Pairings: BernardoXGian, IvanXGian, LuchinoXGian, GiulioXGian, AobaXClear, AobaXVirusXTrip, AobaXRen, AobaXKoujaku, AobaXNoiz, AobaXBakshi, VirusXTripXGian, AobaXGian
Warning: Contains minor hints of rape, violence, extreme swearing and heavy scenes of smut.
Disclaimer: I do not own Dramatical Murder or Lucky Dog 1. All rights go to the respectful owners
Chapter 12 - A Friend in Need
The rest of the day passed by without any issues and Koujaku and Noiz had both finally settled into their assigned rooms. Neither of them had gone to visit Aoba as they both wanted to meet with him individually rather than together and were both wondering when the right time would be to visit him. Although they were prepped before coming, they both could not help feeling slightly uneasy knowing their rival was in the same building.
But seeing as Mink and Luchino could not stand to see them being indecisive about the situation, they suggested that the two of them have a rock-paper-scissors match. At first Koujaku rejected the idea and spent a good four minutes deciding in his head how the plan should go. Originally, he wanted to be the one that Aoba saw first but he also knew that Aoba did not belong to him and soon gave into the idea of the childish game.
So when Koujaku actually won the round of the game, he was astonished to see that something good was coming out of being stuck with Noiz for such a long time. He did not gloat however and awkwardly followed Luchino into Aoba's bedroom. Noiz scowled but did not follow after them as the door shut behind them, blocking his view.
He leaned back against the hallway's walls and waited patiently. Because the men at the front desk had confiscated his cubes, he was left feeling slightly bored as he used his cubes for mostly information gathering and would have loved to know what Aoba and Koujaku could be talking about.
Luchino soon came out of the room with a somewhat gloomy expression but fixed it upon coming face-to-face with Noiz. He did not probe as to why he had made such a face and could tell the man would not tell him even if asked. "Your computers will be returned to you once we're done checking them over for anything...'suspicious'." He said coolly. The man stood against the wall with him while pulling out a cigar and lighting it up.
"Not that it will work, but you're welcome to pry it apart if need be." Noiz did not mean to make it sound sarcastic but it was just the way it came out. But instead of getting some sort of remark back, Luchino simply chuckled and tilted his head back while blowing out a circle of smoke.
The man then let out a sigh. "I'm about to go fetch Giulio and Ivan. Care to join me?" Noiz realized the real reason why the man offered to allow him to tag along and it had to do with Koujaku and Aoba being alone together for a while. Noiz closed his eyes and smiled while lifting his body from leaning against the wall.
"So long as we get something to eat afterward, I'll consider it." He then walked off in the direction of the floor lobby. Luchino looked back at the door to the bedroom before leaving to catch up with Noiz.
It had only been a minute or two since Koujaku stepped inside and Aoba was now hugging him with great force. The younger man's face was buried into his chest while he could feel his now frail body shaking with all the sobbing. Aoba's once healthy fingers that gripped tightly to his kimono, were now skinnier than he remembered them being. His hair was certainly longer than before too and flowed to the middle of his back.
All Koujaku could do was wait and brush the back of Aoba's hair with his fingers, careful not to tangle them up with each other. Koujaku rested his chin to the side of Aoba's head and waited for Aoba's crying to stop. It was good to see that the man had not forgotten him but he did not like that their first real meeting would become like that of a romance novel. Not that he was complaining, he just did not want to see Aoba in this sort of state. "Aoba..."
The atmosphere began to cause a bit of nostalgia for him as he remembered the times of coming to Aoba's rescue from the neighboring kids who used to pick on him because of his long hair. Koujaku pulled back from the embrace and used one hand to brush the blue bangs away from Aoba's crying eyes. His eyes had already turned red and his cheeks were shining because of all the tears that had streamed down his face.
