What's this? A new chapter so soon?!


6

Hotsuma didn't expect to see what lies before him now, "Oh Shit!" He rushes over to the boy. He pulls his body into his lap and tries to wake him, "Hey! Hey, Shusei, get up!"

The brunet groans at the sound but nothing more.

"Come on! Get up!" Hotsuma firmly shakes his shoulder.

Shusei remains unconscious, only stirring slightly from the movement.

"Oh, Ringmaster." A menacing voice calls from outside the tent.

Hotsuma stiffens in fear for a moment, even the unconscious brunet shudders at the voice, "Damn." Hotsuma mutters. He has to get the boy out of the tent and away from the monster approaching.

He gently picks up the boy and searches for a way out. There's only one entrance and that's no use. The footsteps are steadily approaching. Hotsuma nervously fidgets within the tent looking for a way out. He sees in the corner, a loose edge where the tent wasn't securely taught. He runs over to it and kneels down to get a better look. He frees one arm that's holding Shusei and lets him rest against him while he looks. Hotsuma is able to pull the tent looser but not enough to walk out. He looks over at the brunet, covered in a cold sweat and shivering. Hotsuma lays him down and crawls through the opening he's made. Once he's on the other side, he grabs Shusei from under his arms and pulls him through. Once he has Shusei again he lets the tent drop and picks up the boy again.

Hotsuma hears the front of the tent move and hears the footsteps inside. He stays still, nervous he will be caught.

"Hey!" A voice growls from inside.

Hotsuma slowly backs up, not sure if the man was calling out for Shusei or if he saw him.

The man shuffles from inside the tent, "Where's that damn kid."

Hotsuma realizes this is his chance to get out now and turns to leave. He doesn't know where to go, just that he can't stay here in the cirque.

"God damn it! Where the hell did he go?"

His voice was grating to Hotsuma, and poor Shusei had to deal with it for who knows how long. He arrives at the area where there are barricades, but fortunately for Hotsuma, they weren't very good. A few feet over is an open spot where he can easily sneak through.

Hotsuma tries, as fast he can, to get away from the circus. It isn't easy, half carrying another person through the woods while it's dark, but he doesn't let the hardship deter him.

Hotsuma eventually found the trail he took with Kazuki and the others which led him to the road. It isn't much longer until they reach the main roads, but a difficult trip nonetheless. Soon the trail opens up to a park where Hotsuma finds a bench nearby and sat down. He is exhausted from having to carry Shusei and knows he won't be able to make it home at this rate.

He perks up at the thought of taking him home. He looks over at the boy, still wearing the ringmaster uniform and still out cold.

Hotsuma throws his head back in frustration, "What the hell am I doing?"

I basically just kidnapped this kid!

He mentally scolds himself for his stupidity. His bad habit of not thinking things through really got him this time. On top of that, he can't believe that the boy is still asleep after all this.

He must really be sick.

His skin is pale and clammy and his breathing is labored. Hotsuma slowly places a hand on his forehead and quickly pulls back, "Idiot, you've got a fever." Hotsuma sighs, "What am I suppose to do, I'm no doctor."

He feels bad for Shusei. He can't just leave him here now, not after what he's done so far. Hotsuma leans forward to grab the cell phone out of his pocket, "No way am I carrying you any further." He calls for a cab which will arrive in about ten minutes. The sooner the better, although Hotsuma is lucky no one is wandering around this area at this hour, his situation would be difficult to explain. It's a quiet evening and if they weren't so close to Tokyo, the stars would be illuminating the sky.

Hotsuma leans back trying to grasp everything that just happened. All he wanted to do was to know more about the boy for some reason. He was drawn to him, he can't explain why. He looks over at him. This moment gave Hotsuma time to really look at the brunet. His bangs were swept haphazardly across his face. He is just a little bit shorter than he is. Hotsuma guesses that he is younger than he is, but his face shows a certain intelligence, that he's been through a lot.

But then Hotsuma remembers the dream.

It's definitely you…from that dream…

The blaring lights caught Hotsuma's attention. The cab driver arrived earlier than expected. He pulled up as close as he can to Hotsuma and Shusei.

Hotsuma hears the click of the doors unlocking and tries to discreetly carry Shusei over. He quickly pulls open a door and sets Shusei down in the seat. He looks over when he hears the cab driver chuckle.

"Must have been a fun night…" He says.

Hotsuma glares, "Yeah, yeah…" Although his situation does seem funny, him carrying a passed out ringmaster. Shusei's clothes certainly weren't subtle.

"Where to?"

Hotsuma's tells him his address and the cab immediately takes off.

...

"What's the matter, Tsukumo? You look distracted." The Murasame siblings are sitting on a couch in a large living room, both in pajamas. They're alone in the room, enjoying eachother's company.

The silver haired boy looks at his sister, "It's nothing Toko-chan. I just thought I heard Hotsuma." He has a bag of chips in his hand, but sets them aside.

"Hmm?" She tilted her head, "When?"

"A little while ago."

"Wonder what he's doing all the way out here. You think some subconscious memories could be awakening?" She said. Toko has never had too many problems concerning her reincarnation. Somehow, she always seems to be very knowledgeable of her lives and is capable of controlling the emotions tied to those memories.

