DISCLAIMER: I don't own KnB.
"Can't sleep, Chiaki-chan?" The nurse asked as he entered the patient's room, noticing the thirteen-year-old girl still sitting up on her bed.
The girl looked towards the direction where the voice came from. "Takao-san?"
"Yeah. It's me." Takao approached the side of her bed, replacing her dextrose carefully. "Excited for the operation tomorrow?"
She shook her head. "More like getting a cold feet, actually."
"Oh, why is that then? I mean, after eight years, you can finally see the world once again." He nodded to himself. "Girls your age ought to enjoy the life more."
"But the person I wanted to lay my eyes first is not even here," she whispered. Although barely audible, the nurse heard it well.
In their short conversations whenever Takao was replacing her drips or administering her medicines, he learned a few about her family aside from her parents he seldom saw visiting their daughter. Apparently, the married couple were both in the field of business and hardly found free time. I'm used to it, she said. Even before my older brother was alive. He knew better than to bring up the topic about the last statement. The nurse instead inquired where she came from. The family, as what she was told, moved back to Japan to have her surgery as the donor was from the country. They planned on going back at their overseas residence after her few weeks recuperation.
"I see," Takao said, suddenly feeling embarrassed. "Sorry. That was insensitive of me."
"What are you saying, Takao-san? In my few days confined here, you've been a very nice company. You'll be one of the person I wanted to see first thing." She smiled kindly.
The brunet chuckled. "Okay, I'll be sure to drop by after the operation. But I would really like it if you stop calling me 'Takao-san'." He pouted childishly. "It makes me feel old. Ah, how about nii-chan?"
"I must apologize, I only have one nii-chan and I don't intend to replace him." She stuck out her tongue, pale emerald eyes squeezed shut in a cute manner. "How about Takao-nii, instead?"
"Hmm, that's fine as well." Takao thought she and his little sister, albeit his a few years younger than her, were similar in attitude. "Well, rest now. It's getting late."
"Good night, Takao-nii."
"Good night too, Chiaki-chan~"
Once outside, Takao lifted the clipboard he was holding to check the box and wrote down the time beside the name of the patient.
"Midorima Chiaki. Done."
There was a sound of a briefcase being opened before a heavy voice of a man could be heard. "Here it is."
From his position, Midorima could make out seven people: four men from Seiho, and three was the target himself and his two bulky bodyguards. Midorima expected more people from the man. When he scouted the place beforehand though, there were no other men hidden in the dark.
He guessed that only a number was aware of the exchange happening that night.
Yoshimura Takatsuki was no foreigner. He was a round man in his mid-fifties, head almost balding. Teethered on his mouth was a thick tobacco with its ashes littering the floor every time he would speak. The two people serving as his personal guards were of estimated two meters in height, beefy under their all-black suit. Both were wearing dark glasses.
"So, what do you have there?" the one with flaxen hair asked gruffly, gesturing at the opened case.
The target closed his palms together, excitement gleaming on his eyes under the faint light of a post. "The Devil's Breath." The man grinned. "These are from Colombia, you see." He lifted a white paper-covered pack of rectangular size. "A useful rape concoction."
The smallest man of the group scoffed. "Are you kidding with us? That's way too common here."
"Of course, of course. But the peculiar thing is that it's exactly the goods you're looking for if you're planning some manipulation."
The four exchanged doubtful looks.
"Let it get mixed with food or a drink, once ingested by someone, you have that person under control－like a puppet." He let out a crazy chortle. "But you know what's more interesting about these?
"The victim will have no recollection of the events that happened. While under the dose, you can exactly have them do anything, like ordering them to empty their bank account. Useful with the rich bastards, I'm telling you."
Midorima was sure it was the first time the drugs had made it to the country. Akashi would undoubtedly looked for more information regarding the said illegal product.