He had forgotten all about the issues he had with Noiz over the past few days and his mind had now been completely focused and filled with Aoba. Koujaku smiled warmly and was about to lean forward towards his face until he stopped himself from going any further. As much as he would have wanted to kiss Aoba, he stopped having knowing what he must have went through and was scared something could trigger a traumatic reaction. Aoba slowly stopped his crying and looked over his shoulder to where Clear's scarf and coat had still been hanging.
A slight headache was starting to form but not his usual kind but rather the kind that one got when they've been crying too much. He wiped the rest of his tears away while Koujaku followed Aoba's line of sight, noticing the scarf and coat. 'Seems like it's not just Noiz or Mink I have to worry about...' He quickly erased the thought from his mind and concentrated on Aoba's emotional state.
"Sorry it took us a while to get here, Noiz and I weren't exactly expecting some random guys showing up to actually take us to you." He grinned like he usually would when he thought of things to cheer the man up and helped Aoba to the bed.
They sat on the side of the bed, reminiscing about Aoba's grandmother who had contacted Koujaku every two days asking if he had found any info on his whereabouts. After two years had gone by without a word or lead, she began to lose hope and soon became a shut-in. This made Aoba even more depressed.
"Noiz was the only one who really found out where you were. I searched everywhere for you and that hospital that Ren was staying at. Mizuki also helped to look for you. But in the end, no matter where we looked, it was just like what happened with Mizuki. You vanished, Aoba." Koujaku could hear his own voice crack from under the pressure of having to relay the details about his grandma and Mizuki.
He knew how worried he must have been not knowing what might have happened to Tae during the time he was away. Koujaku had held back from kissing Aoba but he could not stop his body from leaning against Aoba's and let his head fall onto the man's shoulder. Although he sounded startled from the action, Aoba did not seem to mind him being there.
"Koujaku...do you...know who took me?" Aoba sounded as though he were testing him with the sudden question. Even if he did know who at the very start, there was no way he would have caught up with them in time as it seemed as though they had everything planned from the beginning.
When he didn't answer after a couple of minutes, Aoba shook his head. "You don't have to answer. At first not even I could tell who it was that took me. But...even though I...hate what went on at that place, Virus...he..." Aoba wasn't sure what he should say as whatever way it came out it would certainly sound odd to Koujaku.
What he wanted to say was that Virus had been his only sanction during his captivity. Between the two of them, they were equally bad when it came to kindness but only Virus seemed to show an odd concern for his hair's well being. As a plus, his allmate was not as big as Welter, Trip's allmate.
It was confusing for him knowing what they both did was wrong and yet he showed acceptance to only one of them. He gripped his knees hard with his hands to stop himself from thinking on the past. Random flashbacks of his experience seeped through to his conscious mind and replaced his current mood with a bit of gloom.
His heart felt fast-paced and he had to hold his chest and mentally calm himself down from the feeling that was rising from the pit of his stomach. If this was what people called anxiety, he thought for sure this was what it might have felt like.
"Aoba...?" Koujaku's voice brought him out of the odd mood and soon he was starting to relax just a bit. But nevertheless, the feeling was still sitting there and lying in wait for him to remember the memories that he wanted to keep locked away.
"They did me, Koujaku." Although he was sitting next to the man, Koujaku had only heard his name while the beginning of it had been a mere whisper. Aoba was purposely whispering it and he saw that what he was trying to say was affecting him greatly. Aoba continued holding his chest until Koujaku put his arms around him forcing the man to let go of his chest so that they were pinned down at his sides.
"I'm sorry, Aoba!" He hugged the man tighter and leaned forward touching his forehead against Aoba's. He was doing something that he knew Aoba would be familiar with as he used to do this with Ren when he was still in his allmate body.
Aoba could feel his heart still beating fast from the sudden anxiety attack from earlier and felt it slowing as Koujaku continued holding him in his arms. Although Koujaku had his eyes closed, Aoba could tell the man's eyes would have a deeply concerned look if he were to open them now. Aoba shifted uncomfortably and tried to push on Koujaku's chest with his hands. But the man was obviously very toned and it was hard to push him off even with all the might he could muster just to get his arms free from being pinned.
