It's done. Finally. What can I say? I'm finding it hard to write this story again. I feel like everything I write is crap right now, so it doesn't really make me want to write much. And, I dunno, I'm getting so critical of my own writing and of my characters that everything out of their mouths seems out of character. I mean, I dunno… I have gotten to know my characters so well and not portraying them right just kills me… ugh. Someone, just shoot me. DX

…Sorry, don't mind me. Anyway, what's mine is mine and what's Nintendo's is Nintendo's. So yeah.

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New York City Airport; a huge airport with people by the hundreds arriving and leaving everyday. Planes leaving for places as close as a few states over; some for far away countries most people only dream of. The building was packed with people of every age and race. Some in tears – both happy and sad – and others laughing gaily. The emotional output was overwhelming, forcing people to turn from one another, trying to hold on to their own feelings.

There are some though who would give anything to feel something unlike their own.

"Well, I guess this is it," Link said sullenly, handing Zelda her carryon bag. She nodded, her eyes watering and lip trembling. Sheik placed a supportive hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah, I guess…" Zelda murmured, rubbing her eye and trying her best to smile. "It was fun. Well, I mean, for the most part…" She glanced up momentarily at Rikuo. He stood a couple feet behind Link, a now permanent scowl plastered on his face, and his mind always on his missing lover. Zelda slowly walked up to him, lightly wrapping her arms around him as she said, "It'll be alright. I'm sure he's alright. He can take care of himself."

"I guess," Rikuo muttered, sighing before placing a hand on her head. "You know, you're alright. For a girl anyway."

"Oh, thanks," she replied teasingly, blinking back her tears. She let go of the grieving man and turned, smiling sadly at Link. He smiled back, holding his arms out as she raced into his embrace, holding him tightly. "Oh Link… I'm going to miss you so much!"

"And I'll miss you too Zelda," he replied, rubbing her back comfortingly. A soft sob escaped the girl as she gripped tighter.

"Link?"

"Hmm?"

"I… I just want you to know that I love you. But, not like before," Zelda quickly added, giggling nervously. "Just like, you know, family. Next time you need to talk, don't hesitate to call ok? I can fly over anytime. Just let me know, ok? Please?"

"Zelda…" Link murmured, sighing as his forehead rested on the top of her head. He lifted his head when a hand came to rest on his shoulder. Sheik stood next to him, giving him a rare smile.

"It's true. Just call us anytime. Doesn't matter when." Link nodded slowly, leaning his head against Sheik's shoulder and smiling into the fabric there. The three stood there for a little longer, basking for a moment in the sanctity of familiarity, allowing for that instant to forget their troubles. But it didn't last too long as the announcement was made; the plane was now boarding. Zelda ruefully let go, wiping her eyes and giving Link a smile grin.

"Good bye Link."

"Later," he replied, taking a deep breath as she turned away and hurriedly made her way to the gate. Sheik couldn't help but chuckle, giving Link a quick nod of his head as he walked after her, taking his time. She was just running off so that Link wouldn't see her sobbing her eyes out. Jeez, was his sister emotional.

As he approached the desk his cell phone went off, wailing for him to pick it up. He dug it out of his pocket, looking at it oddly. Who would call him here? Flipping the top, he saw a number that he didn't recognize. Out of curiosity he hit the talk button and brought the contraption to his ear. "Hello?"

"Hoy, Sheik?" The man blinked in surprise.

"Ranmaru?"

"You remembered!" the Asian cheered. Sheik shook his head and couldn't help chuckling. That boy was so easily pleased.

"Of course, I saw you just a couple hours ago. Why are you calling?" he asked pointedly. People were pouring into the gate and he knew that he would have to get moving soon. He heard Ranmaru giggle over the phone.

"Straightforward type, ne? I was just calling to see if I could see you tonight. I'm not working, so I was hoping we could go somewhere." Sheik grimaced slightly. What was he going to do with this boy? Running his free hand through his hair he took a deep breath; time to break the news.

"I'm afraid I can't. I'm going home today."

"…Home?" Ranmaru said quietly, sounding shaken. "Where's home?"

"Wisconsin," Sheik admitted. There was silence on the other side of the line and the man coughed. "I was here to visit a friend."

