Yes people this is an actual chapter. With college always bearing down my back I have had barely anytime to write but I thought I can at least get my last chapter for Legal Drug out before classes start to get tough again. So I hope this ending is acceptable and thank you for staying with me. So let's just get to it.
Kazahaya laughed while licking the blood off the dagger.
"Kazahaya!" Saiga shouted.
"Kazahaya still isn't here I'm afraid," the memory reader snickered. "It's just good old Sato Haru back and better than ever."
"Sato?" Yamada called from the pit that he was stuck in and Kazahaya turned around. "Is that really you old friend?"
"Yes it is, in the flesh and more powerful than before," he said looking at his hands. "I can feel the power that this body carries. I never knew I could feel this good," he said and took a step towards the crippled man. He stopped as he felt a hand on his ankle. He looked down at Rikuo who had his hand wrapped around his leg.
"Kaz…Kazahaya…give him…give him back," Rikuo stuttered as blood seeped from the corner of his lips. Kazahaya growled in annoyance and shook Rikuo off of him.
"You got blood on my pants," Sato grumbled and walked to the fallen old man. Tears welled up in Rikuo's eyes and dropped his head to the ground no longer able to support it.
"Rikuo," Tsukiko shouted and ran to her cousin with Kakei leaving Saiga with Kei. They flipped the teen over and Kakei placed his hand over the wound on Rikuo's side.
"Rikuo stay with us," Kakei said. "We'll get you help," he said desperately.
"Kaza…haya…" the teen said trying to keep his eyes open. Tsukiko looked over at Kazahaya as he walked onto the pavilion and helped pulled Yamada out of the hole.
"Sato is that really you?" the man said looking Kazahaya over.
"Yes it is. Ever since the boy was put under this woman's spell he got weaker and weaker,
he said gesturing to the tired Ishikawa. "All I had to do was just wait for her to lift her control and voilà, here I am," Sato said happily.
Next to Kazahaya, Rei who was still dizzy and bleeding from his nose lifted his head slightly. He assumed this was not going according to Rikuo's plan. He reached his hand out shakily towards Kazahaya and his eyes widen.
"HELP ME!" he heard someone scream in his head through Kazahaya's mind and he quickly covered his ears trying to keep the screaming at bay. It was almost like a wall that the real Kazahaya was banging on inside his own head, keeping him from reaching out...the wall had to be broken.
Rei looked over at Rikuo who was still being held by his cousin. He felt that he was slipping away himself and he had one chance to get it out. He slide his hand out along the ground towards the teen but Kazahaya noticed this from the corner of his eyes and walked over to the mind reader.
"Now what are you doing," Sato laughed and stepped on Rei's outstretched hand. Rei shouted in pain.
"Stop it," Tsukiko shouted. "Kazahaya please I know you're in there somewhere you just have to fight him. Like last time."
"Last time Kazahaya was gone for a few minutes and he could barely get me out. This time he hasn't had this body in over a year, forget it Tsukiko," Sato said and Yamada snickered.
"You're wrong. I saw him…in everyone's dreams. He's been fighting all this time and I'm sure he's still fighting now," she cried.
Rei wanted to shout on the top of his lungs, to tell them that Kazahaya was still in there, he just needed to reach Rikuo but the teen was shutting down and Rei wasn't very good at giving thoughts. He usually just received them and after forcing out all those thoughts from the body guards he didn't know if he had it in him. Rei looked over at Kei who was twisting in pain. He promised her that he would do all he could to save her brother.
Rei stretched his hand out further in effort to get across to Rikuo. Sato stepped on his hand harder producing blood from under his shoe but Rei didn't stop.
Rikuo felt himself floating through pitch blackness. He was just so tired and wanted to forget everything. He didn't want to work anymore…work at the drug store, work at breathing. He just wanted to sleep.
'Rikuo listen to me,' Rei said through the recess of Rikuo's mind 'you can still save him…you can still save Kazahaya.'
Rikuo slowly opened his eyes and dull green looked out into the darkness.
"What," he whispered.
