DISCLAIMER: I do not own Finder Series or any of the cannon characters, this all purely a work of fiction! If you like, please leave Fallow, Favorite, and Review!

Chapter 22

Kirishima's POV

Unable to think straight with all the emotions filling his mind, Kei felt utterly powerless and useless. In any other situation he would be able to help in some way, there would be tasks he could do in order to fix the problem. But this problem was out of his hands, and for a control freak like Kei it was basically a nightmare coming to life. Especially when it concerned Mayuri. Both he and Asami shared in their overprotectiveness of the fashion designer, something that had developed when they were children. Growing up there was always the mutual agreement between them to protect Mayuri, and no matter how much older they got that agreement had never really disappeared, though it did lessen once Suoh came into the picture. It wasn't that they doubted Mayuri's ability to take care of himself whatsoever, it was that they could never get the picture of the malnourished, helpless toddler they "saved" as kids.

The emotions that he felt were unknowingly almost exact to the ones Asami was feeling. Anger, worry, and guilt. Anger because of Jun and what he dared do to Mayuri, and what he tried to do Akihito and the children. Worry for his friend who they didn't know if he would pull through or not. Then guilt for what he didn't do. Where Asami felt guilt for the day they first met, Kei's guilt was found a few years after with the one thing in his life he regretted. The one thing he knew he would be going to hell for. The reason he and Mayuri couldn't talk to one another like they did at one time, why the distance grew between them. A decision he made that could never be forgiven…

Flashback.

"Hey Kei, I have to run home and grab Shinji. I promised him I'd take him with us to the arcade this time so he can pick out what I win for him. Go ahead and head to Mayuri's and I'll catch up." Kei sighed as he these words echoed in his head. He always hated walking home without Ryuichi, it was always so quiet. The awkward thirteen year old knew the way to their younger friend's house like the back of his hand, they met up there three times a week after school. Sometimes, if Shinji was having a good day, the little five year old would join them. Ryuichi would never let him walk around in fear of him collapsing again, but even so Kei knew the kid liked the fresh air…and all the toys and sweets they ended up giving him.

Arriving at the heavily guarded Miketsukami residence, the guards at the front took one look at him before letting him pass on through the gates. Security was at its highest since Mayuri's father passed away and Jun took over, so there were guards everywhere. It was only precautionary since this would be the perfect time for any opposing forces to make their move, with the Miketsukami's in such a vulnerable position. Kei found this a very intelligent move on Jun's part, though he quite literally despised the guy.

Kei headed towards their usual meeting place, the now completely abandoned old residence in the back. The same place Mayuri was kept basically prisoner in when they were younger, and was the servant house. A couple years ago before Mayuri's father died he had an updated house built for them on the far opposite side of the property after a storm took the roof off. Now it was their place to hang out without being bothered.

Getting the door, he was about to push it open but stopped when he heard voices from the inside…or one voice and loud sobbing. "I've told you a hundred times! You belong to me, you fucking rat. If I ever see you holding that fucking brat's hand again I will brand my name onto you so no one will ever want to touch you again!" Kei's eyes widened as he heard Jun's voice and Mayuri's sobbing, and he wanted so badly to push that door open and save the ten year old but his shaking body refused to move an inch. I'm scared…

"Pl-Pleaaase *sob* Stop! I-I-I p-promise t-to *sob* be good!" Through the sobs he was confused to hear moans…until he realized what that meant and his horror only grew.

"Shut up! Just lay there and take your fucking punishment!" Kei shook and shuddered when he heard a loud SMACK come from the house. I'm such a coward…Mayuri I'm so sorry..

The sobs inside grew louder and there was another loud smack. "You got my hand dirty….disgusting. Clean it." There was silence for a few moments before he heard the distinct sound of puking. "You're so pathetic…I can't even look at you." Kei panicked when he heard approaching footsteps, his body suddenly regaining the availability to move as he took off around the house towards the back. Once he knew Jun was gone, he pushed the back door open and took off running towards the sound of gross crying.