"…The blonde, right?" Ranmaru asked. Sheik nodded, stopping once he realized the boy couldn't see him.

"Er, yes. I've known him since we were young."

"Oh, I see. Then you'll be back sometime right? I can move that date back a bit," Ranmaru suggested, sounding hopeful. Sheik sighed before chuckling softly. The Asian giggled saying, "May I take that as a yes? Just save my number and call me sometime. Don't be a stranger."

"We'll see," Sheik replied as he smiled to himself. What was it about that boy? He was so ridiculous and excitable and forward and adorable and… wait. Alright, rewind and pause that thought. There were still other things that needed to be settled and he didn't have much longer as Zelda called to him from the barrier. "Have you heard anything since this morning?"

"Heard anything?" Ranmaru asked before gasping. "Oh! You mean about your friend's lover boy?"

"Yes, Yuki. I know it's farfetched, but perhaps you've heard something?" Sheik said, noting the suddenly awkward silence on the other line. He gave the boy a moment, signaling to his sister to give him another moment. "Ranmaru?"

At this point Link and Rikuo had noticed the anomaly and walked up. The younger detective asked, "Sheik, what's wrong? You're plane's about to leave."

"I'm aware of that," Sheik replied curtly, before saying into the phone, "Ranmaru? What is it? Did something happen since this morning?"

"Ranmaru… Hey, isn't that your boyfriend from the bar?" Rikuo questioned. Suddenly extremely interested he moved forward and continued asking, "Has he heard something? Where's Yuki?"

"I don't know," Sheik said. Starting to lose his patience he said irritably, "Ranmaru, I don't have time for this. Have you heard anything or not!"

"…I'm sorry Sheik," the Asian whimpered softly, swallowing hard. "I, I can't tell you. I'm really sorry. Please don't hate me!"

"Wait, what! Ranmaru, RANMARU!" Sheik yelled, his face dropping as the tone rung in his ear; the boy had hung up on him. He let out an audible groan as he slammed the phone shut and looked at it bitterly, running a hand through his hair. What a mess. Link looked at him curiously.

"Well?"

"He hung up on me," Sheik stated bluntly, opening the phone again and pushing some buttons. The two detectives stared at him before Rikuo scowled.

"And? What did he have to say?"

"I told you, he hung up on me," Sheik replied, looking back at Rikuo unblinking. "He has something to say, but not to us."

"Then call him back! He knows where Yuki is!" Rikuo shouted. Sheik shook his head as he snapped his phone closed again and put it in his pocket. Rikuo twitched and reached out, pulling Sheik by the collar of his shirt and staring him straight in the eye. "I said call him back!"

"And what good will that do us! He's obviously not going to tell us, or can't tell us!" Sheik spat back, glaring. Link took this opportunity to wedge his way between the two, pushing them apart.

"Would you guys cut it out! Fighting isn't going to get us anywhere!" he cried, taking a deep breath as he looked from one man to the other. "We do need to consider what situation this guy's in Rikuo, so we have to be careful. But we also can't just let it go Sheik, so we'll have to interrogate him. Understood!" The two glowered at each, but nodded anyway.

"Last call for flight thirty three. Last call for thirty three." Sheik spun around, seeing the last of the passengers racing through the doors. There stood Zelda, trying desperately to be heard over the announcement as she yelled to her brother. He glanced from her to Link and Rikuo, and finally at the phone in his hand. It was decided.

"Sorry sister! I'll be here longer then I thought! Call me when you get home!" he shouted. She looked at him confused, yelling something about how they had to leave. But Sheik shook his head, continuing to shout, "I have to stay! Call me when you land!"

Zelda continued to blink at him as one of the stewardesses took her by the arm, most likely informing her that she had to board the plane. She shook her head fiercely, pointing towards the detectives and shouting. The stewardess wouldn't hear it though as she shook her own head and pointed Zelda down the hallway to the plane door. The twin continued to shout and protested loudly as the woman took her by the elbow to the plane door. As she went down the hall Zelda screamed her last good bye to her brother.

