Awkwardly I followed Tsuneo through the dark forest. Our final plan sounded pretty crazy to me, but in the end I went along with it – partly because I was anxious to rescue Shuichi, but mostly because of the unspoken urgency that had fueled the discussion.
"We're almost there," Tsuneo whispered.
Slowly and silently we crept through the last quarter mile until we reached the edge of the forest. Approximately twenty meters across an immaculately maintained yard stood Takahashi's villa. Its pale façade glimmered warmly in the moonlight belying the depravity held within its walls.
"Right on schedule," Tsuneo quietly announced. "All we have to do now is wait."
I nodded in acknowledgement as the knots in my stomach wound tighter. This was the part of the plan that worried me the most. At this very moment, Saito and Chiba were supposed to be orchestrating a major commotion at the club – one that would be big enough to lure not only Takahashi away, but several of his guards as well. The others hoped that Tiny would be one of the guards that would be left behind, but I for one was certainly not counting on it.
Suddenly a large, black limousine emerged from the garage and screeched to a halt in front of the villa just a few moments before Takahashi and five impressively large men came barreling out of the door.
"You stay here with the others," Takahashi ordered the largest of the five. "And don't let your guard down for a second. The fact that this is happening tonight of all nights can't possibly be a coincidence."
"I'll do my best," the behemoth answered confidently.
"You'd better," Takahashi warned. "I trust I don't have to remind you about what happens to those who betray me."
"No sir," he answered crisply. Although his demeanor hadn't changed, I noticed a hint of fear in his voice.
As Takahashi turned to join his subordinates in the limousine, I noticed a self-satisfied grin on his face. Apparently he too had noticed the young man's fear.
We silently slid deeper into the forest and anxiously watched Takahashi and his men drive out of sight. The guard, after also watching his employer depart, remained outside. He lit a cigarette and carefully scanned the edge of the forest. The fact that we were well concealed did little to dissipate my apprehension. If he decided to get all gung ho and search the perimeter, it would screw everything up!
ZING! Something whizzed past my ear and lodged into the guard's chest.
"What the hell," the guard exclaimed angrily as he yanked out what looked like a small dart.
"What the fuck have you done," I whispered furiously at Tsuneo as the guard began to lumber across the yard in our direction. After taking a handful of steps, however, he fell heavily to the ground.
"Don't worry," Tsuneo assured me quietly. "The darts have been treated with a sedative. He'll be out for hours and wake up with one hell of a hangover, but he'll be fine."
"Why in the hell did you withhold this part of your 'brilliant' plan," I whispered furiously pointing at the dart gun he was quickly reloading.
"What, and spoil the surprise," he replied mischievously. "I was afraid there would be some guards left behind. This" he announced holding up his rearmed weapon, "will quietly take care of our adversaries. Alright, let's go," he said motioning for me to follow as he cautiously made his way out of the forest.
Stealthfully, we sprinted across the lawn and into the villa. We followed the smell of freshly brewed coffee into the kitchen where we easily took down another guard. Unfortunately, he made a lot of noise when his oversized frame collapsed to the floor.
"What's going on in there," a deep, menacing voice called out. "Daisuke, what in the hell are you doing?"
"Hurry up and reload that fucking thing," I hissed at Tsuneo as heavy footsteps tramped rapidly in our direction.
Quietly I hid behind the door seconds before the other guard burst into the kitchen.
"What the hell," he exclaimed as Tsuneo's dart hit him in the chest. "I'm gonna fucking kill you," he yelled as he yanked it out.
Tsuneo nearly tripped over the guard on the floor in his hasty retreat, but fortunately for him the sedative quickly subdued his pursuer before he inflicted any damage.
"I hope that was all of them," I whispered anxiously as we began to our search.
Silently, we crept through the dining room, living room and study. We discovered a couple of bathrooms, and the laundry room, but everything was dark and empty. Looking out one of the windows, I was relieved to discover that the servants' quarters were in a smaller house behind the main house. All of the noise from our scuffle in the kitchen would surely have alerted them otherwise.
