A/N- well this is the second to last chapter! Shu is going through hell, Tohma is insane, Yuki is worried, Zack is seriously injured and should be in the hospital, and everyone else are trying to get through this situation alive. Well that is all….now on with the story!

Chapter 16- Loved ones to the rescue

Zack pov

My Hands gripped the side of the table so tightly that they started to turn white. We were so close….so close! The only notable break out was only a couple miles away. We had been here for hours looking for the damn place when we could have been there in minutes.

I licked my dry lips and swiftly turned around to leave, "We have to go."

I had almost walked out of the room by the time someone had actually stopped me. I turned around to see Yuki gripping my arm, "Who said anything about 'we'. You're staying here."

My eyes widened as I looked at him, "What?"

"You're not coming," the blond haired man said as he released my arm and lit up a cigarette. "One….your injured and most likely wont be of any help to us….two….we aren't even going to leave yet because we don't know if Tohma's armed or not and heading out with nothing but the clothes on our back is probably the stupidest thing we could ever do….and three….the brat would kill me if he'd find out that I let one of his best friends jump into a dangerous situation just to save him."

"Well Shu's just gonna have to live with the fact that other's care enough for him that they actually are willing to risk things for him," I said icily as I tried to move passed him.

He blocked my path again, "This isn't you being heroic you know? This is you being stupid and I know your not stupid! Shu may not have told me about his real intelligence but he's always told me about how smart you were! I know your not an idiot so stop acting like one! This is hard for me to but I'm not gonna go rushing into anything just because I know he's in danger. That'll just get us both killed and think about this. What if you are able to save him but you die in the process! He'll never forgive himself if that happens! So just be a good little boy and wait here."

I was left speechless for and even after several moments I couldn't think of anything that could go against his logic, "…fine."

Yuki walked back over the table he had been sitting at and sat back down, "Besides….like I said before….remember that dagger, who's to say he doesn't have more….it would be very stupid to just walk in there without anyway to defend ourselves…but the gun laws are pretty strict in Japan….we can't exactly get any good ones."

"Then why not ask the person who's been ignoring those laws for years," Everyone went very quiet as we shifted our eyes to the open door. A tall blond stood there leaning against the door frame.

"K?" Yuki said as he stood up.

"That's what they call me," The man yelled cheekily as he stepped into the room. "So word on the street is you need some good amo."

"And 'by word on the street' I guess you mean you've been listening the whole time?" I asked.

He shrug, "Yes…but you do get what I'm trying to say anyway, right? You need the weapons and I can supply them."

Yuki was suspicious of the man, "And what do you get out of this?"

"Oh Yuki….I'm not so heartless that I'd actually want to take something from you."

"Cut the crap….you only ever help when you get something out of it."

"Touché….well if anything actually happens to Shindo I may just be out of a job….so I really do need him to come back safe and sound. I'd say the best people for the job are you, me, the rather scary women over there, and of course the FBI agent….all of us know how to handle a gun properly," He smile as he tossed a gun over to each of them. When Bones grabbed for hers she was stopped by Booth.

"I am not going to let you use a gun of this caliber! You could take down a elephant with this thing."

"Oh come on….we aren't even in the US right now….you're not going to get in trouble for this one time!" She pouted as she tried grabbing for the gun again with no luck.

Booth turned to K, "Do you have anything smaller, maybe?"

K shook his head, "I deal with dangerous weapons….not little dinky hand guns."

Yuki stared the Booth holding the gun above his head as Bones reached for it and sighed. He reached into his coat and pulled out a little pink pistol. Bones caught sight of it when he threw it over, "This was going to be the brats birthday gift but I guess if I want him to survive 'til then I'll have to give it to you."

I eyed the small object, "Do you always get Shu such unsafe gifts?"

"First Christmas- karate lessons, first birthday- an assortment of different types of pepper spray, anniversary- lessons on how to handle a gun, second Christmas- Coora the guard dog….yes I always get these types of gifts."

"It makes you seem very paranoid."

"With the shit he puts me through I have a right to be paranoid."

They left a few minutes later and those who remained were left to worry. Angela leaned her head against Hodgin's shoulder and fell asleep and he soon followed. That left only me and Sweets. At some point during the wait I started to nervously bounce my leg. Sweets took notice right away.

"Zack….what's wrong? You seem anxious."

I gave him a skeptical look, "Well how would you be feeling right now?"

"*sigh* good point."

"Yeah….." things were silent for a moment.

"Can I get you something….to calm you down…..the leg thing is kinda distracting."

"Some tea would be good," Sweets left the room.

I sat there moping. I felt so useless. Someone I cared for was in danger and yet I was stuck here, forced to wait for the outcome. It made me feel sick when I thought about. I leaned forward and closed my eyes as I tried to fight off a terrible headache that was trying to appear. Something slightly wet touched my face. When I opened my eyes I came face to face with Coora. My hand reached out and patted her on the head.