"I don't think so, he seemed distracted." Tsukumo thought, "We'll just…have to keep an eye on him. Just to make sure he's alright."

"Yeah," Toko agreed, "I'm sure he's fine, though. He's pretty dense, but tough!" She laughs.

Tsukumo gave his sister a smile, "Yeah."

Toko's smile fades a little. Duras activity has been in a lull lately and as any Zweilt, a guardian, knows, that's never a good sign. "I wonder when…Takashiro-sama will tell him…"

...

It wasn't a terribly long ride, although it would have been strenuous to have carried Shusei all the way.

The taxi pulls to the side of his house, and looks at the boy he transported here. He doesn't look like the kind of person who would live in such a nice place.

Hotsuma's house is certainly no mansion, but for Tokyo it is rather large and western style home. It's away from the busy streets so it's quieter here. It is surrounded by a fence about Hotsuma's height with a gate in the center. He quickly opens the gates and runs back to the cab and pulls Shusei out after he pays the driver. The driver wastes no more time and drives off.

Hotsuma throws one of Shusei's arms around his neck and carries him inside. He flicks on the light. The main room, upon entering his house, is large with tall ceilings and a chandelier gently illuminating the room. He heads towards the large staircase in front of him and decides to take Shusei to his room.

He wanders down the long halls to the very end. His room is at the opposite end of his parents. He likes the privacy and it's not like he's close to his parents. He's more like a tenant than a son. Hotsuma pushes the door open and flicks on the light switch.

A lamp, set on an unused desk, turns on. The walls are tan with darker browns as an accent. The color doesn't suit Hotsuma's taste, but he didn't design it. There are a few clothes thrown around the room as well as his backpack. In one corner of the room are two chairs facing a television that's hooked up to a video game system. That area is covered with game cases and strategy guides. On the other side of the room is his large bed and nightstand. It's very neat for someone like Hotsuma, but he doesn't clean it. His parents hire a cleaning service that stops by once a week. He hates the idea of someone coming into his room, and sometimes he locks his door.

He carries Shusei the short distance to his bed and lays him down. Hotsuma doesn't think he looks comfortable and takes off his outer jacket and hangs it over the bed post. He also takes off his big boots and sets them at the end of the bed.

Hotsuma doesn't know what else to do.

Should I call a doctor?

He doesn't think Shusei would appreciate that.

Well…what now?

He knows Shusei has a fever, so he runs downstairs into the large contemporary designed kitchen and soaks a washcloth in cool water. Hotsuma also grabs a glass of cold water and brings it up to his room. He sets the glass of water down on the nightstand by the bed and puts the washcloth on the boy's forehead.

Hotsuma isn't sure of what else to do. He doesn't feel comfortable leaving Shusei alone but hates hovering over him like this. He grabs one of the chairs by the television and brings it over to the bedside and sits down.

"Damn it." Hotsuma mutters, "I don't know what the hell I'm doing!"

Shusei stirs.

Hotsuma looks over, expecting him to wake up. Shusei only rolls to his side, away from Hotsuma, and the washcloth falls off.

"No! You idiot, keep that on!" Hotsuma mentally slaps himself for having called a sick, unconscious kid that he kidnapped an idiot.

For being as sick as he is, Shusei seems very relaxed.

"Bet it's been a while since you've slept in a bed like this." Hotsuma said, remembering that thin cot Shusei calls a bed.

He folds his arms and rests them on the bed, staring at the brunet. He knows his parents won't be back for quite some time, so everything should be okay for now.

"What happened to you?" He can't help but talk to Shusei, "Why are you with that asshole that runs that circus?"

Why do you live like that? Where do you come from? Where's your family?

Who are you!?

Questions are running through his mind, but there's no use in asking them just yet.

Shusei seems to be fidgeting in his sleep. Concerned, Hotsuma leans over to get a better look at his face.

"Hey! What's wrong?"

...

"NO!"

Shusei can barely see anymore, but he doesn't need to see to recognize the voice.

"Why did you come?" The words were no more than a whisper; he knew they wouldn't be heard.

I thought you had abandoned me…

"Shusei! Get up! Don't you dare die here!" A blond lifts his limp and damaged body into his lap, "I swear to God, I'll go to hell and drag you back myself!"

Are those tears you're holding back?

"Why?...How could you?..."

"It wasn't me! It was all a lie-"

"I still can't bring myself…to hate you…but-"

"Shusei! Listen! It's not what you think!" The blond screams earnestly.

At this point it doesn't matter to Shusei, "I can't…I can't see you anymore."

"Shusei! Shusei, please!"

Shusei's head falls into the blond's chest. Everything went black and all sounds began to fade. But he wasn't scared. Death was all he wanted now. His release. There's no more suffering beyond death, or so he hopes.

"SHUSEI!"

...

"Shusei!"

Shusei hears a voice that seems eerily familiar. He doesn't open his eyes but knows something is off. He's laying comfortably somewhere, definitely not back at his tent. It smells clean. And most of all, he's not being scolded by a certain circus owner.

"Shusei? You alright?"

Who…

Shusei looks over his shoulder and groggily opens his eyes, making eye contact with whoever is talking to him.

"…Who are you?"


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