This is the final chapter

This is the final chapter. insert dramatic music. so there'll be lots of thank you's and things at the end! I made this extra long for you all and – good news – there's going to be a sequel. Soon. It will be posted under a different name so..I'll message anyone who reviews this last chappy or who has it on their alert list. Onwards with the drama! Oh and to everyone who wanted mansmex, you will have to wait for the sequel. It wouldn't be right here…youll see what I mean…

"Unconsciousness will be your friend," the man sneered and walked back to his post at the door.

Cain forced his eyes open which was more difficult than it should have been due to the dried blood holding them shut. He hurt. Everywhere. He could barely concentrate on anything and was living in a kind of hallucination.

It couldn't have been more then twelve hours since he had been brought to the cellar but it felt like years. Years and years of different people coming in with assorted weapons and leaving their mark, while the leader looked on, smiling. All of this for opium. It made Cain sick.

As far as he could work out, his arms and chest were covered in cuts and bruises, his shirt ripped open and hanging loose at the front. His face was cut a little and he had a deep wound on his head from the club which had constantly bled into his face as they picked the clots open. Hell. Living hell. And yet…not so unusual. Cain was reminded of when his father used to draw his blood every night until the days all bled into one….until Riff had saved him.

Cain shut his eyes again as someone else entered the room and advanced towards him. A knife this time? As the blade bit into his exposed flesh, Cain could only think about one thing.

Would Riff be there to save him now?

Mary scurried after Riff as he led her into the house. She rounded the corner to see a woman sitting in a wheelchair with her eyes shut and couldn't help but stare. She was…different. Mary settled for the word 'different' because she didn't want to sound rude. Unusual definitely.

"Caroline…" Riff said gently, laying a hand on her arm. Mary took a few hesitant steps forward. "Miss Caroline…"

"Not 'Miss'" The woman answered. "I thought we'd been over this Riffriff? We're friends so no honorifics for me , please."

Riff smiled. "Okay. I was worried since you weren't answering and after what just happened, I-"

"Maybe this isn't the time," Caroline said pointedly, opening her eyes and looking at Mary. "Welcome to my house, sweetheart."

"Oh, of course," Riff said awkwardly, "This is-"

"Mary Weather," Caroline answered for him. Mary gaped. "Cain's little sister, yes?"

"How on earth do you know that?" Mary asked indignantly, forgetting proper manners for a moment. "No ones told you, have they? Are you-"

"Calm down my love." Caroline smiled and patted the chair beside her. After a moments hesitation, Mary moved to sit there. "I'm what you would call psychic. Although normally I can't find out anything unless I touch someone…you are quite the projector."

Mary beamed, deciding she liked Caroline already. "Thank you, ma'am. I would love to talk to you some more but Riff and I need to-"

"We don't need to leave here," Riff said quickly. "I think Caroline can help us find your brother." He turned and shot a glance at the woman, he paled slightly. "I know it will be hard but just now, you weren't picking up on my thoughts. You were picking up on something else…it might have been him."

"It might have," Caroline conceded after a while. "You two share such a strong bond it might be possible. We could try again, I suppose. Pain is no stranger for me." She smiled gently at Mary's worried expression. "Don't worry, Little Miss Mary, there's no danger for you or Riff, and no physical danger for me. And so…would you help us, child?"

Mary looked at the floor, then at Riff then at Caroline. She bit her lip and appeared to reach an important decision. "I'll help." She said quietly. "What do I have to do?"

Cain coughed deeply and grimaced as the taste of blood filled his mouth. The man with the knife had left, but the door hadn't stayed shut long and soon the owner of the den had come in, wielding nothing at all except brute force.

He stepped away from Cain and rubbed some life back into his fist. "Think you've paid off your debt yet, rich boy? Hm? Do you?"

Cain scowled and remained silent. He had been able to vanish into a dream world for the others but this man made him so angry he couldn't breathe. If he answered angrily, the man would think he had won so Cain used the only weapon he had left; silence.

"Your girlfriend not coming to rescue you, eh?" He spat at the floor and laughed. "I wonder if she's seen the scars on your back, boy. They'd put her off surely. Something disgusting like that. What did you do to get those? Huh?"

Cain remained silent and shut his eyes. He heard movement and felt the man drawing closer to him, reaching out to touch his back.

"No."

Caroline was sitting in her chair, with Riff and Mary either side holding her hands. Her eyes were shut and the others were looking at the floor in unease; what Caroline had been describing had sounded awful.

"He's speaking again," Caroline said. "He's saying that…well, he said 'only he can touch my scars'." She opened one eye and glanced at Riff who was shaking with rage. "I assume he means you, Riffriff?"

Riff nodded slowly. "I'll kill them." He murmured. "They won't get away with this."