'You can save Kazahaya there's one more way.'
Pictures flew through Rikuo's mind. Finding Kazahaya in the snow, teaching him how to make rice, sitting in the movie theater with Kazahaya and his cold, seeing him dressed in a wedding gown, their first kiss, saving him from Sato for the first time, holding each other in bed…Rikuo suddenly realized he didn't want to sleep unless Kazahaya was right there next to him.
Rikuo's eyes widen, "What do I do?" he shouted into the nothingness.
'You have to break it…break the wall…in Kazahaya's mind. He's trying to get out; you just have to free him.'
"Are you insane? I can't break an imaginary wall; I can only break physical objects."
'It's the only way.'
"I'll turn his brain into goo."
'He'd probably want that more than being trapped in his own mind for the rest of his life," Rikuo floated in silence.
"…How do I do it," Rikuo asked quietly.
'I don't know…Think of it as a physical wall find the…' Rei's voice was shut out and Rikuo was back to being in darkness by himself.
Outside of Rikuo's mind Sato had just grabbed Yamada's broken cane and slammed it against Rei's skull.
"I told you to stop it," Sato said dropping the cane next to Rei's unconscious body. He looked back at Yamada with a grin. Sato had everything he wanted now. He was back in a young body, he had more power than he ever dreamed of, he had the books and he could read them. Nothing could get better.
"Shall we finish the incantation?" Yamada asked Sato.
"Of course," Sato said. He walked over to the podium and placed his hand on the book and closed his eyes. He could see it all now; the words were coming to him like the alphabet. It was so easy he just had to…*Crack*
"Sato?" Yamada asked as he saw Kazahaya's face falter. Kazahaya's eyes opened and looked over at the Green Drug store's group with daggers in his eyes. Rikuo was sitting, his back resting against Tsukiko's chest as he struggled to breath. His arm was outstretched towards him shakily but his eyes were strong and determine.
"You idiot…you should be dead you should be…"*Crack*
Sato could hear the sound of something breaking in his head. He brought his hands up to his head quickly and screamed.
"You're doing it," Kakei said in amazement. Rikuo coughed and more blood sputtered from his mouth. He hand dropped slightly and his eyes dropped. The teen suddenly felt a hand on his own and it was pulled back up.
Tsukiko smiled slightly as her slim hand joined his. He suddenly felt another hand and saw on his other side Kakei had joined. He sensed someone coming up behind him and a large hand in a black jacket placed his hand onto of the other three. Without looking Rikuo knew it was Saiga and with a smile he went back to concentrating.
"Yamada stop them," Sato shouted gripping the hair on his head. His eyes or rather Kazahaya's eyes widen. Yamada stood in front of Kazahaya and suddenly Rikuo was cut off. Yamada's body was protecting Sato from Rikuo's powers. The old man's ability was really starting to piss Rikuo off.
"Damn it," Rikuo shouted with a raspy voice. He could hear Kazahaya laugh manically.
Suddenly Yamada fell to the ground with a groan. Kazahaya's laugh died down slowly and everyone looked to see Yuri with her metal pipe. She had knocked the older man down and was panting heavily.
"I…I did it…I am no longer your puppet," she sighed.
"You…" Sato shouted reaching for her but stumbled back at the feeling off his head being ripped apart…like the sound of his head was being ripped out of Kazahaya's head. He screamed up at the sky, tears dripping down from the corners of his eyes and suddenly he stopped and fell to the ground.
"Kazahaya!" everyone shouted and Saiga ran over to the teen as Rikuo fell back into Tsukiko's arms; his eyes shut. Yuri was already checking the boy over before the older man reached him. Saiga grabbed him pulling him up shaking pushing Kazahaya's hair out from in front of his eyes.
"Come on kid wake up…are you in their?" Saiga asked. The older man heard a groan and movement behind the teens eye lids reassured him at least something was happening in there. Kazahaya's eyes bolted open and he took a gasp of air. "Kazahaya is that you?"
Kazahaya was breathing too hard but was able to nod strongly as he wept. Saiga brought the boys' head to his shoulder allowing the blond haired teen to cry into his collar bone. He suddenly stopped and looked up sharply.
