A/N: Thanks for reading everyone!

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-Lucicelo

Chapter 15

In a podium in front of a crowd of reports, stood Kamijou Soshi and Fuyumi, alongside their representation team. Soshi wore his usual business suit with a plain green tie and polished black dress shoes. With his hair combed to the side, his stress white hairs peeked through his usual dark tresses. Right next to him, Fuyumi wore a dark red kimono with a flower patterned obi around her waist. She wore minimal makeup, which didn't disguise her tired state as her husband.

Their lawyer, Motou Jiro, began the news conference with a beginning speech. Lights flashed from photographers snapping a few photos, before ceasing, letting the lawyer continue. Jiro revealed certain aspects about the case, but kept major breakthroughs under lock. Assuming the kidnapper watched the news, they might escape with Hiroki or dispose of him due someone locking on their trail. No one wanted to receive the call of finding Hiroki's corpse, displayed in a degrading manner.

Upon finishing his statement, Jiro informed the reporters to begin their questions. He pointed at a young woman, wearing a smart looking black blazer and pencil skirt. She held up a microphone when she asked. "Is there any new evidence which proves that Kamijou Hiroki was in fact kidnapped and didn't disappear on his own volition?"

Soshi wrapped his arm around Fuyumi's waist, giving her a silent manner of comfort from any unnerving and hurtful questions.

Jiro informed the reporter. "Considering the multiple statements made from personal sources of the victim, Kamijou Hiroki built his career at Mitsuhashi. His relationships with close family members and his friends, have remained strong and unyielding. Nothing in his life suggests any reason for him to walk out of everything."

"In the last news conference, we heard no information on a suspect. Is there a new suspect in this case?"

Jiro answered. "The police still have not found a person of interest, but, the family believes a third party, targeted Kamijou Hiroki for an unspoken reason."

Answering the old questions with some updated information, Jiro kept a straight face. Having done many different press conferences, he grew accustomed to repeated questions. He hid his annoyance from the public view. A few haughty reporters tested his patience as well, but he surprised them through skillful diversions. After taking up a good portion of the press conference, he stopped the questions.

"Before we conclude this meeting, my clients, Kamijou Soshi and Fuyumi, have decided to speak." Stepping aside, Jiro let Soshi take his place one the microphone.

Removing his hand from his wife's waist, Soshi moved toward the podium, his neck tense from him clenching his jaw to hide his nervousness. Fuyumi followed alongside him, stood right beside him, she held her hands in front of her body.

Clearing his throat, Soshi said "Thank you all for coming." The snaps of photos blinded the couple for a moment, Soshi resumed speaking. "In the last interview, we let our representative, Motou Jiro to speak for us, but we decided on giving our own personal statements. These last few months have...shaken us to the core. My wife, Fuyumi, and I, never imagined this happening to us. To learn that your child is missing is a nightmare of any parent."

Fuyumi stepped forward, looming close to the nearest microphone, she added further into her husband's response. "Throughout this process, we have taken to holding onto hope. That's all we can do at this point. The police and the search groups are doing all in their power to search for Hiroki. Our son is a fighter, wherever he is being held captive, I know he will come back to us."

"We have looked into all the possibilities of what happened to our son. Despite the theories online, we crossed off a majority of the ones that Motou-san has shown us. We have taken to seeing nothing on the internet on the advice of Motou-san as well."

Fuyumi blinked back her tears, "Whoever this kidnapper is, please, give us back our son. Money is no object. We will gladly give anything you want for you to surrender Hiroki to us." She reached out her hand and held Soshi's hand in between her own. "Hiroki, if you left on your own volition, we'd rather know than to endure all this suffering. Please, I can't handle all this waiting."

Soshi pulled his wife into his arms, hiding her tears from the view of the cameras. "We will never stop praying for your return, Hiroki." He looked straight into one of the news cameras."If you manage to hear or see this news conference, son, know that your mother and I love you."

"WHY ARE THEY SAYING THOSE THINGS?!"

A loud scream woke Hiroki up from his sleep. Jerking to the side, he hissed his breath at straining his body. His muscles ached and the area in his lower body seemed to tear again. Forcing himself to lay still, he moved his head enough to give him a better view of the room. Opening his eyes a bit, still clouded from remnants of sleep, he saw no sight of his captor. He breathed out a sigh of relief.

"NO! THEY WILL NEVER GET HIM BACK! HE'S MINE! MINE!"

The scathing tone brought Hiroki to freeze in his bed. Keeping his breathing light and slow, he turned his eyes on the entrance to his room. He saw the light peeking from underneath the cracks. Not knowing the time, whether early morning or late afternoon, he stopped calculating the exact time sometime ago. The frustration of losing track of time made his capture in that cabin more than unbearable to stand.

Trying to strain his ear, he heard the muffling of the television from the living room. Nowaki moved into the cabin one early morning where noise filtered out from beyond his door. Beforehand, Nowaki left him in a coma like state whenever he left the cabin. He assumed as such, considering the first few weeks, he spent in a daze which left him loopy. He remembered little of the initial stages of his capture.