Kei stopped in his tracks at the sight of Mayuri…his own eyes filling up with hot, wet tears. He took a hesitant step forward, but fear filled him when the front door opened again, but was relieved to see it was just one of the maids. She quickly rushed over to the boy collapsed on the ground, helping him up into a sitting position. Kei could see new and old bruises covering Mayuri's pale skin, and there were areas that were red and throbbing. His fear was quickly turning into raw anger.

"Come on…let's get you cleaned up Sweetie." The maid whispered, gripping Mayuri under the arm as she tried to lift him. Kei hurried over and hooked an arm under the other one, helping her get him to his feet.

Kei turned to the maid, gesturing to the clothes on the ground. "Can you please get these out of here and get him some new ones? I can take care of cleaning him up." Though she looked reluctant, she nodded and gathered up the clothes before hurrying out. Once she was gone, he quickly ushered the smaller boy to the bathroom where he sat him on the toilet. Letting his bag fall from his shoulders, he dug through it until he found the baby wipes. Kei, even at a young age, always packed in case of an emergency. His backpack had a first aid kit in it, baby wipes, even an emergency sewing kit.

"P-P-Please d-don't…t-tell Ryu…Please.." Mayuri whispered as Kei cleaned him up, struggling to keep himself together. He wanted to kill Jun…he wanted to rip him apart for doing this. Now if Ryuichi knew…he would actually do it. It would not be just a thought.

"…Mayuri…We need to tell the police. You can't let him…do this to you." Kei kept his voice even, knowing the ten year old was in a very fragile state, but even his calm voice couldn't keep Mayuri from becoming hysterical.

"No no no! Y-You can't tell a-anyone Kei! H-He'll be so angry, a-and I-I-I have to b-be a good boy! P-Promise me you won't!"

Will it only make it worse for him if I tell? What can the police even do? They won't mess with the yakuza…especially not the Miketsukami clan. Telling Ryuichi would just get him into trouble, and Jun would rip him apart. "...O…Okay…I promise…I won't tell anyone." Kei couldn't believe what he was saying, but what else could he do?

Thinking back to that day made Kei hate himself even more, and made him realize that all of this was his fault. If he had only told someone...none of this would have happened. Everything that happened after that day…all the damage and trauma that bastard put Mayuri through could have been avoided if he had just told someone. He hid that secret from the one person who could have helped, and that was his biggest regret. Asami would have taken care of it, even at thirteen years old he would have done something! He wouldn't have stopped until Jun was dead and Mayuri was living somewhere safe. Why wasn't I stronger?

Kei pulled at his own hair, his vision blurring as his eyes filled with angry, frustrated tears. He felt selfish for wishing Feilong was there beside him, knowing that Suoh would give anything just to know his lover was going to live. Please Mayuri…just please be okay…

Suoh's POV:

Everything felt like it was falling apart. Seeing Mayuri on the ground like that…and seeing all the blood…it was the scariest thing he had ever laid his eyes on. This was the love of his life, the only person in this world he would literally do anything for and would do anything for him…and he was just asked if his husband ever talked about donating his organs. Knowing that they were asking such a question meant that the odds of Mayuri living here slim, and the idea of losing him made terrified Kazumi. In his mind, there was no way he could ever move past that, because his entire life was dedicated to loving Mayuri. His life had no purpose until the day he met his little fashion designer…before that he was just some street kid who was nothing better than a piece of scum who robbed innocent people. Now he had a home, a loving husband, stable job with friends and family, and even a dog. All of that was because of Mayuri, the one person who looked at him and didn't run away out of fear of his size, but instead saw potential and took the time to get to know him. Sure it was technically kidnapping what Mayuri did…but it was the best thing that had ever happened to the blonde…and to think that the person responsible for his amazing life could just disappear before his eyes…it was devastating to even think about.

Kazumi barely heard Asami's words when he yelled at the nurse, instead just stared at the blurry image of the floor as tears filled his eyes but didn't fall. If it weren't for knowing Mayuri would be upset if he started crying…Kazumi would be a broken, sobbing mess at the moment. Not wanting to do something that would later upset his husband, he tried to instead think of something happy. When they first met…the day they decided to run away and get married…all those wonderful memories that would usually bring a smile to his face instead felt bittersweet.

