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Untitled
By: kit kat
Chapter 6: Lover
A/N: There's a quick flashback to the present in the beginning of this chapter (remember this whole story has been a memory). Just incase you guys forgot…
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(Present POV)
It felt as if years had passed after reliving all the painful memories. Rain drenched me to the bone, not even allowing tears to soak my own cheeks. I shivered madly while trying to regain consciousness.
Only a little further… I have to keep going.
I refused to die in the street. Shoes sifted through the flood as I reclaimed control over my weak legs and pushed forward through the wind. I tried so hard to focus on my destination but was failing miserably. The atmosphere grew fuzzy and my mind returned to the past, images of Li's face and lips impressed like a movie I couldn't turn off.
Oh god… why?
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(Past POV)
My eyelids opened weakly as a burning light beamed directly onto my face. Darkness engulfed the room but I was not alone. The silhouettes of my captors whispered quietly among one another when noticing my awakened state.
"Jordan." I heard a voice speak my name and I squinted to identify the hazy person standing before me.
"Jordan Bae."
"W-who are you?" I finally asked. "Where am I?"
"You are at the police station," a low voice answered from the light. "And I am detective Maniwa Mitsuhiro… I need to ask you a few questions."
"About what, my father?" I replied nonchalantly, avoiding the real subject of their interest.
"Well… Yes I guess we could start there." The voice grew closer until his shadow stepped out of the darkness, exposing his features.
The young man seemed out of place in the police scene: his chestnut bangs fell into genuinely caring eyes… he was still untouched and innocent from the blood and destruction of the world. Soon enough, I could tell, he would age just like the rest of him with worry lines and graying locks.
"Where were you on the night of your father's death?" he began timidly.
"Musasino park." My eyes remained cold and unmoving.
"And when did you discover… his death?"
"I came home at about four o'clock in the morning and found our house trashed. When I finally reached the kitchen, he was lying in a pool of his own blood, murdered."
"Is there anyone you know who wanted to kill him? An enemy, someone he owed money…?"
"No." it was short and to the point.
"The wound on his head—"
"Oh shut up, Maniwa! You're getting no where with this." Another man threw his fists to the table before stepping into the light as well.
"We know Lil' Slugger murdered your father," his fat demeanor and greasy, toothbrush moustache disgusted me almost as much as his tone. "And now you've been found linked to the serial killer."
"So?" I shrugged and his face grew red with anger.
"You better spill everything you know about Lil' Slugger to us, kid." His eyes narrowed, challenging me to talk back.
"Or what?" I dared.
"Or you'll face life in prison for aiding in the murder of your father and association with Japan's most wanted muderer."
"Please, Ikari." Maniwa begged, trying to step between the slob and me. "She's only a child. For all we know, she could've been threatened to stay with him."
"Ha, well that's not what all the witnesses at the club said. The police had to literally tear her away from his arms!" the detective called Ikari spat.
"Jordan…" Detective Maniwa turned to me and looked with "knowing" eyes. "You don't know how long we've been chasing Lil' Slugger. There are so many people, so many families… We just need some information."
"Information? You don't know anything about him. He saved those people from lives of destruction. Look at my father! He was a wreck. Lil' Slugger brought him salvation and the opportunity to go to heaven."
"It doesn't matter what kind of lives they led or what kind of people they were, kid. The point is that he killed them. He took innocent lives that were not his to take. Those murdered deserve justice." Detective Ikari argued with my reasoning like I was some premature idealist who knew nothing about the morality of the world.
"People are not born naturally good, detective," my hands were shaking in rage at his ignorance. "Look at the world we live in. Even though you may carry a gun and throw the "bad guys" in jail, you have no control over Japan's ethics. If the incentive is great enough, human beings will do whatever they damn want, hurting themselves and everyone else around them in the process. Lil' Slugger was sent for that reason, to purge society of these broken creatures. He is only the messenger."
Both detectives stared at me in shock before Ikari burst out the door in frustration. Maniwa paced back and forth, possibly planning his next speech. I sat stoic and composed, refusing to break under his "kind" words.
"What will it take," he finally asked and my eyebrows rose slightly. "For you to tell me more about Lil' Slugger? I understand you may have developed feelings for him, but you have to understand that he is a serial killer, Jordan. He cannot provide any future for you and who's to say he'll stay?"