"Rikuo?" he shouted. Saiga smiled sadly and looked over where everyone sat around the dying teen. Kazahaya stood up and Saiga helped him limp over to his lover's body. Kazahaya tore himself from the man's arms and dropped to the ground. "Rikuo." He said softly placing his hand on Rikuo's cheek. Rikuo looked up and formed a small smile.
"Kazahaya…" he said weakly.
"Rikuo," Kazahay cried fisting Rikuo's shirt. "I'm so sorry."
"Stop crying you baby…you're getting my shirt all wet," he laughed but it suddenly turned into a coughing fit, the sound of wet blood filling up his lungs. Kazahaya placed his hands over his mouth trying to suppress his hiccupping cry but it wasn't working. Rikuo smiled and held his hand up slightly. Kazahaya grabbed it with both hands and placed it to his face. "You're warm again…thank Kami," Rikuo said his voice getting weaker.
"Rikuo," Kazahaya said roughly. "Please don't leave me…I don't know if I can go on if you're not with me."
"You're…going to…have to…try," he said, "Kazahaya…I love you…"
"No Rikuo I'm not letting you go," Kazahaya said angrily. "You're the one who is supposed to live…I was supposed to die a year ago…You're not going to die because of me," the younger teen said. He placed his hand on Rikuo's wound and Rikuo hissed in pain.
"Kazahaya what are you doing?" Kakei asked in confusion. Kazahaya moved his face so it was right above Rikuo.
"I'm so sorry Rikuo…for everything…" Kazahaya said softly.
"What…" Rikuo started but was stopped as Kazahaya's lips gently grazed his own. The taste of his own blood and Kazahaya's salty tears mixed together and danced on Rikuo's tongue…. He suddenly felt warm, so warm. It was like the light of Kazahaya was inside him.
"Kazahaya," he heard Tsukiko say.
"What are you doing," he then heard from Saiga. Rikuo suddenly felt this immense pain where he was stabbed that felt worse than the initial injury; if that was even possible. Then he felt nothing. Kazahaya lifted his lips and gasped as he fell back. Rikuo sat up quickly with his own gasp and panted hard.
"Rikuo?" Kakei asked and Rikuo lifted his t-shirt. There was still blood and his shirt was still torn where he was stabbed but the wound was gone without even a scar.
"What…" Rikuo asked and looked at Kazahaya "what did you do?"
"I took away the memory of the injury," Kazahaya smiled. Rikuo looked at Kazahaya surprise. Was that even possible?
"Kudo-kun!" Kakei shouted and Rikuo's eyes widen as blood began to seep down Kazahaya's shirt exactly where Rikuo's wound was on his own body. Blood dripped down Kazahaya's lips and the teen fell forward but was caught by Rikuo before hitting the ground.
"Kazahaya you idiot what did you do?" Rikuo shouted. Kakei tore at Kazahaya's clothing revealing a large gash.
"I…took the memory…from you…" Kazahaya smiled.
"Equivalent exchange…"Kakei said sadly. "You can't just take away without giving something in exchange."
"I'm the one who is supposed to die. Give it back Kazahaya," Rikuo shouted.
"I can't…I can only take memories remember…"Kazahaya snickered.
"Your sister…"
"Out cold," Saiga said reminding Rikuo.
"Why…I spent all that time saving you, for nothing," Rikuo said holding Kazahaya closer. Kazahaya nodded.
"It wasn't for nothing. I would rather die now then be stuck in my head for eternity. Tell Kei I love her and I love you so much…thank you…" Kazahaya said as his eyes drifted close.
"No you're not giving up yet," Rikuo said grabbing the teen and picking him up bridal style. "I'm getting him to the hospital," Rikuo shouted and ran to flag down a cab.
Kei woke up slowly in a white room with the sound of beeping next to her and a major head ache. She lifted her hand to hold her head and saw an IV attached to her arm. She looked around to find herself in a hospital and attached to a heart monitor. She looked next to her where she spotted Rei sleeping on a chair, his head wrapped in a bandaged.
