm and she sighed...she was going to get drenched if they didn't get to wherever this person was taking her. And as time wore on, she started to feel more then a little nervous. She shouldn't have done this...she should've gone straight to Katsume and told her what was going on, gone with her first instinct.
"Where are we going?!?" Rei asked, having to holler over the wind, but the motorcyclist didn't answer as he made a sudden left turn, and Rei found herself holding on a bit tighter. Unbeknownst to her, underneath his helmet, the biker smiled at this.
Rei had figured that the biker was a guy...if only from the muscles that she felt underneath his leather coat. And when she heard the voice curse softly when it finally did start to rain, the voice sounded too deep to belong to a female. Unless the female worked out 24/7, and knew how to disguise her voice...
"I thought you were taking me to Kouji! Where ARE we?!?" Before she had even finished her question, the biker suddenly turned and came to a fast halt...nearly throwing Rei off.
"I'm not supposed to do what I'm going to do, but I'm going to help you out tonight. If he ever finds out, he'll kill me...or he'll try to anyway. But what I've seen tonight, I don't ever want to see again. You look like a good person Rei, so if I were you, I'd stay as far away from all this mess as you possibly can...don't get deeper into it then what you are already. And the boss meant what he said about the message he gave you to give to Minomoto. If Minomoto doesn't apply it, more people then just himself will get hurt. Get off the bike." Raising her eyebrows, Rei did as she was told, already getting wet and feeling cold as she felt herself shiver.
"We're in the middle of nowhere. I want to know what's going on." The biker only held up a hand though, and she knew what that meant as she stopped talking and only trembled a bit as a gust of wind suddenly blew hard through the alleyway they'd stopped in.
"Just listen." And she did. Within seconds she heard the sound of another motorcycle tearing its way down the other side of the alley and as the rider rushed passed them, dropped someone off before speeding up again and disappearing into the rainy night.
When Rei saw Kouji's limp form lying on the street, she almost screamed. Instead, she somehow managed to keep her cool as she knelt down next to him and glanced up at the mysterious biker who had yet to actually reveal themselves, and Rei wondered if they ever would.
"What happened to him?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper as the biker looked away for a minute.
"He was in the wrong place at the wrong time." Was all that was said as she heard Kouji groan a little.
"I need to get him out of here, and you said you'd help me." Rei whispered, looking up at the biker who nodded and pointed to the street.
"Go out to where I turned, there's a van waiting for you with it's back doors open. Get in, they'll take you back to where I picked you up. I hope I never see you again Rei...and I'm only saying that for your safety." Before she could say anything else, the biker leapt onto their motorcycle with grace that Rei had never seen before, and then before she could even blink, sped off into the night.
Realizing that she now had to carry Kouji, she quickly picked him up, surprised by how light he was. Then again, she had managed to throw him across the room in their martial arts class the other Friday night...but she didn't think that he'd be this easy to carry.
True to the biker's word, there was a van waiting for her...black, with no windows looking out save for the passenger and driver's side, but those were all tinted, and she couldn't see who was driving it. Biting her lip, Rei knew that she was taking another gamble. But it was a gamble she'd have to take...especially when she realized that the biker had somehow pawned her cell phone off of her, when she went to reach for it from where it should've been in her pocket.
Letting out a low curse, she managed to haul Kouji into the van and then climb up into it after him, slamming the doors shut...and not a second after, the van took off, causing her to fall off balance and landing hard on her rear. Cursing again as she heard Kouji moan once more she managed to crawl her way to him in the dark, and brushed fallen hair out of his eyes. This was actually the very first time that she'd ever seen him without his hair in a ponytail, or with his bandanna on...she had had no idea how long his hair really was.
"Hang on Kouji...just hang on, okay? When we get back to the University, I'll take care of you until Koichi gets back, alright?" She murmured, letting him know that she was there as she sat in the darkness with him pulled up into her lap, for the duration of the ride...
Last night hadn't been fun...not a fun night at all.
And now, she felt miserable...like someone had slammed her head against the wall a few dozen times. Rei found her eyes slowly opening and she groaned as she brought a hand to her head, closing her eyes tightly as the world started to spin about her.
Had what really happened last night, really happened? Had she really been through all those crazy things? The phone call...the motorcyclist...finding Kouji, the van ride...
And yet now here she was, waking up in her own bed in her own dorm room, feeling like she'd been hit by a truck.
"Katsume?"
She had felt another presence close by, and when a cool hand was brought to her forehead, Rei winced at the soft, gentle touch.