"SHEIIK! COME BACK HERE YOU BASTARD!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Hey Ran-chan! What're you doing here so early?" asked one of the bartenders as he looked up from cleaning a glass. Ranmaru smiled weakly at him as he stepped off the stairs, his hands clasped in front of him as he looked down shamefully. The club was empty, making it seem even bigger and far, far more lonely then a club had any right to be. It always made Ranmaru a little more solemn.

"Oh, hello Ciaran. Actually, I came to ask a favor," the Asian admitted. The man grinned at him widely as he set the glass on the shelf behind him and picked up the next.

"Hey, no problem. I'm game. What d'you want?"

"I was wondering if you would mind finding me a sub for my shift tomorrow," Ranmaru said, looking up and giving the bartender big puppy dog eyes. "I just can't come in tomorrow and possibly the night after either."

"Why? Is something wrong?" Ciaran asked. The boy nodded his head sullenly, smiling despite himself.

"Yes, well, I am in a bit of a pickle right now. There're some guys who'll be looking for me, but I can't talk to them. Things are just a little too complicated right now," Ranmaru explained slightly cryptically. He really didn't want to even think about it, let alone explain it. He had been so stupid! Why did he call Sheik? He should have known he'd ask about Yuki. But he had wanted to talk to the handsome man again so badly… So, the plan was to lie. Really, what's a little white lie here and there? But who knew it would be so hard to lie to that absolutely dead sexy voice! And now Ranmaru was almost positive that they would come to find him; hell, he wouldn't put it past Sheik to skip his plane to come and question him. Shit, this whole thing was just too difficult.

Ciaran looked that the pretty boy calculatingly, obviously trying to figure out what was going through his mind. Not finding anything though, he nodded as he put away the glass. "Sure, I can do that. Lucas has been looking for some extra cash anyway. But really Ran-chan, are you in some really bad shit? Are these guys bad news?"

"Wha—no! No, it's not like that… well, not exactly," Ranmaru replied, leaning tiredly against the wall by the stairwell. He glanced up, seeing Ciaran look at him curiously. Laughing nervously he forced a smile as he said, "But really, there's nothing to be really worried about. It'll probably blow over in a couple days anyway."

"…Blow over you say?" Ranmaru shuddered and froze, the voice slicing right through his sunny façade. It wasn't until then that he noticed that Ciaran hadn't been looking at him; he had been looking next to him! Where that voice was! And, ah hell, he knew who that voice belonged to. Shit, shit, shit…

Gulping heavily the Asian turned his body slowly, faking his best grin as he eyed the man. "Oh! Why, hello Sheik! I thought you were going home!"

"Yes, well, something came up," the man replied icily, his dusky eyes flickering. Suddenly all his composure deserted him, leaving Ranmaru with his feet planted to the spot and his smile dying away. It was nice in a way; perhaps a little morbid, but nice. All his life he was forced to pretend, to hide it all. But now he was forced to face up to facts and be honest. But, nice as it may have been, he didn't know what to do anymore. This wasn't what he was used to. He didn't know how to deal with it.

So, not knowing what else to say, he murmured a soft, "Oh…"

"Uh, hey, Ran-chan?" Ciaran called cautiously. "Looks like you two have some things to do, so I'll just go clean up the back. Talk to you later." The bartender placed all the glasses away and hung his rag before escaping through the door behind the bar, leaving the men to themselves.

"Ran-chan?" Sheik asked questioningly. Ranmaru shrugged a little, slowly gaining some confidence back. Not much, but some.

"It's what the guys call me. Nothing more then a nickname really," he explained, laughing nervously as he looked up. "It's a Japanese thing."

"Is that so?" Sheik asked, though it was obvious he didn't currently care much. The Asian nodded slowly, opening his mouth to say something – what, he didn't know – when Sheik walked up suddenly, closing in on him. Ranmaru, startled, stumbled a little before backing up; but without much luck it seemed when he glanced back in surprise as his back hit the wood paneling of the bar. This was bad. He twisted back around to find himself face to face with Sheik, those clouded crimson eyes boring into his own ebony pair. The man's right hand was placed on the counter behind him, the other rested casually in his pocket. With an emotionless face he asked, "Tell me about it."