"Well I would much rather choose that life than one of endless foster homes." I retorted, tears shining on my cheeks.
"We can work something out… You could stay back in Tokyo with me and attend your same school. I know it doesn't sound like much, but I want to help you, Jordan. You've been through so much." He attempted to reason with me.
"Where is he? Where do you have him?" I asked, ignoring his offers.
"He's locked up in solitary confinement at this moment… in this station."
"Let me see him. Then I might talk."
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Maniwa lead me down the dark hallways of the station, sighing slightly as we neared the cell. We approached a cop guarding the room, and after a quick exchange with Maniwa, he unlocked the door and allowed us to step into the black room.
He stood in a corner of his cage, appearing uncharacteristic without his bat and skates. I fell against the door and reached my arms through the bars to him. The guard made a move to stop me but Maniwa shook his head. Lil' Slugger watched me quietly, never moving.
"Li…" I whispered, my eyes watering. "Please."
"I was wrong to lead you on like this," he took a few steps toward me but stopped only inches away from my fingertips. "Look at you."
The lone light hanging from the wall revealed his expressionless face, filling me with want and pain. His eyes seemed cruel, the golden yellow irises barely visible behind dilated pupils. My arms dropped, now clinging to the bars of the cell.
"W-what do you mean?" I smiled weakly, not believing his tone.
"You look like one of my victims: scrawny and teary-eyed. Weak."
"But I thought you… loved me." my heart was starting to break with each passing second as I sucked in my breath. The air around me was spinning nauseatingly fast.
"Love is just a word," He whispered, now close enough to press his face against the bars.
"No… I don't believe you." My body was trembling as I sunk to the floor. Maniwa started to approach me but I held up my hand, signaling I wasn't ready to leave.
"Don't be a fool, Jordan," Li knelt down to be even with me. "You were different from the others, but at the same time you are exactly the same. Did you think you could save me? Change me? Look at me."
Unable to ignore his command, my red eyes removed themselves from my hand and stared sorrowfully. He grabbed my hand through the space in the bars and pulled me closer until his hot breath hit my forehead.
"You cannot be my savior. Do you know why?"
I shook my head as short gasps escaped from my throat and my crying intensified. My face pounded against the cool metal of the bars as his hand refused to release my own.
"Why? Why?" I whimpered. "Why can't I save you? Why are you doing this?"
My body heaved with everything I had left and I moaned in pain. Memories of our passionate meetings in the park, the rain pouring over my first confession, the impassioned touch of our lips I never wanted to end… it all came back to haunt me as I lay there weeping from heartbreak. He squeezed my hand tighter and I looked up in despair. I didn't want an answer. I just wanted everything to go back to the way things were.
I gasped to see Lil Slugger's own face shining with gray tears, the large yellow eyes framed by wet lashes and furrowed eyebrows. He looked so beautiful with the pure rivers cascading down his cheeks that I reached out to catch his only evidence of humanity. I wanted to throw up as I witnessed his pain, but instead I cried more.
"You can't save me because this is what I am, the angel of hell. I am only the messenger; I cannot help you or give you anything. I cannot love you. This fate was sealed since the day I was cursed to this life and will end when I am no longer needed. Do you understand now?"
"Y-yes." My eyes squeezed shut as I nodded in ache. "But even if you cannot, I will always love you, Li."
He began to shake as he violently threw his arms through the bars to embrace me. Though the iron tried to separate us, our connection shone stronger than any material tests of the world and thus we continued to cry. We wept for our history and for each other, but most of all, for our forbidden love.
Our jaws mashed against the barrier, bringing our lips to a heated yet passionate meeting. I struggled to draw nearer and felt the bars begin to crush my face, leaving hard, black bruises as sacrifice. His tongue protruded my lips, caressing my mouth aggressively while his hands pulled me impossibly closer.
"Stop, you're hurting her!" Maniwa yelled in alarm as he and the guard snatched me from the arms of my love and drug me from the room. Before I was completely out, however, I took one last look at his demented grin. He winked and whispered words I will never forget:
"See you in hell."
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I wasn't allowed to watch Li's trial. Maniwa was afraid I would be prosecuted along with him, and negotiated a plea of house arrest for three months. Thus I was confined to the detective's apartment, a metal tracking device fastened to my ankle. I read the paper and watched the news with haunting obsession. Anything to bring me closer to my beautiful serial killer.