"You know, staying out in the rain all night long isn't really a smart thing to do." Katsume's voice sounded louder then usual, and Rei made a face as she struggled to sit up.
"Not so loud...I feel like I have a hangover or something..." She murmured, and saw Katsume shake her head.
"You and Kouji probably both do...you know, I never thought you two were the drinking type." Rei frowned, trying to figure out what Katsume was trying to say.
"Drinking types? Kat, you know that Kouji and I don't bother with the stuff, why...?" Katsume sighed as she brought Rei a glass of water.
"Alec and I found you and Kouji passed out on the front steps to the dorms last night. Alec figured you two might've gone to a bar or something, because you both stank so bad...Alec took Kouji to his dorm room and I took care of you." Rei's frown deepened. What Katsume was saying didn't make any sense.
And then she remembered...the van...she'd suddenly smelled an odor in the back of the van and hadn't felt very well...and she'd passed out.
"How's Kouji?" Katsume snorted.
"Probably just feeling the same way you were. Though Alec said that he looked a little bit banged up, like he'd gotten into a fight or something. That doesn't surprise me with the hot temper he tends to have sometimes." Rei groaned. Now she was stuck with having to listen to Katsume chastise her and Kouji all day long...great.
"None of this makes any sense." Rei murmured, as Katsume shrugged.
"When you get drunk, the next morning never makes any sense." Katsume walked away a minute later, and Rei found her eyelids slowly drooping...
The next thing she knew, she was being woken to the harsh sound of the phone ringing, Katsume nowhere in sight. Sighing, she managed to open her eyes all the way and fumble for the phone. She dropped it once, but managed to pick it up quickly before it hit the floor.
"Ashia speaking...it had better be good." Rei still felt lousy.
"Rei-kun? You sound as horrible as I feel." Kouji. The minute Rei heard his voice, she let out a sigh of relief.
"And you sound as horrible as I feel too...do you feel like you've been run over by a truck a few times over?" She heard Kouji chuckle a little bit.
"Yeah, I do...but...what Alec, Koichi, and Katsume are telling me what happened, doesn't make any sense. I don't remember anything of last night...and yeah, while we've got the symptoms of having hangovers, I've got no memory of getting drunk-what about you?" Rei hesitated for a moment, before she shook her head and ran a hand through her hair.
"It doesn't make sense to me either, I told Katsume that and she just told me that the next morning after getting drunk doesn't make any sense. But Kouji...I...what I remember, doesn't involve us drinking...what...what do you remember about yesterday?" Kouji frowned.
"That's the thing Rei...I...I don't remember anything. The last thing I remember is bumping into Izumi on the steps to the registration building and telling her to have you meet me in front of our dormitory...after that...it's all a big blank." Rei sighed, feeling that what little bits and pieces from the other night that she did remember, was all just part of a whacked out dream. Maybe she and Kouji had gone drinking last night, without thinking about it...but she'd remember going to a club or a bar, wouldn't she?
"Rei?" She hadn't even realized she'd spaced out before Kouji called her back to the present.
"I'm okay...just...have a really big headache-too much thinking and confusion for me and...and...Kouji, I...I'll be right back." Her stomach suddenly felt nauseated and she quickly dropped the phone despite Kouji's worried inquiries that she heard as she dashed off to the bathroom, barely feeling like she was able to make it.
About an hour or so later she heard the door to the dorm room open and groaned as she heard Katsume's soft footsteps approaching.
"You scared the wits out of Kouji Rei-kun...you feeling any better?" She whispered, as Rei only shook her head. And whimpered a little bit, as she leaned over the toilet again. She didn't think she had anything left in her stomach.
When she had finished dry heaving, Katsume gently picked her up and carried her back to bed, pulling the sheets over her trembling body and getting a wet cloth to wipe her face and arms down with.
"Just get some sleep Rei...I'll leave a pot by your bedside in case you need it." It was the last thing she heard before she felt herself pass out...
"Rei?" Groaning as she heard her name being called, Rei gradually opened her eyes, and blinked them a couple of times.
"I need you to drink this, okay...?" She knew that voice, or at least she thought she knew that voice. She'd heard it before...the other night...
She felt a mug of something being brought to her lips, and she drank as much as she could, trying to keep it down. Then she groaned and laid back onto her pillows as she felt a cool hand brush itself gently across her forehead.
"Just sleep again, okay Rei? You'll feel better soon...I promise..."
More promises...promises to be broken...Rei wasn't sure how that thought entered her mind, but she soon found herself slipping off into sleep again, wondering why she felt so bad...
"It's the effect of the gas sir. I thought you said that there were no effects?"