From the working cable, he learned to gauge Nowaki's overall mood. Nowaki's mood strayed to a positive one whenever he laughed at a program, but this didn't give a complete calculation. A smiling Nowaki didn't guarantee a sane and agreeable one who listened to him with an attentive ear.

"FUCK YOU ALL! HE'LL NEVER LEAVE THIS CABIN ALIVE!"

Hearing the result of his stay at the cabin, Hiroki's blood went ice cold. He tried keeping up the idea of finding a manner of escape and bumping into anyone. Whatever Nowaki heard on tv, it might result in a tighter restriction in his lack of actions. Knowing his family, they searched for him, and went to the news to spread news of his disappearance.

Loud footsteps ran toward the direction of his room, Hiroki evened out his breathing. Hiroki faked sleep just in time for Nowaki to open the door in a harsh, but controlled way. The doorknob didn't hit the wall, creating a slam would have waken him up, breaking his rouse before it began. Hasty footsteps made it to his side of the bed, socks shuffled against the wooden floor. Louder and louder, the more Nowaki closed the distance between them.

Hiroki prayed he appeared slack and relaxed from being in a deep sleep.

"I don't know why...why are they saying those things?" Nowaki muttered to himself, not even trying to keep the volume at a low level. "I'm treating you well, taking care of you, keeping you safe from the outside world...your mother and father shouldn't have said those things."

Hiroki's stomach fluttered at hearing about his parents. The last time Nowaki ever spoke about them, he fibbed about attending his funeral. Any positive news beat dealing with Nowaki's ever changing feelings. Whether Nowaki spouted out love sonnets or threatened him, Hiroki learned to keep his mouth shut and let him express those repressed love confessions. Speaking out those feelings seemed to bring positive and negative results. More than anything, Nowaki forced a kiss on him to end the sentences.

Nowaki brushed Hiroki's long bangs to the side, ones which began obscuring those brown eyes from his view. "I'm protecting you. Yes. You're supposed to be with me."

Lies.

Utter lies.

Hiroki paid close attention to Nowaki's words. The more he listened, the more he saw a noticeable descent into madness. From what he gathered so far, Nowaki invested his whole life into attaining him and seemed to not know what to do with himself. Entering the medical field didn't come from compassion for people, it stemmed from using the disposable equipment in his plans. A social worker didn't have the most resources, not unlike a doctor.

"Your mother and father have no idea what they're saying." Nowaki curled a finger and caressed Hiroki's cheek, no remnants of his fingers digging into Hiroki's skin remained. "They'll stop searching for you soon enough. No one has any idea to look for you around this area. I mean...you didn't wear the clothing from the crash when I brought you here. Bloodstains all over the place. I changed your clothes and when we were on the train, people thought you were a drunk who I helped back home."

Nowaki bent down pressing a kiss on Hiroki's brow.

Hiroki couldn't control the flinch of the skin to skin contact.

Nowaki didn't notice, chose to ignore it, or choked it off on random sleep movements.

"Oh well, the idea of your parents seeing you again isn't happening. Why did I ever think they would enjoy an update on our lives? A letter, maybe a photo or two. Anything to calm their worries." Nowaki sighed. "At this point, they really believe you were kidnapped, my beloved. How gullible of them. I can't risk anyone coming in between us." Looking to the watch on his wrist, he sighed. "I have to go make dinner. Too bad you can't have any for the moment. You loved my cooking back then..."

Nowaki left without another word. Closing the door behind him, he didn't lock the door behind him. Hiroki wasn't able to move an inch out of the bed. The lack of eating provided Hiroki no energy to work off. Whistling a jolly tone, he went into the kitchen, not at all fazed by the tears he remembered in the eyes of Hiroki's parents.

Opening his eyes, Hiroki attempted to stretch out his fingers. After a few tries, he grew tired and stopped himself from overexerting himself.

"I need to escape..." A streak of determination surged through Hiroki's body, his voice raspy from a dry throat. "Mother and father are... looking for me."

Opening the door to his hotel room, Akihiko frowned at the sight in front of him. Wearing over the top protective hiking gear, including short khaki pants, a draw string hat, a raincoat, and brown boots, Takahiro posed with his arms on his hips with a beaming smile on his face. He even carried a large backpack filled to the brim with items. Whatever he carried, Akihiko knew for sure they were covered for their searches.

Takahiro straightened himself up, declaring with a eager voice. "Aki-chan! I'm here to help! Don't worry, we'll find Hiro-chan soon! I have two weeks of paid leave to help out. Nami-chan is wishing us luck back home and she'll keep a look out for Hiro-chan in our province."

Tired from lack of sleep, Akihiko's filter thinned out enough for him to utter out. "What the fuck are you wearing?"

Takahiro slumped a bit at the reaction from Akihiko, nonetheless, he remained bright on his decision. "I need to stay well protected while we go through the wilderness. Manami bought these for me before I left home, she even bought bug repellent for us to use." He saw the wear on Akihiko's buttoned up shirt and slacks, and scratches on those usual polished shoes. "Don't tell me you're going to look around in those clothes?"