"Hush." Caroline shut her eyes again and winced. "He's being beaten now and…no, they've stopped. Other people are coming into the room…"

Cain glanced at the men entering the room and sighed. More cronies. He could maybe wriggle away from one but not five. He turned his gaze towards the open doorway for the first time and was shocked to see daylight. Through the door he glimpsed the Tower of Westminster, at the top of a hill and realised that the basement he was in must be on the banks of the Thames. That would explain the mildew. Somehow, the thought that they were probably planning on throwing his corpse into the river was not comforting.

He sighed again and wondered whether he would ever see Riff again, if he would ever get a chance to explain. It hurt him more than any amount of punches that the words 'I love you' may never be able to pass his lips.

"I know where he is." Caroline said quickly. "Roughly at least. He's by the Tower of Westminster, probably in some cellar or storeroom."

"But that isn't far from here!" Mary exclaimed. "Couldn't we go and search around and save brother from those awful people? Riff?"

Riff didn't answer her. He couldn't. His mind was full of images of disgusting opium addicts laying their filthy hands upon Cain so close to him that he imagined he could hear them. It made Riff feel sick. Nobody was good enough to touch Cain, nobody and he felt privileged that he had ever been allowed.

It was at this moment that Riff realised that Caroline had been right. Wanting Cain the way he did wasn't sick, disgusting or evil. The only thing wrong with it was that it was illegal and when had the law ever stopped them from doing anything? At that moment, all Riff wanted to do was find Cain and hold him, clear all the blood away and kiss the pain from his features. The emotion was so strong it robbed Riff of speech, even of breath.

He was in love. And finally, he knew what to do about it.

Standing up suddenly, he started for the door.

"Riffriff, wait!" Caroline said sharply. "I'm coming with you!"

"So am I!" Mary chimed in. Riff shook his head.

"It's dangerous. I don't want either of you two getting hurt."

"There's a gun in the hall desk." Caroline said quietly. "We'll follow behind you and stay out of your way. Besides, you'll need my eyes to find him."

Riff sighed and nodded. There was nothing else he could do when faced with Caroline and Mary. "Then let's go. Cain needs us."

And I need him. He thought and for once, didn't feel guilty for thinking it.

"Time to pay your debt in full, rich boy."

Cain stared resolutely back at the men. If this was going to be the end, then he was going to end his life with dignity.

The men closed in on him, forming a rough semicircle. Two of them had guns but the others were unarmed. Cain decided they were going to have a free-for-all on him and felt mildly flattered. So it took five men to kill him, did it?

"Better pray to God that you're going to rich man heaven." The leader growled. "You've seen poor man heaven and this is it."

Cain still remained silent.

"Where shall we start, boys?"

As the men happily discussed this, Cain let his mind wander back to everything he was leaving behind. Mary Weather. She would be fine, he was sure of it. Despite what he said, Cain knew that when it came down to it, Oscar would do anything to protect her. The there was…Riff. Cain swallowed down the guilt that rose within him. If only he had been more forceful on that first night that now seemed like a year ago. He had his chance when they met in the park…

"I could never love someone tainted by the world" is what he had said. If only Cain had been able to get up and run after him, tell him that he was being ridiculous, that he was tainted beyond repair but that it was okay because if Riff loved him, he had no use for the world anyway.

He closed his eyes as the men finally finished talking, not knowing there decision and not wanting to know. As they closed in on him, he screwed his eyes shut even tighter and moved his lips silently, beginning to form Riff's name.

The sound of a gunshot burst into the silence, and the men scattered, taking up places around the room, the leader staying with Cain. Now he could see, Cain realised one of the gun wielding cronies was on the floor with a bullet in his head. The other was advancing towards the door as the unarmed two took up places in the corners.

Another gunshot ripped through the air and Cain flinched as the other gunman was sent sprawling to the floor, a red circle blooming on his chest. One of the others began to run towards the back of the room but was stopped by the unseen voice from the doorway, the same voice which stopped Cain from breathing.

"Don't move."

Step by step, Riff advanced into the room and Cain was sure he was seeing an angel. Although Riff didn't look at him, Cain could see the anger in his face and suddenly felt safe.

"Who the hell are you?" The opium den owner yelled. "Were you sent by the girlfriend or something?"

"Girlfriend?" Riff raised an eyebrow. "I think you are quite mistaken."

One of the men that Cain had thought of as unarmed grabbed a knife from a hidden sheath at his ankle and flung it towards Riff who dodged it easily and pulled it out of the crumbling wall. The men glanced at each other and ran out of the back door as one. Riff watched them go but Cain still couldn't divert his eyes from Riff.

The final remaining man started to laugh as Riff walked towards him and only stopped laughing then the knife was buried into his stomach up to the hilt. Riff let go of the knife and the man fell to the floor, groaning.

Finally, Riff turned and his gaze met Cain's.

"Riff?" he whispered. "How did you find me?"

Riff seemed to smile. "I confess to having help this time but…I can always find you. Remember?"

Then all pretences of calmness fell down and Riff ran to Cain, ignoring the tears running down his face in burning lines.