This has been way too easy, I thought as we crept noiselessly up the dark stairway. It was much darker in the upper level of the house. There were only a couple of windows at either side of the hallway. Although the moonlight spilled through them, they didn't shed enough light for my liking. There were too many shadows in which an unfriendly could be concealed.
We systematically began to search the rooms. There were three empty beds in the first two rooms. The third room we searched was a large communal bathroom. Across from that room, we found our first locked door.
"This has to be where he is," Tsuneo whispered excitedly, "but we should check the rest of the rooms to make sure we're the only conscious ones in the house."
Impatiently I followed Tsuneo's lead. I almost argued against searching the remaining two rooms, but I held my tongue because I knew he was right. The last room on the right side of the hall was slightly larger than the others. This one also had three empty beds in it. These rooms were obviously where the guards were housed. The décor was functional and Spartan. If it weren't for the size, they could have easily passed as rooms from military barracks.
The final room had to have been Takahashi's. It was lavishly furnished and had one king size bed in it. On one of the bedside tables there were several sex toys lying on top of a towel next to an open, well used tube of lube. Near the center of the bed there was a pair of pink fur lined handcuffs that had been threaded though the spokes of the headboard.
Anger surged through my body like a wild fire at the thought of what that bastard had been doing to Shuichi for the past two weeks.
"Let's get Shuichi the hell away from here," I hissed menacingly.
Nodding in agreement, Tsuneo led the way back to the locked door. He put his dart gun down on the floor, slipped off his backpack and started rummaging through it.
"Impressive," Tsuneo and I froze as the unexpected presence walked out of the shadows toward us. "I never thought we would have been infiltrated so easily. I guess Akihito wasn't quite as paranoid as I thought he was."
Shit! I knew this was going too well! Slowly I turned and faced our captor. Although he looked as though he was in his sixties, there was absolutely nothing wrong with his physique. His face was heavily lined giving him the appearance of a person who had experienced much in his life time. What struck me the most about him; however, were his piercing, intelligent eyes.
"You must be one," he said as he casually strolled toward me. "It didn't take me long to figure out that Kuma wasn't here as a guard. It was obvious that he was biding his time, waiting for something."
"What's happened to Kuma," Tsuneo asked anxiously.
"The damn fool attempted a rescue by himself," the guard explained. "Somehow, he managed to get a hold of Akihito's keys." He looked at Tsuneo somberly. "Unfortunately, they never made it out of the house."
"What's happened to them," Tsuneo questioned woodenly.
"Akihito ordered his men to execute Kuma," the guard remorsefully responded. "Then he had his guards take the boy into this room."
"I don't believe it," Tsuneo whispered in shock.
"Kuma was a good man," the guard replied sincerely. "I came here because Akihito asked me to train his guards. He never told me about the boy, but when I found out about him, I wasn't surprised. This isn't the first time Akihito has done this sort of thing, but I hadn't realized until yesterday that the boy was here against his will. I never dreamed Akihito would be involved in something as despicable as this."
Slowly still in shock, Tsuneo continued to rummage through his backpack. He pulled out a small kit, selected the proper instrument and began picking the lock on the door.
"Damn it," Tsuneo exclaimed. "What made him do such a thing?"
"Akihito was scheduled to leave with the boy later on this morning," the guard answered. "I suppose Kuma was afraid you wouldn't get here in time."
Tsuneo looked up at me in anguish. I tried to think of something to say, but realized there were no words that could possibly allievate his guilt. He took a deep breath and continued picking the lock.
"Got it," Tsuneo announced as he swung the door open.
I looked into the room and felt my stomach twist into knots. In the dim light from a window, I could see Shuichi's limp, awkwardly slumped body. Pushing past Tsuneo and the guard, I rushed into the room and turned on the light. Rage welled within me when I saw the condition in which Shuichi had been left. His wrists were locked in handcuffs that were suspended from the ceiling and his ankles were shackled to an iron bar that forced his legs apart. Angry, red welts crisscrossed his back, buttocks and thighs, and judging from the amount of bodily fluids that were running down his legs, it looked as though he'd been taken by several men.
"Takahashi you bastard," I swore under my breath. I couldn't believe he'd just leave Shuichi hanging like that.