"So they left you here to?" As though the dog understood me she nodded her head. She nudged my hand and started to whine.

"What? Are you hungry?" She shook her head.

"Thirsty?" again no.

"Do you have to go out?" No.

"Do….do you want to go get Shu?" She nodded eagerly. Perhaps I was only imagining all this but I didn't care.

I quickly hooked a leash onto her and left the room. I'm coming Shu…

Ma-kun pov (yes he is actually in the story more then once)

I just sat there next to an unconscious Ken on the side walk. My head hurt like hell because of the amount of drinking we had done the night before. The two of us were trying to drown out the sorrow with cheap alcohol. It worked for the moment but in the near future we would be in serious trouble. Our sponsors were being lenient with us….most of them knew about the things that went on between us….but they wouldn't be like that forever. Eventually we would be out of a job and then where would we be. We'd be out of luck…or rather we'd be having 'Bad Luck'.

It was strange….even after Shuichi Shindo had taken Taki away from me I couldn't find enough reason to hate him. He had brutally murder the man I loved and yet I couldn't hate him. I wanted to so bad….so very bad….but I just couldn't. When I thought about the way the young boy smiled I couldn't help but think of the Taki I'd known in high school. The one would had been so innocent and naïve that he had actually been surprised the first time I had taken him. They were so much alike….but Shindo's family had been so supportive of him. Tachi's family had not….this was what made him bitter and in the end he had lashed out.

I continued to sit there and I closed my eyes. The headache that I had been feeling ebbed away a little bit and I had almost drifted back to sleep. I would have….had someone not tripped over me. I opened my eyes to see a young man….a familiar young man with a German shepherd walking behind him. He quickly got up and started to walk away.

"Wait!"

He turned back to me and I spoke again, "Your that guy! Your that guy from before who told me about what happened to Tachi!"

He looked at me as I struggled to get up. I accidentally woke Ken up as I did so, "Your that guy right?"

He only nodded, "Where are you heading in such a hurry?"

"I'm going after a killer," he said bluntly.

"Geez…another killer…what is this town coming to!" Ken sneered as he brushed himself off. He was still a little drunk.

"No just one killer," He muttered. "Turns out….we had been wrong about who took Tachi's life. It was another person entirely."

My eyes widened, "What?"

"We were wrong and now a innocent man, Shuichi I mean, is in serious danger….I'm sorry I really have to go," The man swiftly turned around and was about to leave. I grabbed a hold of his sleeve and when he turned back to look at me. Tears were about to fall.

"What are you gonna do?"

His lips twitched, "In all truth….for what he's done….I might just kill him."

"Then we want to come to," Ken whispered.

Yuki pov

We were just outside the door…and we couldn't hear a thing as we approached. This was either a really good this, a really bad thing, or perhaps the room was just sound proof. My heart was pumping fast with each step we took and yet I still found a way to remain (more like seem) calm. I wasn't sure what we were going to find on the other side of the door…and I didn't want to think that we were to late.

My hand reached out for the handle…but it froze when I heard a sound from behind us. I spun around as the other slowly turned and shouted, "Who's there? Show yourselves!"

Slowly….Coora walked forward and confusion made it into my features. Why was she her….and who brought her? I soon got my answer as three people walked forward.

The man that I had beaten up that one time (never actually learned his name) walked forward and put his hands up in defeat, "Sorry sorry….we didn't mean to come late for the party….someone just forgot to invite us."

My eyes shifted to Zack who was breathing hard beside one of the others. Irritation made it's way into my voice, "I told you to stay at the base!"

"And you really believed that I'd do that….*sigh* Shuichi really needs to pick his lovers better….I mean….a blond for Pete's sake….might as well stamp stupid on your forehead," Zack absent-mindedly started to pet Coora. "Besides….your dog wouldn't stop whining so I had to take her for a little walk."

I stepped forward with every intent to hit (just to knock him out so he wouldn't be in the line of fire of course *cough cough* yes that's why.) but K grabbed my arm and shook his head, "We don't have time for this…we'll just give them weapons and they'll come in with us."

I sighed, "Fine."

K pulled out a sniper rifle and two machine guns and through them over. He looked at all of us and glared, "We have each others backs here but if you run out of amo….you leave….we won't save you if you get caught up in something that will get the rest of us killed."

With those last words he opened the door….

Booth pov (well it took a while to get back to his point of view)

We saw nothing. What lead beyond the door was like a black void and even the light from the setting sun wasn't helping. How could a place be so dark? It was like any light that entered this place was destroyed. I didn't want to enter but I did any way as the others went in.

I searched for a light switch and I clicked it on the moment I found one. The lights were dim but they would do for now. Across the room was a young girl with red hair. Her head was down and she refused to look directly at us.