"Oh, well, you see," Ranmaru stammered, tearing his eyes away and looking to his side, "in Japanese culture, they use endings like –chan to…"

"That's not what I meant," Sheik interrupted sternly. The boy shivered, a sudden chill running down his back. What to do, what to do…?

"Oh, ok…" the Asian murmured softly. Ok, so he had three options. One: he makes up a nice lie off the top of his head to get Sheik off his trail; but that wouldn't work. His mind was way too jumbled to make up a liable tail. Two: he fights Sheik off and runs for it; but, again, undoable. There was no way he could fight the man. He was too strong! So that left option three: tell Sheik the truth and hope it all works out.

…But he really didn't like that idea either.

"Look, Sheik, I'm really sorry," Ranmaru started before yelping softly as Sheik pulled his hand out of his pocket and took hold of the Asian's chin, forcing him to look him in the eye. Ranmaru's heart quickened and his eyes were wide, if not looking a little frightened. And yet, he couldn't look away from the man. Sheik looked determined and unmovable, his eyes seeming to penetrate his very soul.

Of course, that went without mentioning how goddamn sexy he looked.

"Don't apologize to me," Sheik said. The Asian's brows furrowed a little and the detective continued to explain. "There's no need to. You did what you felt you needed to do. I can understand that.

"However, I'm not here to understand whys. I'm here for who's and where's," he stated, noting the grimace on the boy's face. He really didn't want to bully him like this; but he was a detective first and foremost. Personal feelings had to be pushed aside. Always. "So, tell me Ranmaru, where is Yuki?"

And, for the first time in ages, Ranmaru thought before he spoke. Unable to look at Sheik so directly he dropped his gaze and breathed deeply, trying to find the best words, the best way of explaining. The warm trickle of Sheik's breath in his hair didn't help one bit.

But, despite distractions, he finally nodded and blurted, "He was tailing D and was caught by The Boss. He's being kept at D's place." His words echoed off the walls of the empty club as Ranmaru bit his lip, glancing off to the side. There was dead silence as Sheik eyed him expectantly. The Asian made the grave mistake of looking up, instantly being trapped by those fascinating eyes. He gulped heavily and said, "That's all I can tell you. If I say anymore I'll be putting your friend is as much danger as D and I."

Sheik contemplated this response, his eyes closed as he bounced the words around in his head. The boy stood there rigidly, partly worried if the handsome man would force more out of him; partly too distracted by being so close to him. He smelled really nice… "Well, if you're sure that's all."

"Huh?" Ranmaru asked rather unintelligently as he was snapped from his thoughts. Sheik sighed and shook his head gently as he backed away, his hands back in his pockets.

"I said if you're sure that's all. As in, all you can tell us about Yuki," Sheik clarified. Finally understanding Ranmaru nodded glumly.

"I'm afraid so. The Boss has already threatened to deal with him his way. D managed to save him from that fate; for now. However," Ranmaru admitted, "if Yuki were to 'escape', or information was let out about his whereabouts, The Boss will hunt him down and take care of him personally."

"You don't mean…?"

"Exactly," Ranmaru confirmed sadly. "He would kill him. Slowly and painfully."

"What the Hell!" Ranmaru twisted his head around in surprise while Sheik groaned irritably. God, couldn't that man stay quiet, just for once? Appeared not as Rikuo walked out of the stairwell and stormed his way over. Link followed quickly after, but not to stop Rikuo. No, as much as it surprised Sheik, Link looked just as determined. Which was expected to some point, but this wasn't just determined. This was tell-me-right-now-or-else-I'll-tear-your-heart-out-through-your-throat-and-shove-it-up-your-ass determined. Sheik honestly feared for the pretty boy's life.

"W-what are…? Sheik!" Ranmaru questioned as he looked to the man for explanation. Getting none he side-stepped behind Sheik and looked back at the two very pissed looking men. "Look, I'm sorry but that's all I can say! Really!"

"Oh, I don't think so," Rikuo growled viciously. "You better tell me where he is because, I swear to God, they touch one hair on his head, I will shoot them full of lead!"

"Don't you listen! If The Boss finds out that you guys know he'll kill him!"