Akihiko's attention went back to his clothes, his grimace showed his displeasure at forgetting about his appearance. Again. No wonder some of the people gave him a second look in this newer town.

"You're coming in and waiting for me. I'm not leaving this room looking like this."

"Got it, boss!" Takahiro waltzed in, cringing at the state of Akihiko's hotel room. A real mess. He spotted different clothes in the oddest spots and a open laptop on one of the tables of the room. "Ah...are you working on your novel while going on your searches?"

Akihiko closed the door, rubbing the back of his neck as he yawned. "No. Aikawa isn't expecting one for a few months? I don't know. I voiced a hiatus until further notice. I've taken to blocking her number at this point. Why do you ask?"

Knowing of his friend's tendency to forget the state of his penthouse over work, Takahiro tried making his explanation as delicate as possible. "You tend to forget the world when you're working. Your hotel room is...quite frankly, Aki-chan, it's a mess."

Akihiko shifted through his suitcase and looked for decent looking clothes. He snatched up a t-shirt and jeans. No use ruining more of his clothing because of looking through grass. "It's just clothes." Changing in front of Takahiro, he tossed his old clothing onto the floor.

Takahiro cringed at the blatant disregard for cleanliness. After raising Misaki on his own, who left little mess, and having a clean home with his wife, seeing any form of uncleanliness made his skin crawl. Turning his gaze away from the mess, he ignored the call to shuffle everything into a pile. Akihiko wouldn't appreciate him taking his own actions on possessions that were not his own. He went there to look for Hiroki, not spend the day organizing his best friend's suitcase.

Nowaki's mood plummeted once entering through the hospital doors. Working in a smaller local hospital brought him a staff where a majority participated in gossip. Although, this happened in larger companies as well, even his old hospital gossiped between one another. From the moment he stepped foot through the front doors, rumors about himself spread throughout the different departments. Many questioned his reasons for moving into a small town for his residency, but these rumors lessened the more he interacted with everyone. His perfected mask fooled everyone into feeling off about sneaking behind his back to utter any unsavory words about him.

A backtrack from his good image, came in the new thorns on his side. The women on staff who saw no ring on his finger and asked about whether or not he had a girlfriend. He wanted nothing more than to boast about Hiroki, to coo about his handsomeness and prowess in bed, but seeing Hiroki's image plastered on the news soured this idea before it started. Using his name might bring in suspicion to himself. Besides, he enjoyed keeping his beloved a secret from others. He never enjoyed seeing other people glancing at Hiroki when he first followed him around in between work and classes.

Overhearing people speak about his beloved, as if they had any clue about his entire life, agitated him. This sudden wave of empathy didn't happen before Hiroki went missing. He overheard students scathing remarks about professor Kamijou on more than one occasion to know his popularity on campus: a strict professor who babied no one. Seeing those same students sharing their experiences on the news, irritated him to the bone.

He hated having to see his future in-laws as the enemy, but they went on national television to spread awareness of Hiroki's disappearance. He disappeared from the public, but he was in his care and protection. Meaning, he wasn't missing at all, just that they didn't inform the family of them leaving the city. Their interjection into their business poked the wrong person.

Overhearing the staff of the hospital comment on Hiroki's appearance, the good looks inherited from his parents, stirred the fires of jealousy. None of them deserved him.

Pausing near a door, he feigned drinking his cold espresso, while waving with a painted smile at passing employees. The assumption of Hiroki's disappearance made another round on the floor. Peering around the corner, three people, two woman and one man, stopped in the hallway to speak to one of the doctors. After exchanging greetings, the true topic of conversation began.

"I feel horrible for that poor couple. The mother has a heart condition and looked so weak on camera. Who knows how bad her condition is. This situation with her only son might push her to her limit." A nurse sighed out while holding onto the clipboard of one of their patients. "The father didn't look any better."

"Do you think it was a kidnapping to extort money? The Kamijou family owns a rich business. Not well known, but had longevity from decades ago." A nurse's assistant leaned against the door, holding her coffee in between her hands. "I'm surprised we haven't heard any news of any ransom."

"A ransom would have happened on the first week. I don't think this is a ransom situation at all." A male voice chimed in, he wore a male version of the nurse's uniform. "Kamijou would have died real fast if no one in the family paid the full amount written by the kidnappers. They have more than enough money to save their son. Besides, the parents looked wretched on tv, there is no way that they don't love him."

The doctor nodded his head. "You're right. We might have heard of the aftermath if this was a ransom situation. In a way, this is positive news, there is a chance for this young man to be found. Although, the motive of his disappearance and or kidnapping is not known to the public."

Nurse's assistant sipped her coffee. "It's been what? A few months since this guy vanished? The chance of the family finding him are slim."

Nowaki downed his chilled espresso, clenching the plastic cup in his trembling fist.

To be continued...