"I'll… take care of the handcuffs," Tsuneo mumbled clearly shaken by Takahashi's cruelty.
He replaced the pick he used on the door, pulled out a smaller instrument and began to pick the lock on one of the handcuffs.
"I've known Akihito since the day he was born," the guard quietly began. "I knew he was into some kinky stuff, but I never knew he was capable of this." He turned guiltily away from Shuichi's limp body. "I'll help you boys out and then I'm going back to Takahashi-sama where I belong."
"Thanks…" Tsuneo replied gratefully.
While Tsuneo worked on the handcuffs, I quickly retrieved a wet wash cloth from the bathroom across the hall and wiped the mess off Shuichi's legs.
"No more," he mumbled miserably when Tsuneo successfully freed his left hand. "Please stop… I… can't take anymore."
"It's alright," I said tossing the dirty wash cloth aside. Gently, I slipped my shoulder under his arm and wrapped my arms around his waist to support him as Tsuneo started working on the other handcuff. "We're going to get you out of here."
With great effort, Shuichi opened his eyes and tried several times to focus on my face. When he finally recognized me, he gave me a weak, sad smile.
"This dream again," he mumbled groggily.
"It's not a dream this time," I said quietly. I couldn't believe how fast my heart was beating.
"I doubt he's going to comprehend much of what you're saying," the guard announced gravely. "It looks like he's been drugged with this."
Tsuneo looked at the small, plastic container. "He's going to be out of it for quite a while," he added knowingly as he released Shuichi's other hand.
Shuichi moaned in relief as his body collapsed into my arms. I shifted into a better position to support him and carefully rested his head on my shoulder.
Conflicting emotions struggled for dominance within me as I gingerly held Shuichi's battered body. Although I desperately wanted to kill Takahashi for making Shuichi suffer like this, I knew that figuring out a way to get us out of this mess had to be my main priority.
Even though I'd figured out what my heard desired most, I still wasn't sure what I was supposed to wish for to undo the damage that I'd caused. While I continued to wrestle with that persistent, foreboding feeling, Tsuneo quickly freed Shuichi's ankles. Then we awkwardly dressed his limp body into some of Saito's clothing that Tsuneo had wisely brought along. The guard helped Tsuneo hoist Shuichi onto my back and we followed him to his room.
"Are you sure you should be helping us," Tsuneo questioned in concern. "I don't want to sound unappreciative, but won't go badly for you when Takahashi figures out what you have done?"
"I'm not worried about Akihito," the guard answered with a chuckle. "Takahashi-sama is not only my employer; he is also my dear friend. Although Akihito is a formidable man, he will never be foolhardy enough to cross his father. You should be more worried about yourselves than about me," he added ominously.
As soon as the guard finished packing, we followed him down to the garage. Tsuneo and the guard helped Shuichi and I get into the backseat of his modest, midsized car and soon we were driving down Takahashi's long, winding private road. The trek that had taken Tsuneo and me over an hour on foot lasted only a few minutes.
"That's where I left my car," Tsuneo announced pointing to the left hand side of the road.
Carefully, we loaded Shuichi, who was still soundly sleeping into the backseat of Tsuneo's car.
"Be careful you two," The guard warned us as he slipped back into his car. "I've never seen Akihito behave so recklessly before."
"Don't worry about us," Tsuneo assured him confidently. "We've got everything under control. Thank you very much for all that you've done for us," he added bowing reverently.
We waved farewell to our unexpected ally, climbed into the car, and headed back to the city. Glancing back at Shuichi, I wished I could be as optimistic of the future as Tsuneo. I still hadn't gotten rid of that queasy feeling at the pit of my stomach. Although our mission so far had been a success, I had an awful premonition that something very bad was going to happen.
I spent the next two hours trying desperately to determine the best way to put what my heart desired into words. What I wanted most was to have my old life back with Shuichi, but, after all we'd been through, I was afraid that wish wouldn't be possible. Although I sincerely hoped Shuichi would forget all that had happened to him, I had a gut feeling that it would be impossible for me to do so. I knew deep in my heart the past three weeks I'd spent in this hellish alternate world had permanently altered me. If it really was impossible for me to have what I desired most, what could I possibly wish for that would put an end to this nightmare?