"Feel honored. I first brought these here. I used to bringing only common substances before: cocaine, opium, and cheap depressants. If it would be successful here, I would gladly have the other places get a hand of it. It's like giving power. A good deal, don't you think?"
"You said before that it's not money you want us to pay you. Why so?" another different man asked.
"Ah, well. Since you're the first one to try, think of it as a free taste. I would gladly do any business again with you if you're satisfied." Yoshimura smirked. "So, may I ask about the part of your bargain?"
The leader of the four gestured for someone to pick up something from their vehicle a few meters away to their current place. The latter nodded and returned to the parked car.
Midorima frowned with uneasiness. He expected a huge lump of currencies, but given the ranks of the men, they should be no more than average when it comes to financial status. Those from the higher positions were usually the one who owned lands and many businesses.
Dread engulfed him when he watched with wide eyes as the man returned with an unconscious girl on her pre-teen who was perhaps on her twelve or fourteen-years-old on his arms, blindfolded and was wearing her middle school uniform.
Yoshimura almost drooled at the exposed thighs of the girl, eyes lighting up like a kid getting a new toy. He ran his hand over the skin, examining the female with his touches. "Oooh, this is what I'm talking about! Magnificent! A very fine one, indeed!"
"We could have got you a more good-looking one if you said immediately that it will be for your sexual adventures," the leader spoke with annoyance.
"No, young man. Even if the idea is tempting, that will not be her purpose.
"With a healthy body as such, her organs will fetch a high price!"
The green-haired man went rigid when he heard of the sickening fate of the poor girl.
There had been rumors recently about children found lacking their internal organs. There had been no lead at the moment about the perpetrators, since the case was still being doubt by some. A concrete evidence was yet to be seen, as the talk was limited only to gossips among people and the social media, same with the white van which was said to be ridden by kidnappers, lurking around to spot any kids unsupervised at anytime of the day. They said the targets were ranging from four to five-year-old children only, as they were the one who have the most fresh body organs.
It was a hearsay until then.
Akashi merely sent him out to gather enough information regarding Yoshimura. There was a clear order not to do anything aside from investigating.
But the way his hand was clenching around the handle of his katana was telling him otherwise.
He was not one to defy orders, and was never reckless. But Midorima know that if he let it come to pass, the girl would be a lost cause even if the Kiseki no Sedai did track down the target's hideout and eliminate him for good. There would be no next time to save the unfortunate victim.
Honestly, he had never been in such a dilemma. His thoughts were always collected, putting first rationality more than anything else.
The girl whimpered when she was handed to one of Yoshimura's men. The man now holding her made a move to place her at the trunk of the car.
It was when Midorima made up his mind.
He unsheathed the weapon he was holding.
"Thank you very much, Kiyoshi-san! I'll repay you next time!" Takao bowed down gratefully for the fourth time.
"I'm telling you it's alright. No trouble at all." Kiyoshi patted his fellow nurse's back. "Send my birthday greeting to your sister."
"Will do." Takao beamed.
Usually, Takao's shift ends at three in the morning. But that night, he asked Kiyoshi to take up on his two and a half hour more remaining. Fortunately, the man was kind enough to agree.
The next day would be his little sister's seventh birthday. He promised to go to the amusement park with her as early as seven o clock. Recently, they weren't able to have their bonding time together due to him being re-assigned to night shift. It meant less time for the day and less sleep.
He was donned in an orange jacket on top of his shirt when he went out of the hospital. The night breeze were getting chilly since the past month. It was past midnight and the source of light were mainly from light posts and some passing cars.
He was halfway the dark alley which was the only shortcut to their neighborhood when he heard deep huffs of close to labored breath.
Takao wondered if it had been his imagination. Considering the sounds, they were quite creepy to be coming just from out of nowhere.
His heart suddenly picked up a rate from nervousness when he confirmed they were not from his imagination. Hesitantly, he called out, "H-Hello?"
He edged closer and closer to the other open end of the alley when his foot collided on something soft but sturdy. As what Takao remembered, the path was always clear, without anything on the way.