When Maniwa got home at seven almost every night, he brought sushi and rice. I questioned him constantly but he remained relatively quiet, afraid of damaging my already brittle health. An old woman named Kinomoto-sama lived in the apartment next to ours and watched me during the day. While she cooked ramen and white rice I could hear her silently cursing Lil' Slugger for my troubles.
The days were monotonous. Maniwa checked on me in the morning before he left for work and promised to be home by seven. Kinomoto-sama peeked in and fed me lunch around noon. Maniwa returned and watched the news with me, trying to ignite conversations not involving Lil' Slugger.
"What did you do today?" he inquired politely, watching my expressionless face glued to the TV.
"Same as always, nothing." I laughed sarcastically and his face fell. It almost pained me to treat Maniwa-kun so harshly. He had at least saved me from a life in prison and was always kind.
"Gomen nasai." I apologized, bowing my head in his direction.
"It's alright," he smiled. "But I've been meaning to ask you, would you like some arts supplies? To, you know, pass away some time."
I considered his suggestion. I had never really painted or drawn that much, minus mandatory art class back at my old school. But I realized that TV was becoming quite useless and boring. Finally, I nodded apprehensively and he grinned.
"Good. I saw a kit on sale in the market on my way home and well… here." He produced the box from his briefcase.
My hand ran over the gorgeous woodcarving as I opened the lid. Inside papers, ink, and paints were placed in handsome rows, itching to be used. Emotion flashed through my eyes when viewing the wonderful gift.
"Thank you so much, Mitsuhiro." I wasn't sure if it was appropriate to address him by his first name, but I was so taken aback it just slipped my mouth.
"Y-your welcome." He scratched the back of his head and smiled, blood visibly rushing to his cheeks. My eyebrows rose in amusement. I wasn't expecting that kind of reaction.
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"Hey, are you awake?" The sun was barely rising when Maniwa entered my room.
"Yeah…" I yawned, sleepy eyes focusing in his direction.
"I'll be home by seven. Make sure to behave yourself for Kinomoto-sama."
I nodded and let my head hit the pillow once more, determined to gain at least a couple more hours of sleep. But before dozing off, I felt his presence grow closer to the mattress. He leaned forward and placed a small kiss on my pink cheek.
"See you later." He quickly strode out of the room and I heard the main door lock shortly after.
I sat up in bed, puzzled by his affection. Now too confused to return to my warm blankets, I rolled out of bed and began to stretch. The wooden art box lay invitingly on my desk so I made up my mind to paint my thoughts and memories.
Laying out a few brushes and a sheet of paper on the table, I set to work creating the images that haunted me daily. A sky of black: fear. Rivers of red: blood. Blue rain drenching the people below. Even when Kinomoto-sama came to make lunch I remained in the same seat, painting pictures of my life.
"Jordan, who is this dancing couple? They look lovely." She smiled, pointing to the most serene of all my creations.
"My mother and father." I replied, eyes never leaving the paper before me.
When Maniwa walked through the door at seven, I had completed at least ten pictures, each portraying various parts of my lifetime. He gasped at the pictures hanging above the stove to dry in amazement. I knew they were elementary, far from professional.
"You did all of these today?" he flashed his signature grin.
"Yeah…" I felt uncomfortable being in his company after this morning's little surprise so I merely walked passed him into the small living room and turned on the news.
//Today's report continues with the Lil Slugger trial.// My ears perked up as I reached for the remote to turn up the volume.
//A jury and witnesses were finally formed after many people, too frightened to take part of the prosecution, dropped out and even left the country. Reports confirm Lil' Slugger has refused a lawyer. News Eight was lucky enough to capture some of today's footage…
"We call Lil' Slugger to the stand." My heart jumped when I saw him sulk up to the front of the courtroom and sit in the hot seat.
"What is your real name?" a pacing lawyer asked, a disgusted look on his face.
"Li," He smirked, eyes glowing. "But you are not allowed to call me that."
A gasp filled the room and chattering began uncontrollably. The judge silenced the people and watched Lil' Slugger laugh mercilessly. The lawyer began to recite a long list of victims to the jury but Li remained cool, his expression never changing.
"Did you murder these people, ahem, Lil' Slugger?" he stood dangerously close.
"I only swung the bat," he said. "The dying was left up to them."//
The TV went black as Maniwa turned it off quickly. I looked at him with narrowed eyes, asking why he would dare interrupt.