"But if you tell us exactly where he is, then the police department would be able to raid the building and get him out before much harm could be done," Sheik reasoned. Rikuo and Link nodded in agreement but Ranmaru merely sighed and shook his head.

"I'm afraid not. The Boss'll know you're coming before you can start your engines," he stated. Rikuo grimaced and narrowed his eyes.

"Alright, who the hell is this boss character? He a drug lord or something?"

"Well, something like that," Ranmaru admitted. The three detectives stared at him and jeez, he had never felt more like a sideshow attraction. He took a deep breath and continued cautiously saying, "He has drug rings, whore houses, gun smugglers… You name it, he's probably got it. He controls using fear and guilt. Luckily I've never had to work under him, but D's been working for him for about a year now…"

"How do you know D?" Link asked suddenly. Rikuo and Sheik looked at him questioningly as Ranmaru gulped. The young detective looked him straight in the eye, his gaze never wavering as he said, "I said, how do you know D?"

"…You know then? You know who D is?" Ranmaru questioned softly, realizing it must have sounded stupid to the detective. One look and the Asian knew; the blonde had figured it out. Not everything perhaps, but a decent amount. He bit his lip before saying, "Of course you do. That was stupid of me. But yes, I do mean the same D that you're thinking of."

"Ok, who the hell is 'D'!" Rikuo asked irritably, feeling rather left out of the loop. Sheik ran a hand through his hair and looked over at the larger man.

"D is Link's ex-lover. He and Ranmaru are friends."

"Wait, you knew!" Link questioned loudly, his eyes wide with shock. "You knew that Dark Link was my lover! Why didn't you tell me!"

"DARK LINK!" Rikuo bellowed, spinning on his heels and look at Link incredulously. Link gasped as he realized his mistake, his hands moving to cover his mouth as he cursed under his breath. The older detective bared his teeth as he took Link by the shoulders, shaking him slightly as he shouted, "Dark Link! Are you shitting me! You were—with him—fuck Link, what the hell!"

"Look, I… Shit Rikuo, I never meant for it to happen! It just… I don't know, everything just felt ok!" Link stammered, trying desperately to make some sense of what he never understood. Course, he should have been used to it since hardly anything made sense anymore. But, despite all the crap that had already happened, now this? His head started to spin again, and it didn't help as Rikuo gripped him tighter as he practically snarled at him.

"Ok! OK! Goddamn it Link, how stupid can you be! He's a fucking criminal!"

"I know that!" Link cried, his hands pushing desperately at Rikuo, trying to get the man away. "I know! But I just… I just couldn't help it! The more time I spent with him, the nicer he got and--"

"Why did you spend time with him in the first place!" Rikuo shouted, his grip holding firm despite the young detective's struggling. Link looked up at him in bewilderment, opening his mouth only to realize he didn't have anything to say. Not that Rikuo was going to let him. Oh no, he wasn't done with him yet. "I mean, if you hadn't known then fine; but you did! You knew from the start who he was, didn't you! And yet you still went and – Goddamn it! Did you ever even once think about it!"

"Think about it? Are you kidding me! I thought about it everyday!" Link retaliated, his eyes watering slightly. "I thought about it every fucking day! I knew what I was doing and hated myself for it alright! I hated myself so goddamn much, but that didn't stop me! I thought out every bad possibility and it didn't stop me! I was, and am, willing to sacrifice anything to have him back!"

"SMACK!" rang the echo. Link's eyes were extremely wide, his cheek now a bright red; the mark stung like hell. Ranmaru gasped and Sheik winced – he knew better then to get in the middle of this fight. Not to mention this was all new to him, and his detective instinct was getting the better of him. The young detective slowly turned his head back, his face blank and a little confused. Rikuo though just looked him straight in the eye, his face dark and foreboding.

"Rikuo…?"

"Anything, huh?" Rikuo asked darkly. Link swallowed hard; he almost preferred it when he had been yelling. But he nodded very slowly, his eyes never leaving the man's face. Rikuo sneered as he said, "I guess that means Yuki too."