It wasn't fair that Koujaku was able to get stronger than him over the time he was gone and it made him feel inferior because of the frail status his body was going through. "Kou-...Koujaku, I can't breathe..." It was a lie of course. One that he hoped would work. It wasn't all a lie though but this was the fastest way he could think of to be released from the pressure of another person's body.
He had already gone through the same moments with Mink and Clear and if he knew all of them at all, he knew that the last one to do something like this would be Noiz. He mentally slapped himself for thinking of something so ludicrous and managed to squeeze one of his arms free. Aoba used his hand to push on Koujaku's chest just a bit giving the man a hint as to let go before he suffocated.
Aoba was still not used to crowding or personal space being invaded but it was getting better little bits at a time. Koujaku respected his wishes and soon loosened his hold on him but did not release his arms from around his lower back. He could fell Aoba trembling and this just made him want to stay this way even longer. But he knew that they could not do this forever and soon after a few minutes, let go of his body but stayed close to the younger man.
Aoba could feel his body temperature going back to normal after a few seconds of having a bit of the cold room air hit the sides of his face. He exhaled slowly and took in another breath just as slowly as he exhaled to slow his heart beat down. Beads of sweat slid down both sides of his cheeks and from his forehead. Although he could feel the cool air of the room temperature, his body was still feeling slightly hot from the warmth of Koujaku's body.
It had been a long time since he last held someone in a comforting hug and having been hugged by three of his companions in just a few days apart was more than enough to feel somewhat connected to humanity again. Koujaku looked him over, scanning the man's body with his eyes. Aoba felt as though the man was staring right into his past, like he could see everything bad that had happened to him.
"Virus...his voice helped me through that torment." Koujaku was shocked to see Aoba readily speaking his mind about his trauma. He thought for sure that he would have wanted to keep it hidden but in the end it would have been much more harder to say aloud if he kept it bottled up further.
Although he did not want to hear how Virus and Trip had mistreated him, he was willing to leave an open mind and let Aoba speak without interrupting him with his anger. He would keep it in check at least until he caught up with the men and dished out their own medicine to them.
Koujaku had to bite his tongue after Aoba had finished telling him the horrid details that went on at their hidden house that Aoba said they had outside of Japan and the island. The only details Aoba left out were the times that Trip and Virus made him do things that were not normal for someone to force upon another being.
He respected that and thought that he should not remember such a horrible experience. But he was now worried how this would affect the fact that all four of the men involved with him had feelings for him and wondered if whether or not Aoba would ever open himself up on an emotional level. It was different now since he and Aoba had been friends since they were kids but that was it. Koujaku had only been seen as a friend all this time and that was fine by him. But at the same time, an invisible wall had been put up between them since he left the island and returned.
A wall that had seemingly been broken down by Noiz, Virus and Trip. Three men he couldn't stand. He understood that Aoba went through a tough time while he had been gone but he would regret it forever since Trip and Virus had filled a small gap where he used to stand. They were still friends but something inside of him kept insisting that Aoba and the twins had a small connection with each other despite how Aoba felt about them now.
It would also explain why Aoba took refuge in Virus's words of sweet nothings. He remained quiet until Aoba was sure that he was done talking about his experiences. Even though it should have been hard for someone to sit through an talk about something so important, Aoba did not let out a single tear as he talked.
"D-Don't tell Noiz or anyone else about this..." Koujaku let out a sigh that showed his hostility had been rising.
"You really think I'd tell that punk anything? Your secrets and your thoughts, I want you to tell them all just to me." Aoba pinned his thumbs down, fidgeting with his fingers until Koujaku had to place his hands over Aoba's.
Although Koujaku had not planned on doing anything too hasty with his feelings, he couldn't help being a romanticist. His feelings for Aoba used to be of somewhat as a protector during their childhood and grew into their adulthood. But even before Aoba had vanished from Midorijima, he started getting moments when being around him started to make him feel anxious and soon it began affecting his business at the hair salon.