"I never said that...I said that there would be potential effects Lieutenant."
"Bullshit, I'd remember if you said that. Now my girlfriend's back at home lying in bed sicker then a dog. You'd better have a good excuse for having had them use that junk."
"I do have a good excuse. Neither of them remember anything of what happened that night, and as I do recall that's exactly what we wanted to have happen."
The Lieutenant snorted.
"This case is getting out of hand. I don't want my girlfriend to be getting involved in it."
"You might not have much of a choice. She's close to Minomoto-too close. I told you to keep her away from him, to prevent this from happening, and what happens? You don't do your job."
"Every time I've tried to keep her away from him, she rebels on me. It wasn't something I couldn't stop from happening. They've got too much in common."
"Maybe I should put someone else on this case Lieutenant?" An angry sigh.
"Hell no. This is as personal as it gets. I didn't plan on falling in love; I didn't plan any of this. All I was supposed to do, was my job...and now it's like I'm living two different lives. Trust me when I say that she has no idea that it was really me the other night, trust me when I say that when I tell her I go off to work, that she's got no idea what it is I do. She's clueless...but she's not stupid. If we're not careful, she's going to figure something out and then our cover's going to be blown."
"You mean if you're not careful Lieutenant. This is your deal, and you can't jeopardize it. That gang's been on the loose for too long now. They've molested more people then I can count on my fingers and toes. It's bad enough that you believe one of them has an obsession with Minomoto."
"I know for a fact that it's a true fact sir. I just need proof."
"You're running out of time for that proof."
"There's something else sir."
"Yes Lieutenant?"
"Minomoto's old boyfriend is back in town...and is going to be attending Shibuya University real soon...like at the end of this weeks midterms soon. There's bound to be trouble and friction. I don't think that I can keep Minomoto away from him if he falls back in love with his old boyfriend."
"Actually, this old boyfriend of his might be the trick we need to lure the gang banger who you think has the obsession with Minomoto out...he might try to do something he thinks he can get away with. Keep an eye on this developing situation Lieutenant. The stake out went well yesterday, but it could've gone better. Next time, don't get your girlfriend involved." Another sigh.
"Yes sir. I'll try not to...I...I'm sorry."
"Sorry is just a word Lieutenant. Actions speak more then anything else. So get going...I don't want to see you back here until you've got some proof. And keep an eye on that girlfriend of yours by the way. I hear that cheerleading squad's getting nasty tempers as of late."
"Yes sir."
Kouji took a deep breath of fresh air as he headed down the stairs and walked across the street, heading toward his Trig class. He had been hoping to meet up with Rei and walk with her, to talk about what had maybe happened to him the other night.
But from what he heard from Katsume, she still wasn't feeling too well, and probably wouldn't make it to her morning classes.
Koichi hadn't been too happy about what he and Rei had supposedly done.
'I didn't think that by leaving you alone for one night you'd get into so much trouble...' His exact words the next day after Kouji had woken up with a killer headache.
And none of it still made any sense.
And he still couldn't remember anything-it was starting to drive him crazy, really it was. It was like having a day erased from your memory, and yet you knew something had happened. Something important...
He decided to take a detour to the café and get some coffee. He knew that he told Sen a few weeks ago that he didn't drink it. And normally he didn't...only every once in awhile. And this was definitely one of those times when he felt like he needed it. And there was this little place inside the café with a barista who made an awesome mocha...
By the time he got to his Trig class, he was shocked to see who was sitting in the seat next to his usual spot. Rei had decided to come to class, but still looked pretty wiped out. She offered him a wry grin as he slipped into he seat next to hers, somewhere toward the last couple of rows in the classroom.
"I thought you weren't going to come." She chuckled.
"I was actually planning on coming...Katsume didn't think I looked well enough to come, but I needed to come...this is one of the few last classes before our midterm and I need to turn in the assignment from the last time- remember? Any assignments she gives us this week have to be turned in the next day or they don't count? Mean instructor...and I didn't want to miss this class as she's going to give us information we need on our midterm final. And you got coffee and didn't get me any." Rei pouted, and Kouji grinned as he took a sip and handed it off to her, glad that he got a Grande sized coffee.
She only grinned back at him in return as she took a long gulp and sighed before passing it back.
"Good java...good...you went to that one person you like making your mocha's, didn't you?" Kouji chuckled and nodded.
"But of course. If I get coffee, I want it to be good."
"And you don't mind sharing with me?" She held out her hand for the cup again as Kouji passed it to her.