"You….girl….what are you doing here….a very dangerous man may be here….you should leave," I said as we got closer to her. "Hey are you listening?"

She raised her head and smiled…but it seemed off and tears were streaming down her face, "Yes I heard you."

K and Yuki gasped, "Rage!"

She smiled wider and nodded, "When I woke up Tohma-san told me you'd be here….I just wish he was wrong for once…I want all of you to know I'm sorry okay! Especially to you Mr. Yuki and…and I'm really sorry to you Uncle….daddy may not have ever paid attention to me….but I did enjoy the summers at your house….You were the one who first taught me how to shoot uncle K….and I'll never forget that but…this is goodbye…Tohma doesn't want anyone to know about this….so you'll have to…go away? That's the best way to put it…go away! Don't worry…you'll like where you go….Just apologize to Taki for me when you get there, okay!"

She continued to smile but tears were flowing like rivers down her face. She removed her jacket and pulled out a small device. Small little tubes were around attached together and going all the way around her. I froze in horror….she had a bomb. Her thumb brushed against the buttom that would destroy us but she didn't press down.

"This building is so stready…This bomb will do nothing to it! But the shrapnel will surely do us in…well at lease it will be quick," her fingers were about to press down when K spoke out.

"Wait!"

She blinked a few time, "Why…why should I!"

He bit his lower lip, "Please you just can't do this….people do care about you."

Her scary smile faultered, "Like who!"

"Me, Judy, Michael, your mother…even….even my brother! Your father does care about you!"

She held her head as though she were in pain, "Your lying! Your lying!"

"No I'm not!" He yelled.

"Yes you are," Her hand gripped the detinator and she was about to activate it.

I didn't think….I just turned around, dropped my gun, grabbed a hold of Bones…no…Temperance…and fell to the ground. I hoped that my body would be enough to pretect her. I waited for the explosion but when nothing happened I craned my neck to see what was going on. Coora had jumped into the air and was leaping towards Rage. She managed to grab the device and as she fell. The button remained untouched. K rushed towards Rage and restrained her while he removed the bomb. She was sobbing as he did so.

"Booth," A little voice under me said. "You can get off me now."

I hopped up hurrily blushing, "Right right! Sorry."

Bones smiled at me and my heart fluttered, "It's fine."

Ma-kun rolled his eyes, "We don't need a couple of love birds mucking this up so get a hold of yourselves and save the action movie style kiss for the end okay?"

We both turned a bright red and looked away from each other. K tried to sooth Rage and after calming her down a bit he asked her a question, "Rage….shhhh….can you tell me….can you tell me where Shu-chan is?"

Her sobbing continued but she pointed to a door across the room, "Thank you dear….shhhhh….everythings okay….everyone go and get Shu….I have to stay here."

We clashed through the door only moments later…..

Shu pov

I felt cold and numb. My shirt gone and my shorts were down around my ankles. This was what was making me physically cold. The thing that made me feel cold emotionally was something I didn't want to think about. I wanted to curl into myself by it was impossible no matter how hard I tried.

Tohma sat a few feet away from me with a satified expression. Tohma…no this wasn't really Tohma….this faker was happy that he had broken me. After he had his fill of me the man had draped a cloth over me and walked away smiling his sadistic little smile saying that the other's would be here soon. He stepped into one of the corners and seemed to disappear but I knew he was still there watching. I wanted to cry but all I could do was lay here.

My eyes closed but I kept myself from falling asleep knowing that if I let the darkness take me now I wouldn't wake up later. I don't know how long I laid there….how much blood I lost but finally at some point light found it's way into the room. I didn't try to get up. I didn't even try to move. I was to weak to do so. It was several minutes before anyone actually found me in the far end of the room with the sheet over me. When it was removed I heard people gasp but I didn't want to open my eyes to see who it was.

Someone started to shake me, Yuki maybe? "Shuichi! Shuichi wake up!"

I heard something clatter to the floor near my head and a person rushed over. Two finger's were held against my neck and I heard a feminine voice say, "He's still alive but he's losing a lot of blood."

"Shuichi! Come on open your eyes for me….please?" He was pleading with me but my body didn't want to listen to my mind. "We have to get him to a hospital!"

A person who sounded suspiciously like Ma-kun spoke out, "But what about Tohma?"

"He's probably long gone," the woman said. He was…gone…No! No he wasn't gone! He wasn't!

My eyes snapped open much everyones surprised, and violet stared into gold with a large amount of fear, "Shuichi? What's wrong?"

I gripped the front of his shirt weakly and my eyes went wide, "Yu….ki….! R…r…"

"What Shu?"

"R…run!" but it was to late. A shot range out.