"Wha—no!" Link yelped, "I didn't ever mean for you guys to get involved--"

"But we did, didn't we?" Rikuo spat, causing the poor detective to wince. Awkward silence befell the two, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Link bit his slightly trembling lip, his body growing weak and threatening to go out from under him. Had it really been his fault? He thought that his friends would be safe; if anyone was to take the fall, it was supposed to be him. Never anyone else. Never Yuki…

"…I'm sorry," Link whispered meekly, his voice trembling. But he had to know. He had to know the truth. Softly he said, "Ranmaru?"

"Yes?" the Asian asked, seeming a little startled that he had been called on again. The detective looked over at him with cloudy blue eyes, shimmering with the moisture that lay there.

"It was because of last night, wasn't it?" Link asked sadly. "He saw Dark and me and chased after him right?"

"I…" Ranmaru started as he frowned deeply. Unable to find the words, he merely nodded. Link smiled sadly and took a shuddering breath. It was his fault. It was all his…

"It's my fault…"

"…Don't give yourself too much credit kid," Rikuo muttered. Link looked up at him in surprise, but the man didn't look at him. "Not everything revolves around you. I'm at fault for letting him go; and hell, it was his own damn choice to follow him without telling us, that ass. I'm still mad as hell, but not just at you dumbass."

"You really shouldn't beat yourselves up like that," Sheik stated. "It's not just you. We're all at fault here."

"He's got a point," Ranmaru agreed, trying his best to smile and act happy; it was his specialty after all. Link glanced at the three, not really sure of what to think. How could they be so forgiving? Didn't they hate him? He had done such stupid things after all, knowing it had to end badly, so how could they still try to say they were at fault?

He could feel his eyes threaten to tear up, but he fought hard to push them down. No more crying. He had to be strong now. He couldn't always have others help him; he had to help himself now. For once he wanted to be someone that they could lean on, someone who could stand for himself. But most important of all, he had to be strong enough to clean up this mess. He started this thing, and now he was going to end it.

One way or another he was going to save Yuki; even if it meant finally cutting his ties with Dark once and for all, he would do it. He had to get his life back.

…That is, If he could live that life again.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Yes?" Vaati chirped happily into her phone. She was dressed in a long, loosely tied silk robe and laying contently on a large bed with dozens of pillows tossed about it. Poe stood rigidly by her – having given her the phone – with his eyes downcast, his lithe form dressed in nothing more then briefs. She smiled at him and he winced.

"Oh! Why hello Ciaran! Is there something I can do for you?" she asked lightly, swirling a couple strands of her hair around her finger. Vaati listened intently, her joyous expression turning to one of curiousity. That didn't look good to Poe at all. Finally she spoke again saying, "Well, can't say I know anyone by the name of Sheik or Rikuo, but that other name does ring some bells. Uh huh? But of course you'll get that reward! I did promise you that if you watched my pretty little Asian for me I would give you a free one-nighter. Alright, I'll send one down tomorrow then. Ok, buh-bye!"

With that she pushed the off button and gazed at it for a moment, seeming to be deep in thought. Poe didn't interrupt her, hoping to simply take his leave and hide away in his room. His body ached and he just couldn't take much more. Seemed he was in luck when she pressed the call button and punched in a number.

"Thank you dear, you can go now," she said happily, smiling at him widely as he nodded and limped out of the room. He was such a cutie. Definitely a good investment. If only she could rid him of his slightly violent tendencies. Would make it so much easier for him…

But she left that thought behind as the ringing ceased and she could finally reach a person. "Hello, this is Vaati. I'd love to talk to Gandie. He's in? Oh good, put me through. Uh huh. Busy? Well, tell him that a little birdie told me that the cat's out of the bag. What's that? Oh, he's willing to talk now? I thought so.

"Oh, why hello darling. You won't believe what my pretty little Asian did today…"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

So that's it. For now at least. I'm hoping to wrap this guy up – finally! – in about another four or five chapters. Can't say for sure. And please, really, I know the last chapter sucked but don't stop commenting because of that! I need your support or else I'll never make it!

Oh, and, just so you guys know, yes, part of The Boss's identity is given away with the nickname "Gandie", but that's not actually the important part. So hah, you all lose. XP Well, no, I take that back. Some have figured it out… Anyway, comments and joy for all!