"This," Caroline said from the doorway where she had been hiding with Mary, who had been forced to cover her eyes, "Is where we leave them to it, I think."

"Will they be okay?" Mary asked. "Riff seems really upset…"

"Mary, were you ever told why Riff left your house?"

Mary shook her head angrily. "I tried and tried to work it out but I couldn't…I just don't understand."

Caroline smiled and took her hand. "It's better that way, at least for now. Once they have really worked it out someone will tell you."

"If they don't, will you?"

Caroline laughed. "Of course! Now, lets go shall we?"

Mary nodded and pushed Caroline's wheelchair back into the street and towards the house, feeling proud of herself and not knowing that Caroline was moving the wheels herself as well.

"Riff," Cain murmured, "I…"

"Not yet." Riff commanded. Let me untie you first."

Once the ropes had been cut and Cain had slithered down onto the floor which was more comfortable than the wretched chair, he began to cry at last.

"I thought…I thought I was going to…"he tried to speak through his tears but gave up trying when Riff raised a hand and wiped a tear away. His face was gentle which only made Cain more upset. He couldn't help feeling guilty.

"This is all my fault." He said quietly, "Because I didn't make you listen. You would never have left if I had told you that-"

"There's nothing you need to tell me, because-" Riff began but Cain placed a finger to his lips.

"There you go again! Stop interrupting me."

Riff smiled a little and nodded, ignoring the fact that his heart rate was speeding up. He waited silently as Cain gathered his thoughts.

"There's no easy way to say it," he began, "Well, there is but I've never liked taking the easy route. I just…Riff the reason why I…" he trailed off and then sighed. "I'm not good with words so…Riff, will you stay still a moment?"

Riff nodded, a little confused. All confusion was swept away and replaced by nervousness as Cain closed his eyes and leant forward. This time, he didn't even think of moving.

As their lips touched for what they both would always consider as the first time, the room seemed to vanish. The pain vanished, The confusion vanished. Everything vanished except the pure emotion running between them, the care, the hope, the relief and all of this wrapped up in the love that suddenly felt so strong it should have been glowing around them for all to see.

Riff slowly brought his arms up from his sides and gently pulled Cain towards him so that they were both kneeling and their bodies were pressed against one another. Not because of some lustful urge but because it felt so right, holding Cain like this. Cain hesitantly raised his hands too, bringing them to rest either side of Riff's cheeks.

They broke apart mutually, and smiled gently at each other, not commenting on the blush that they were both wearing. Cain searched his mind for words but could find nothing to say; everything they had needed to say had already been communicated on a level deeper than words.

"I love you," Cain said quietly. "I wish it hadn't taken me so long to let you know."

"I love you too, Cain." Riff murmured, barely believing it was happening to them.

Cain almost gasped. "No honorific?"

"Not unless you want me to…" Riff answered, looking worried.

"No! Of course not! I…just….ah I don't know. Do we have somewhere to go?"

"I've been staying in a house near here. Mary is there too."

Cain smiled widely. "Thank you. Shall we go then?"

Riff nodded and helped Cain to his feet. They started to move towards the door but were stopped by the laughter. It bubbled out from behind them hideously and reminded them that something awful had been happening…and if someone was laughing, then it wasn't over.

They turned to see the owner of the opium den, who had rolled onto his side and was now laughing at them, blood trickling from his mouth.

"The boss was right," he rasped in between chuckles. "Sodomy is a sin you know."

Riff reached for his gun but stopped as the man laughed again.

"What's the use? Since I'm going to die anyway and they can't kill me, I think you should know…"

"Know what?" Riff asked quietly and felt cold all over.

"Someone's waiting for you back at the witched house, and they're going to be taking someone with them." He grinned. "Aren't your women at the house now? I wonder who it will be?"

So there you have it! See what I meant about the smex? In that room? Ew. Right on with the fiddly stuff..

Huge thanks as always to my darling Riffette Keiko Hanyou. She knows I love her! And to Lyless and Lockesilver for adding me to her community as staff, no less! You're lovely

Also huge thanks to the people who always reviewed this from the beginning… sorry if any names are wrong… mochiusagi, takai-megami-chan, Vampire of the Bloody Rose,Case-Chan'sAngel.

Finally, everyone who's reviewed, favourited, alerted, or even just skim read this. I love you all.

OH and one more thing – lots of notes here, hm? The lyrics to the song that originally inspired me to write this. Listen to it if you can: Short Glance by Lacrimas Profundere.

Go on go on
One breath is guaranteed
A short relation bleeds
And that is what to leave
Hold on and lead a break
Full of tumbling sheets
Or what we can believe

I cannot leave your eyes
Or think that it's over
You shouldn't hold me back
Please understand what you did
And go away later
I swear I will hold on

We crush in tears
And threats are far away
A long yearning
We shouldn't calm on them
And all the sickest lies
I can't believe it's over and it's clear
And you don't hear

Sequel soon, yes indeedly. See you there..

Sorryll xx