Then what－
It was a leg.
A freaking leg.
"Oh, shit," he muttered when he noticed somebody slumped against the wall. Takao could barely make out the face of the man. He squinted in the dark and－god bless his vision－he therefore conclude it was a man with eyeglasses. "Hey, man, you okay there?" he asked when he finally found his voice.
The man only groaned, tilting his head to the side without opening his eyes. The movement made Takao's line of sight shift to the chest area of the other man. The faint light illuminated a glistening chest.
"You're bleeding rivers!" For a nurse, Takao found himself uncharacteristically panicking at the sight of an injured person. "Just keep yourself awake. I'll call an ambulance to pick you up!" The hospital was actually a fifteen minutes walk away and as much as he like to bring the man by himself there, there was no way he could carry a man he deduced was taller than him judging from his sitting position alone. And Takao knew better than to make a heavily bleeding man move around.
The bleeding man grabbed Takao's phone with his large hand, panting as he let out a 'don't'.
The latter looked unbelievable for a second. "You're already losing too much blood!" It came out as a shriek, making the other wince.
"I don't care so shut up and leave me be," a pained hoarse tone answered, sounding irritated and insistent.
"Why should I?!" Takao was frantically typing numbers by then.
Will it be faster if I call Kiyoshi-san instead? And where's my number of the ambulance?!
"Someone will pick me up here. Don't bother."
"No! Absolutely no!" Takao insisted pointedly. "Besides, we don't even know when they will arrive."
There was an exasperated sigh. "They will be here any minute."
"The ambulance will be much faster."
The man glared at him through his glasses. "If you don't want me to hurt you... Leave."
It made Takao stopped to look at the other. For a wounded man, he was successful in giving off an intimidating aura. The place and the dead of the night even tripled it.
Takao's breath hitched on his throat.
Shouldn't he just laugh at the threat? Clearly, they were empty words given the man's situation. He looked pained enough to even inhale and exhale.
Until his eyes landed on a katana seated beside the man. The scabbard wasn't present, but the blade seemed soaked with something wet... and red. Takao did not dare to think further.
"But I can't leave you without saving you first," Takao tried again, although he found himself uttering the statement too softly, not putting up a fight anymore.
The man's glare visibly vanished, eyes looking softer as his gaze lowered. His hand crept on the nurse's shoulder, holding it firmly with his last bit of strength, silently pleading. "Please." He panted. "Go as if you've seen nothing."
Takao felt like he lost his soul on his way home.
He mentally berated himself as to why he got carried away with the threat and a weapon.
Okay, maybe it was because he value his life?
But then again, he is a nurse for goodness sake! Whether the man he encountered was the most horrible criminal, he would still save him from possible death. A life is a life, alright.
When he arrived at their residence, he was glad nobody was still up at the late hour. Nobody would see him in such a state.
As he closed his bedroom door, he still couldn't get the man off his mind (who would?). His conscience nagging him to go back there and－
But he implied danger. DANGER, Kazunari! Are you suicidal?!
Well, he looks weak now with his injury. I can defend myself against him just in case.
Argh, what should I do?!
Pacing nervously across his room, he noticed his first aid kit behind the transparent doors of his cabinet. He never touched it before, but was kept for emergency situations. If his memory serves him correct, it has disinfectants, cotton balls, fresh bandages, tourniquet, a hot water bag, and other basic medical materials for bone fractures, animal bites, or lacerations. Too complete for a simple first aid kit, in fact.
He stared at it for a minute before he pulled the kit out.
Steeling himself, Takao made a decision to return to the man's location.
"Promise me not to die yet, whoever you are!"
A.N.: The scene with Midorima and Takao is inspired by the first chapter of the yaoi manga Usagi Otoko, Tora Otoko (Rabbit Man, Tiger Man). Read the manga if you haven't seen it yet. It's a good one.
TBC