"Where… am I," Shuichi mumbled sleepily.
"We just entered Tokyo's city limits," Tsuneo answered brightly.
"WHAT," Shuichi exclaimed sitting up abruptly. "Ouch!" He winced in pain and clutched his head.
"Here," I said as I handed him some of my bottled water. "Drink this it will help clear your head."
"Yuki-san," Shuichi whispered in disbelief. "I thought I'd been dreaming."
"I told you it wasn't a dream," I replied chuckling uneasily as I recalled the conflicting emotions running through me the last time I'd spoken those words.
"No," Shuichi exclaimed panic stricken. "Yuki-san, you have to take me back! If Takahashi finds out what you've done, he'll kill you!"
"Nobody's going to…"
"Please," Shuichi earnestly begged. "It was hard enough watching Kuma die! I couldn't bear to see the same thing happen to you!"
"Shuichi has a point," Tsuneo interjected before I had a chance to respond. "If you have a wish to make, now would be the time."
I took a deep breath in a vain attempt to quell the queasy feeling at the pit of my stomach. This was the moment I'd been dreading, and the fact that I had to do it in front of Tsuneo made it even worse.
I twisted further around and looked directly into Shuichi's frightened eyes.
"I wish we could have our old life back." I held my breath and waited… Nothing happened. Damn it! It was just as I feared. "I wish we could be lovers again," I tried desperately. Still nothing happened.
"I've got to get the two of you out of here," Tsuneo uttered anxiously.
I nodded my head gravely in agreement. "Take me back to my apartment so I can pack a few things."
"I don't think that would be wise," Tsuneo cautioned.
"I'm aware of the risks," I answered testily. "It won't take me long to gather what I need."
If I was going to be forced into hiding, I for damn sure wasn't going to leave without at least taking my laptop with me.
"Yuki-san," Shuichi spoke timidly. "We were lovers?"
I sighed impatiently. "Yes we were lovers." I sensed Tsuneo watching me intently with that insufferably smug grin.
"How could I have forgotten you," Shuichi mumbled in disbelief.
"It's complicated," I answered abruptly, "much too complicated to get into right now." I mentally braced myself for the barrage of questions that I knew was sure to follow, but all that I heard was the sound of Tsuneo's car. I looked back at Shuichi in shock. Although it looked as though he was staring out the window, I could tell he was trying his damndest to remember me. I turned back around my stomach twisting into knots.
That's what's wrong, I mused miserably. Although he looked and sounded exactly like Shuichi, he wasn't MY Shuichi. Just what in the hell am I supposed to do about that?
Before I'd had the chance to consider this potentially disastrous conundrum, we arrived at my apartment building.
"I won't be long," I announced as I climbed hastily out of the car. I stopped short in vexation when I heard Shuichi climbing out of the car behind me.
"Let me come with you," he pleaded.
"No," I replied impatiently. "Just wait here with Tsuneo. I'll be right back."
"I can't stay here," he exclaimed clutching desperately at my sleeve. "I have to come with you!"
"You don't have time to argue with him," Tsuneo called out in amusement. "Just let him go with you."
"Fine," I said shooting Tsuneo an irritable 'thanks for nothing' glare. "Come on."
I marched purposely into the building with Shuichi following closely at my heel. We entered the elevator and I stabbed the number of my floor. As we started our ascent, I was struck with an overwhelming sense of déjà vu. The first time I kissed Shuichi was in an elevator similar to this at my old apartment. I'll never forget his shocked expression or the way he trembled ever so slightly when our lips met. I glanced over at him. Although I was still irritated at the little brat, I was sorely tempted to steal a kiss to see what kind of a reaction I would get from him this time. Before I had the chance to act however, the elevator stopped.
I left the elevator with Shuichi in tow and headed for my apartment. As I walked down the hallway, my bad feeling returned. The closer I got to my door, the more I felt the need to escape. I had to force myself to take hold and turn the doorknob. The moment I opened the door and stepped inside, I wished I'd listened to my instincts.