"Nah. I knew there was a reason for me to get the slightly bigger size today." Rei laughed softly as the instructor-Ms. Penn, came in and briefly smiled at her students before heading to the front of the class to begin the lesson. If it was one thing Rei liked about their trig instructor, it was that she didn't mind if they had coffee, any other type of drink or food in the classroom as long as they cleaned up after themselves afterward. It made sense, as it was one of the early morning classes offered. Most early morning teachers were fairly lenient-so Rei had found out plenty of times.
Thanks to the coffee Kouji had gotten, they'd both managed to stay awake throughout the class and take a sufficient amount of notes to study from.
When class was excused, Rei yawned as she stood and Kouji followed suite shortly after.
"That was fun." He murmured, and Rei scowled.
"We've got History next-that is so going to suck...I'm feeling miserable again and I always end up falling asleep during that class...do we have enough time to get more coffee?" Kouji chuckled as he glanced at his watch.
"Probably-only if we hurry though. Want to share another one?" Rei nodded.
"Definitely, I can never finish a full cup myself. Let's make it another Grande and I think I might be able to make it through the rest of the day without anything disastrous happening." She flashed him the best smile she could manage as she slung her arm around his shoulders and quickly guided him back to the coffee stand in the café...
"How were your classes for the day?" Rei nodded as she slipped of her shoes and grinned at Katsume, who was sitting at the table drinking a mug of tea.
"Fine...I managed to get through them without falling asleep anyway." Katsume smiled at her as she came up and wrapped her arms around her. Rei could've sworn that she saw Katsume's smile grow a little wider at this.
"Any homework or studying you've got to do tonight?" Rei hesitated before nodding her head a little bit.
"Yeah, just some Trig that's all...it's an easy assignment, Kouji and I got it mostly done during our hour and a half break earlier today. I've just got a few problems left."
"Maybe I can help you with them?" This time Rei didn't hesitate before nodding. Katsume was in Calculus with Izumi and Koichi...she knew what she was doing when it came to math. And besides, the faster that Rei got her Trig homework done, and her History reading completing, the more time she could spend with Katsume...if that was what Katsume was indicating that that was what she wanted.
"You have the night off work tonight or something?" Katsume nodded, and Rei smiled.
"Awesome...so if you help me with the last few Trig problems I've got and let me finish reading that awful chapter in my history textbook, then..."
"Then you and I can have some fun." Katsume finished as she stood.
"Why don't you start reading your history assignment while I start making dinner?" A Kastume-cooked dinner compared to the stuff she sometimes got from the café...Rei really liked the sound of it as she nodded at Katsume and flashed her another big smile.
"Sounds good to me. And then later maybe we can watch a movie?" Katsume nodded at her before she disappeared into the kitchen, and Rei silently pumped a fist into the air. Tonight was getting better, and better...then again, a night without arguing with Katsume was always better...
Kouji sighed as he slammed his Trig book shut, grumbling about how stupid math was as he stood and stretched, deciding to head over to the small kitchen to find something to eat.
He debated about whether or not to call Rei and invite her to go and get something to eat with him, but then he remembered how tired she had looked all day...that and the fact that he hadn't heard the sound of her arguing with Katsume at all that night, and figured that maybe it was one of those nights that Rei liked best.
So he decided to leave her be...only hoping that she'd remember to get the homework they had all done.
He couldn't call Koichi, he knew that Koichi was spending time with Izumi tonight...just the two of them, alone. Sure some of it involved studying, but Kouji knew that lately Koichi hadn't been able to actually get much alone time with Izumi.
He knew that something was up-everyone was being really quiet toward him. Including Junpei, who looked like he had a secret he wanted to tell Kouji so badly but couldn't.
So were they all hiding something from him?
And what about what had happened to him and Rei the other night? Why could he still not remember anything? Was he really not supposed to remember anything?
He tried not to think about it, as he rummaged around in the miniature fridge for something to eat, when he heard a knock on the door.
Wondering who it was, knowing that most of his other friends were busy, he debated about going and opening it. What if it was Sen on the other side, only coming to bother him on a night he really didn't feel like being bothered? But he heard the sound of rustling as he looked toward the door to see a slip of paper being shoved through the small slit at the bottom of the door.
Frowning, he headed over to pick it up, and unfolded the note, smoothing it out so that he could read it. In big, block letters that had obviously been cut from a newspaper or magazine clippings, it read:
DON'T FORGET WHAT YOU'VE BEEN TOLD TO DO
Kouji bit his lower lip, trying to figure out the meaning behind the note. Problem was, he didn't remember what he'd been told...
TBC