"Aoba, since that guy already told you I guess I can say it properly..." Koujaku looked away at first, hiding his embarrassment from what he was about to say. He had thought about Aoba's feelings and did take them into consideration. It was just something he felt he had to say before Aoba had the chance to speak to Noiz.
He looked back at Aoba and after confirming that Aoba had been paying attention to his next few words, he took a in a bit of air and told Aoba his feelings. "You know I'll always have your back, Aoba. And you do know I care about you, right?" Aoba nodded in agreement. Of course he knew that. Ever since they were small, Koujaku had always come to him when he needed his help or even when Tae and his adopted parents could not be with him 24/7 and had work to do.
But this also did not mean it was easy to forget what had happened before the tower had fallen during their mission to stop Toue. Back then, Koujaku had a pile of secrets that he had not shared with him and yet expected for him to tell him all of his own secrets. A friendship like that was brittle and could easily break such as the time back when he had met up with the man who had put those tattoos on his back.
Aoba waited for the man to finish his sentence. He was in no hurry for the time to go by but he also did not want to be stuck in an awkward situation that would give Koujaku the wrong idea that he had accepted his feelings. "I'm in love with you, Aoba." Hearing those words quickly reminded him of Virus but only for a mere second.
A flashback of how Virus said those words while making love to him came flooding back into his memories and he found that his hands were shaking while still being held by Koujaku's. The other man noticed right away and quickly let go of them and apologized. "S-Sorry, I know you're not used to things like this but...I..." Koujaku was not able to finish his sentence for there was a loud knock on the door that caused them both to turn red after realizing the atmosphere that was created.
Koujaku and Aoba both stared at the door for a few seconds before returning to looking at each other. "Get some more rest, Aoba. It sounds like you'll need all of it in this kind of place." He swiftly got up from the bed and went to grab the door but Aoba reached out his hand and pulled on the back of the man's kimono.
His face flushed red as he watched the man turn around with a startled expression. He still had not accepted his feelings and did not plan to but he at least wanted a bit of closure knowing they were still on good terms as friends. Aoba did not want to be in any sort of relationship for the time being as he had to properly sort out all of his own feelings first.
Koujaku smiled like he always did and released Aoba's hand gently with his own and kissed the back of Aoba's hand. Feeling Aoba's body stiffen from that action, he pulled away from the hand quickly and went to the door before Aoba could say anything. He opened the door. It was Mink. Koujaku glared at the man but kept his anger in control while waiting for the man to say what he needed to say.
Mink looked past Koujaku and saw Aoba sitting upright and oddly shaken up by something with the look his face was giving him. But he did not say anything to Aoba and told Koujaku what it was he came for. "Bernardo says they've located the twins. Be down in five minutes." With that said, he walked back the way he came and ignored Koujaku as he tried yelling out to him.
Both of them did not know what to say now. The fact that they had found Virus and Trip and where they were now should have been a message sent from the heavens. But it added on the worries that Aoba already had still left over previously before Koujaku and Noiz arrived. Koujaku then left without saying anything but seemed to be rather eager to leave the room. Aoba couldn't tell whether it was anger or embarrassment that caused him to leave so suddenly but felt a slight hint of relief knowing he was not in the room.
A/N: Sorry this took longer than I wanted it to last, It's kind of off and on with Aoba and Koujaku here but I wanted Aoba to at least have his tsundere personality like the game. Been planning out mostly what I want for Virus and Trip and what will happen to them but just because they're found now does not mean the story is almost done, no where near the end so keep reading! And if any of you have questions regarding the Lucky Dog 1 game, just ask, I'll answer as best I can to explain how the game is but in simple terms it is a BL game like DMMD with the same type of cast of characters like Koujaku and Luchino, they're very much alike somewhat and same with Clear and Giulio they have almost the same tastes minus Clear being an android.