"Where am I," she said to herself out loud. Rei heard her and lifted his head blinking away the sleep from his eyes.
"Kei," he said jumping from his feet. "Are you ok…do you want me to get you a nurse…do you remember who you are?"
Kei looked at him in confusion.
"Of course I know who I am. I would like to know why I'm in a hospital though." Suddenly it all came back to her. "Kazahaya! Where's Kazahaya?" Rei looked at her sadly.
"He's in the ICU. They don't know if he's going to make it yet," Rei said to Kei and grabbed her hands as she began to shudder and break down crying.
In the ICU Rikuo sat by Kazahaya's side as the sound of air moved through the respirator tube that kept the teen breathing. Saiga walked into the room with flowers in his hands and walked over to Rikuo and placed his hand on his shoulder. Rikuo looked up quickly and when he noticed who it was he turned back to the bed.
"How's he doing?" Saiga asked. Rikuo shook his head back and forth.
"His lungs collapsed yesterday…this stupide machine is the only thing keeping him alive." Rikuo said as he shifted in his chair.
"You've been sitting here for two days Rikuo. Why don't you let me watch him and you get something to eat," Saiga suggested.
"No, I'm fine," Rikuo said in annoyance.
"Rikuo…"
"I said I'm fine!" Rikuo said a little louder and the nurse who was treating another patient on the other side of the room told the two men to quiet down. "I'm fine…" Rikuo said quieter.
"Well tonight you have to come with us. The guardians want to speak with all of us," Rikuo said and placed the vase of flowers on the bedside next to Kazahaya. He placed his hand on the kid's forehead and brushed his bangs.
"Why did he have to do it?" Rikuo said behind Saiga. The older man turned around with a sad smile.
"I really don't think Kazahaya would be able to live with himself if you died because of him," Saiga said. Rikuo looked away but he knew Saiga might be right.
Rikuo placed his yellow wolf mask on his face and walked into the room in front of the guardians. Kakei and Tsukiko stood next to him and Kei sat in a wheelchair in front of Saiga with Rei next to her. Yuki had joined them with a turquoise panda mask and stood silently in the back.
"Thank you for joining us," the young bird mask woman said sweetly.
"We have gathered you here to discuss the actions you have taken," the snake masked woman in the middle of the three said sternly. "You disobeyed a direct order and went to Hibiya Park to stop the Tsubasa group."
"Does it matter," Rikuo grumbled.
"Excuse me," the woman said looking at him. Rikuo stood straighter.
"I said does it matter," he said louder. "We got your stupid books back, destroyed the Tsubasa group from taking control of the world and you want to yell at us for disobeying an order that you said we can do in the first place."
"You don't seem to understand the position that you have put us in," the white foxed man said lazily. "Yamada Kazumi wasn't just the head of the Tsubasa group. He was a guardian like us for those who seek darkness."
"No one is supposed to interfere with a guardian…"the bird masked guardian said "Now that you have, the balance had been disrupted. Not to mention we are only supposed to possess one book and we now have both."
"We have to find a way to reset the balance for we possess too much power," the snake woman hissed.
Kakei in his green cat mask took a step forward. "I apologize for upsetting the balance. I know more than most what can happen when everything isn't set right but my ability allows me to see what is to come. It told me that I must keep Kudo-kun safe and so I went last night with no intensions except to save him. You can't argue that."
The three guardians looked at each other in thought. They knew Kakei was right, it was a rule that divine abilities take over politics. If a vision was seen or a ghost was heard, they were allowed to do whatever they can to meet the demands of them.
"We will find a way to reset the balance," the blond haired guardian said behind his mask "the book that doesn't belong to us can easily be given back."
"On another note we must discuss our agreement. We said that if we allow this child to live then we will have two of you to work for us," the older guardian said.
"You can't be serious," Kei spoke behind her blue fox mask. "You didn't do anything to help us like you said you were."
"Not to mention the kid might not even survive," the dog masked Saiga spoke up. Rikuo growled slightly at the thought of Kazahaya not surviving. The three guardians looked at each other again.