Ma-kun dropped his gun and grabbed at his now bleeding hand. Ken dropped his weapon and rushed over to help his friend. No no no! don't they see this is what he wants? He wants them to be unarmed! Another shot rang on and the bullet almost hit Zack. He dropped his weapon because the shock had made it to difficult to hold.

Now…looking around at the people who were moving around in a chaotic frenzy….I noticed that not one of them was holding there gun. All of them were scattered around in random places. This was 'his' game now. Tohma lunged forward from his hiding place and tackled Yuki. I was horrified. They rolled on the floor both trying to gain the upper hand. Finally Tohma had Yuki under him and he held a dagger above his head ready to bring it down at any moment.

My hand brushed along looking for anything that would help. I pulled back with a rosey pink pistol and stared at it. It would have to do. My hands were shakey but I knew how to aim a gun. Then I stopped feeling hesitant. I want him to live…I want Yuki to live to ….but….I couldn't find any reason shoot at first other then the immediate threat. My mind wonder back in time….to a small conversation the two of us had when I was young.

"Shu? I want to speak with you seriously for a moment….no jokes..no goofing around, okay?"

"Aye Aye captain!"

"I'm serious Shuichi! This is important."

"Sorry…I'll be good….what do you want to talk about?"

"Shu….you know about my…condition, right?"

"*sigh* If this is one of those 'you would be better off not hanging around the crazy kid' speeches I will tell you now that I won't be listening. One…you're not technically crazy and two…I wouldn't be better off without one of my best friends."

"No no….I gave up on that years ago….it just….I want you to do something for me."

"Like a favor?"

"Yes….kinda like that."

"Well what is it?"

"If I ever hurt anyone…Ryu, Noriko, Mika, Zack, or even you…..I want you to stop me,okay?"

"Sure thing To! I'll even tie you to the bed if I have to!"

"Serious! Be serious for once….If….if I ever get that bad…I want you to kill me, okay!"

"Tohma your MPD can't be that bad yet! God!…don't ask me to do stupid things when it's not even needed."

"But the Black outs are becoming more fequent…..I'm in control one minute and then I get one and I end up in a random part of town! I don't know what I do during these time but I don't think I have been the most model citizen I can tell you that!"

"Tohma…."

"Just promise me okay…do this for me."

"O….okay…but how do you...you want…."

"By any means….even if you have to put a bullet through my heart!"

"Okay…..but I just don't think I could actually do that!"

"Well you'll just have to be strong then…."

"But I'm weak Tohma! I'll die if I have to do this."

"You will not."

"I will to and you know it! I couldn't even dissect that damn frog during Bio! It just kept looking at me and I set it free! That's the only time in my life that I actually got a failing grade!"

"Well I'm not a frog."

"You're right! You're human…I just can't Tohma….please! Please don't make me do it."

"I need…"

"I'm weak….just please no!"

"….Okay."

Pop pop

But I had no choice in the matter. During my little flashback my finger had tightened around the trigger and a shot had been fired. Tohma clutched at his bleeding chest and looked at me. Slowly his eyes softened and he whispered a little message to me before he fell backwards off of Yuki.

"See…I knew you could do it….thank you."

I suddenly couldn't hear anything after that. Bones held her finger's against his neck and started talking but I couldn't hear a word of it. All I could hear was pop pop! Pop pop! Pop pop! The sound of the gun fire as the bullet had left the barrel.

I killed him! I killed Tohma….oh God I took someones life and he had known I'd be able to do it the entire time….but even though I told him before I don't think he knows one thing though. I'm weak.

My hands gripped the gun tighter and turned it over to face me. I set it right below my chin and my finger moved back to lean against the trigger. No one seemed to notice. Moments before I was about to end it all the sound came back.

"Shuichi don't!" Yuki yelled as he grabbed the gun from me and threw it aside.

I tried to chase after it but he rapped his arms around me from the back, restraining me, "Stop it now!"

I struggled against his grip, "But I need this release…I just need to leave."

He tightened his arms around me, "No you don't…now stop!"

"Why?" I asked as I started to sob. "Tell me why I shouldn't just kill myself."

"Because…..because I need you, Shuichi," he whispered. "And if you die….I die to."

I don't know whether I was the blood loss, or the exhaustion, or maybe it was just the shock of the thing I had just done or the thing Yuki said to me but I blacked out after that….

A/N- damn….that was long! Thirteen pages. Now I know some of you are just giving me weird looks….so lets adress some of them. It just makes sense if K and Rage are related…no Zack is not hallucinating when he thinks the dog is shaking and nodding her head while he's talking to said dog (she's just smarter then half the human population)…and yes the thing your thinking of is probably what happened to shu. Sorry if i went to far with the last part but i wanted him to finally admit he needs Shu. Well only one chapter til it ends…..Review now! And I'll know if you didn't so review people! The window of opportunity is closing.