Flashback.

Kazumi's favorite thing in the entire world to do was exactly this, sit on the couch with his lover laying against his side and their adorable little puppy sleeping on his lap while they watched cheesy romance comedies. There were empty take out containers on the coffee table, along with empty glasses of wine. The room was dim, the only light being the afternoon setting sun coming in through the windows of their apartment. Kazumi cracked a small grin when he heard Mayuri laugh at the movie, meanwhile stroking the sleeping dog on his lap. For the next fifteen minutes they sat there in content silence, just happy to watching the movie. But it was the ending of the movie that his lover poked his side to get his attention.

"Hey Kazumi…we should get married!~" He blinked, looking down at Mayuri curiously.

"This is…pretty sudden even for you. Are you asking me?"

Mayuri hummed, grinning as he shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, sure!~ This is me asking you. Do you want to marry me?"

"Of course I want to marry you, Mayuri. I want to spend the rest of our lives together…"

"Good! Then let's go do it, right now!~" Right now? Kazumi couldn't believe his ears, because what his lover was saying was entirely impossible. Well, it wasn't but it wasn't something they could just do on a whim. At least…he had never thought it was.

"What do you mean?"

"Wouldn't that be romantic? If we just ran off and got married right now?~ Come on, what's stopping us really? I can make a few calls and we can be married by tonight and on our way to a honeymoon. We can go to Paris, or Rome...anywhere we want to go. Let's do it!~"

Knowing and being with Mayuri for five years meant he was used to the spontaneity. It was only two weeks ago his lover had come home with a puppy without them ever speaking about getting one, and the man had a closet full of clothes, shoes, and random things he's never used. All of it gotten just on a whim, so if that wasn't an indicator of who Mayuri was then Kazumi didn't know what was. So this coming up after watching an 80's romantic comedy really shouldn't surprise him, because when Mayuri saw something he wanted to do or get he didn't let anything hold him back from it. There was no reasoning with someone so stubborn, especially when that someone always seemed to make the impossible happen. So Kazumi had no choice really but to go along with whatever crazy plan his lover was coming up with. "Alright, I'm with you. Let's do it."

Mayuri grinned wide, hopping up from the couch. "Then let's go!" His lover eagerly said, already heading towards their phone. "Go get dressed!~ I'm going to call Ryu and Kei!~"

Chuckling, Kazumi nodded. "Will do" Why is he so cute?

Kazumi opened his eyes when he heard the door open beside him, turning his head to see the doctor coming out. He was quick to his feet, eyes desperately searching the older man's face to catch any hints of what news they were about to receive. The man's face held a mix of emotions, which both filled the bodyguard with hope and with heartbreaking concern. No matter what it was though, he would have to be ready to hear it.

"So…there's good news and bad news. Good news is he's alive and stable, but we can't go through with the surgery at this moment in fear of the risks."

Relief flooded over him, and it was like a huge weight was lifted off his chest. "Is that the bad news?" The doctor's expression darkened, and immediately he feared the worse.

"I'm afraid not. The bad news is that the nerves from his waist down aren't responding to stimuli. It could be due to the excessive swelling putting pressure against his spinal cord which means optimistically when the swelling goes down he will gain feeling back, or it could be that the damage done was too severe and it could very well be permanent. We won't know anything until the swelling goes down, which could take a while. Up to a month, possibly two."

"…What do you think? I mean…you have to have your own…opinion of what you think is going to happen…if he'll walk again…or not…" How does someone even ask this question?!

The doctor let out a long breath, scratching his chin for a long moment before speaking. "In my professional opinion? I've only seen one person get up from the type of damage done to your partner...and we called that a miracle." He deflated with each word the man spoke, knowing that this news would devastate his husband. So much change would have to happen in their lives, and where he personally was fine just as long as his love was alive...Mayuri was different.

"…Can I see him?"

"He's asleep right now, we have him on some pretty intense pain medication to keep him as comfortable as possible right now. But the three of you can go in and wait for him to wake up." And then I'll have to tell him…