"The contract still holds… if the child survives," the snake said. "If he does we request that he and the one who can seek objects by touch work under our rule."
Kakei's eyes open wide and he looked over at his lover. Saiga stared straight at the guardians with a glare.
"Then you better hope the kid lives or you're getting no service out of me," Saiga said. Rikuo took off his mask and threw it on the ground revealing his face to the guardians.
"Remember this face," he shouted. "Because if Kazahaya doesn't live this is the last face you'll see," he said and stormed out of the room leaving the rest in shock.
It had been another two days and Rikuo had never left Kazahaya's side since coming back from the guardians. He face palmed himself in the head. He still couldn't believe he threatened the guardians like that. He was so stupid.
"Even when you're not with me, you still make me do stupid things," he chuckled and looked back up at Kazahaya. His eyes widen as he realized the Kazahaya was looking back at him struggling with the tube down his throat. He stood up knocking the chair in the process. "Kazahaya," he shouted happily "Nurse," he then shouted beckoning anyone to come over. A few nurses and a doctor pushed him out of the way checking the teen over.
Rikuo found himself standing in the hallway and the rest of the group made their way over to him.
"Is he alright?" Kei asked jumping onto Rikuo.
"I don't know. The nurses pushed me out so they can check him." Rikuo said hopefully. A doctor came out of the ICU and walked over to them.
"We took out the tube and he is breathing by himself. Kudo-san is still weak but we think, miraculously, he's out of the woods. You can see him now, just be careful," the doctor said and opened the door for everyone to enter. Kazahaya laid on the bed in a sitting position taking a sip of water from a straw and when he saw them his face lit up with a smile. He waved to them and Kei ran over to him.
"Kazahaya," Kei said and hugged her brother gently.
"Hey," he said his voice hoarse from the tube.
"How are you Kudo-kun?" Kakei asked.
"Better I think," Kazahaya laughed which turned into a cough.
"Don't strain yourself Kazahaya," Tsukiko said.
"Yeah because you lived you and I got a new job," Saiga joked. Kazahaya looked at him in confusion and Kakei explained the situation (Not to happily)
"Will I get paid," Kazahaya asked and everyone broke into laughter. Tsukiko looked behind her where Rikuo stood silently.
"Well I can use some lunch…anyone else?" she asked. Kakei and Saiga understood and got up.
"No I'm good," Kei said with a smile.
"Come on Kei. Rei is waiting for you," Tsukiko said pulling on the girl's ear.
"Ow, ow, ow , ow" the girl cried as she was pulled out of the room leaving only Rikuo. The older teen took a seat next to Kazahaya with a frown. Kazahaya looked down.
"I'm sorry," he apologized. "I know your upset with me but I couldn't have you die because of me. Not like that."
"I know," Rikuo said and Kazahaya looked up at him in confusion.
"You're not mad at me?" Kazahaya asked.
"Oh I am furious with you," Rikuo said and Kazahaya frowned. "But your alive, and I'm alive and…kami I just love you so much," Rikuo said with tears dripping down his face. Kazahaya looked at him almost scared.
"You're crying. You never cry," Kazahaya said in worry.
"Shut up," Rikuo said and leaned over catching his lover's lips in his own.
"I love you to Rikuo," Kazahaya smiled and they kissed again.
~A year later~
The church bells rang slightly in the wind as the wedding came to an end. A blond man in white Chinese clothing smiled happily with the bible in his hands as he stood in front a woman and man in a gown and tuxedo.
"As one of the three guardians, I Fai D. Flowright now pronounce you Man and wife, you may kiss the bride" he said happily. The bride turned revealing Kei's face and Rei turned and bent down kissing Kei passionately. Everyone clapped and cheered.
When they broke the kiss Kei turned to Tsukiko and Yuki who was her maid of honor and brides maid and hugged them both. The pink dressed girls hugged her back and Tsukiko gave Kei a kiss on the cheek.