"Welcome home," an icy voice spoke uninvitingly from the shadows.
I felt the presence of two other people a moment before the door slammed shut behind us. Someone turned on the light and I found myself looking down the barrel of Takahashi's blond boy toy's gun.
"Akira," Shuichi whispered in defeat.
"I knew the two of you would eventually show up here," Akira smugly announced as his steroid pumped companions pushed us further into the living room. "So, you thought you could just waltz in and take Akihito's favorite pet," he spat at me derisively.
"That sick, sadistic bastard doesn't deserve…" A fist the size of a grapefruit slammed suddenly into my left kidney dropping me instantly to my knees.
"Don't you dare speak of Akihito like that," Akira growled. "All of this is your fault! If you hadn't shown up, Akihito would have dumped that little bitch."
He glared menacingly at Shuichi. The object of his derision stood next to me with his head bowed, looking very much like a child who was about to be beaten.
"YOU," he screamed as he grabbed a fistful of Shuichi's hair and yanked his head up. "What is so special about you?"
Akira abruptly released Shuichi and slapped him so hard it made his stagger backward. Blinded by rage, I leapt toward Akira, but before I could reach my objective, one of the body guards overpowered me. I winced in pain as my arms were twisted cruelly behind my back.
"Stop it," Shuichi screamed. "I'll come back with you and do whatever you want. Just don't hurt Yuki-san!"
"I don't want you going anywhere near Akihito," Akira growled at him angrily.
"Then why don't you just let us go," I retorted grimacing in pain as the guard applied more pressure to my already throbbing arms.
"That simply wouldn't do," Akira answered contemptuously. "For some reason, Akihito is obsessed with this piece of trash." He glared scathingly at Shuichi. "He'd never stop searching for that worthless little bitch." He pulled a silencer out of his pocket and attached it to his gun. "I'm glad I got to you two before any of the others. That way I can take care of the both of you in my own way." He nodded to the behemoth that was trying to rip my arms out of their sockets, and he abruptly let me go.
Then two things happened simultaneously. I heard Shuichi briefly cry out in terror before the other guard subdued and stifled him, and I felt something rip through my gut. My hand had reflexively grasped the source of the pain. When I pulled it away, it was covered in blood.
I've been shot, I thought incredulously as my body crumbled to the floor.
I could feel warmth spreading quickly beneath me, and I knew with sickening certainty what it was.
"Good shot Akira-kun," one of the guards exclaimed. "Looks like you hit a major artery."
"Damn," Akira replied in mock disappointment. "I guess that means I won't have to shoot him again!"
They all laughed and continued to derive sadistic pleasure from our suffering. Somehow, Shuichi wrenched himself out of the guard's grip. As he knelt down beside me, I could see that he was fighting to hold back his tears.
"Just hang in there Yuki-san," he whispered soothingly. "I'm sure Tsuneo will figure out a way to get us out of this."
"I'm… afraid that won't be possible," I answered grimacing in pain. My extremities were already beginning to go numb. "I… don't think I'll be able… to hold on for much longer."
I knew for certain I was dying. Hell, I deserve to die this way. I started to laugh at the poetic justice of it all, but ended up coughing up blood instead. When my coughing fit ended, I mustered up what little strength I had left and tenderly caressed Shuichi's cheek.
"I'm sorry…"
"No," Shuichi cut me off defiantly. "I'm never going to let you go. Somehow, someway we will be lovers again!" A tear spilled over his pale cheek. "I know Akira's going to kill me too, and I don't care because I swear, in our next life, I will find you and we will be together. You just wait! I promise I will make it happen!"
I smiled weakly at him. "Now that's… the Shuichi I fell in love with!" Suddenly, my vision started to fade.
"Yuki… NO," Shuichi wailed as he pulled my limp body into a desperate embrace. "Please don't leave me!"
I wanted to wrap my arms around him one last time. In that last moment, I was tormented by all the times I could have held him – all of the wasted opportunities I had let slip by because I stubbornly refused to acknowledge my true feelings. And now it was too late.
"I wish… I had another chance… to be your lover," I whispered faintly before the darkness overwhelmed me.