"That's enough for tonight, Jordan," he whispered. "You should go to bed."
"What's your problem," I finally asked. "Why can't I watch?"
"It's not good for your health…" he began lamely.
"Liar! Tell the truth or I swear to God—"
"Jordan, please! You don't understand," he reached his arm out sadly. "Because no one knows the legitimate age of Lil' Slugger, the court has defined him to be 18, legal age for prosecution in jail—"
"And the death penalty." I finished his sentence, my world shaking fiercely.
"The results are not looking so good either…" Maniwa mumbled. "He won't have a lawyer and he won't take a plea bargain. He won't say he's guilty but he won't say he's innocent. The evidence they have against him combined with his attitude… He was the most wanted and feared boy in Tokyo, Jordan! I doubt he will walk away from this alive."
"No… No!" I dropped to the floor and began to weep bitterly. "Why are they doing this? He isn't bad. He isn't bad."
Maniwa approached my body and gently laid a hand on my trembling back, rubbing back and forth to soothe my soul. I finally gave in to his comfort and wrapped my arms around his waist, my face burying deep into his chest. He smelled enticing but he was no Lil' Slugger. I only wanted my Li.
"Jordan… Jordan…" he whispered lightly, embracing me tighter. "I'm so sorry. You've been through so much."
I looked into his eyes and saw them filled deep with desire. I knew he was trying to hide it; he was holding back, afraid of taking advantage of me and afraid of my reaction. I deliberated his feelings, knowing I did not return them but wanting to be relieved of my pain.
My eyes locked with his again and I saw them turn yellow and crazed. It was horrible, I knew, to pretend he was Li, but I didn't care. We could both get what we wanted.
I lifted my chin and felt his lips eagerly fall on my own. It was nice but he was being too gentle. Li never held back. I shoved him against the wall and began kissing harder. In surprise he wrapped his arms around me and deepened the passion by flicking his tongue around my mouth.
"Are—mmm—you sure?" he moaned between kisses.
"Yes, just don't talk." I whispered coldly. He scooped my body into his arms and began heading toward the bedroom, clumsily knocking over lamps and running into the wall along the way. His inexperience was evident but I didn't let it faze me.
When we arrived he laid me on the bed and crawled on top, panting and fumbling with his shirt. All I could see was Li standing over me, smirking as he revealed a built body. I reached out and pulled him to me, tears forming in my eyes. It felt so good to be with my love again.
He helped me out of clothes swiftly, running his fingertips along my stomach sensuously. Teeth on my neck sent chills down body as the nibbling made its up and down my shoulder. My nails dug into his back as I brought his ear close to my lips.
"Please…" I whimpered, begging to be released from all the burdens of the world.
Li grinned and nodded softly as I arched my back with want. His lips found mine again and I was soaring, our souls seeming to detach from the chains of our bodies. I was floating among the stars and fading into the darkness as a white light.
He was surrounding me, haunting me as I felt a rippling sensation wash over my body and I moaned in pleasure. All I could see were colors bleeding together and his beautiful face watching me, eyes unblinking. In the distance, I could hear him cry out and his body froze as we both fell back onto the mattress.
"I love you." His voice whispered as his arms gathered me closer to his heaving body. I smiled and looked into the golden eyes, knowing he could finally say it. He was no longer the angel of darkness. He was my Li, and now we could be together forever.
He fell asleep and I gazed upon his features fondly. The tousled, chocolate hair fell into his fluttering lashes and his pale skin still held a glowing red. In the corner, his golden bat and skates lay untouched, never needed for the night. We could finally sleep in peace together without nightmares.
My eyelids began to feel heavy as I sifted through blankets to rest my head on his strong arm. I took one last look at his face, the most peaceful I had ever seen it.
"I love you too, Li." I sighed, falling out of consciousness. "For all eternity, I love you."
Tbc…
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Please don't kill me for this chapter! There's only one more left and I'll finally be done with this fic after over a year of your patient waiting and awesome reviews. At first I definitely wasn't planning the whole Maniwa/Jordan thing but I just got the idea and went with it, which is a good thing since it helped me write so much haha. So this story is definitely OOC, but I don't think it would have gone so smoothly with Lil' Slugger's normal attitude oO" haha. Please continue to R&R and I'll get the final chapter updated as soon as possible.
.kit kat