Next to Rei, Kazahaya stood as his best man with Rikuo next to him and the two congratulated Kazahaya's new brother-in-law. After walking down the aisle everyone moved down to the courtyard where the music started up.
After a few hours Kazahaya grabbed Kei and they danced slowly.
"Thank you for walking me down the aisle," Kei said to her brother.
"Of course, it was an honor," Kazahaya said back. "I just can't believe that you're married. It's a miracle."
Kei slapped her brother lightly with a laugh. "Well I'm just so happy that you are here to celebrate it with me."
"Can I cut in," Rikuo said. Kei smiled and kissed her brother before walking over to her new husband.
Kazahaya took Rikuo's open arms and they began to dance themselves.
"I can't believe it's been a year," Kazahaya said.
"Let's not remind me," Rikuo said causing Kazahaya laugh.
"It's just been so fast."
"Rikuo, Kudo-kun," Kakei called as he walked up to them with Saiga. "We have a job for you," he said happily.
"Now?" Kazahaya frowned.
"It actually takes place right over there in the church. I promise it won't take long and you'll be back in time for cake," Kakei said handing Kazahaya a cell phone. "All the information is right in there."
Kazahaya grumbled and just kept repeating 'he needed the money, he needed the money'. Rikuo glared at the two men but followed Kazahaya.
"Will they back in time for cake?" Saiga asked.
"As long as they don't turn down the left hallway after recovering the object," Kakei winked and he went back to the party.
Kazahaya opened the door to his and Rikuo's apartment above the drug store and he was pushed back with a kiss as Rikuo slammed the door behind him.
"I told you…we shouldn't…have turned left…" Kazahaya panted in between kisses as Rikuo pushed him back and slammed the door behind him.
"Shut up," Rikuo smiled into their kiss and walked Kazahaya backwards towards the bed and pushed him down. He lifted his shirt off himself and slowly began to unbutton Kazahaya's own shirt. He slid his fingers down the younger teen's chest and stopped by his ribs where a sharp scar rested on his skin. Rikuo frown and Kazahaya sighed.
"Are you really going to make that face every time you see the scar? It's been more than a year" Kazahaya groaned. Rikuo looked away slightly.
"I still feel like it was my fault," Rikuo said.
"You know you really know how to kill the mood," Kazahaya said sitting up slightly and pulled his shirt tighter around him. "For the last time it wasn't your fault. This all started two years ago when I turned 18 but know everything is fixed. Kei and Rei are married, the two books have been separated and hidden again, I am making more money than ever and our family is altogether. Can't that be enough?"
Rikuo smiled and leaned over Kazahaya's body that was against the wall. He kissed him placing his hand behind his boyfriends head to deepen it.
"I think I can try a little better to not ruin your mood." Rikuo smiled causing Kazahaya to laugh and they brought themselves back in for a kiss.
Downstairs Kakei, Saiga, and Tsukiko heard a thud as they sat in the office drinking coffee. Tsukiko sighed at the sound and Saiga laughed.
"Looks like they're not to upset for having to go on that mission," Kakei said.
"Nope," Saiga said taking a sip of his coffee.
"So…" Tsukiko said sobering the laughter from the room. "Do you think it's finally over…I mean the vision that you've always had about keeping Kazahaya and everyone he holds dear safe."
"I don't know," Kakei said looking down at his drink. "I haven't had any recent visions but you never know."
"Well we'll be here if it does come back. And we'll be ready and waiting," Saiga said placing his hand over Kakei's and gave it a squeeze.
A few hours later Kakei and Saiga was sleeping together on their bed. The precog tossed and turned next to a slumbering Saiga. The Green drug store owner opened his eyes sharply and sat up. It was another vision hazy and disorienting but a vision…one that told him that the Green Drug store's job was far from open.
THE END
Yep that's how I'm ending. Now that the manga has started up once again I'm hoping it might give me more inspiration for another story so I always like keeping it open.
And again thank you for all of those that has actually stuck with me and finished it to the end. I hope that if you like my stories that you continue to read them and that it gives you some sort of enjoyment since that is the reason why I write.
And of course as always review onegai