Story's finished, so no real reason not to update! Enjoy the continuation of this angsty saga. One more chapter after this one. I may write more Takumi/Gii/Dai/Mao, but it'll just be more of the same, so if that's your thing, stay tuned!

DEVIL IN THE DARK
Chapter 10

The boys sat at the table with the two officers while their vitals were taken. Daisuke held Takumi's hand, hating how lost and afraid the boy looked.

"I-Is he really dead?" Takumi asked.

"Yes," Kanou said gently. "He can't hurt you anymore."

Takumi looked at Daisuke, not sure he believed the explanation he'd just been given. He didn't remember being hypnotized. But then, he didn't remember much at all.

"Gii, I really don't exist?"

"Of course you do, you're part of Mao just as Gii is part of me."

"Is...is Mao happy?"

"Yes, baby, you are. I promise. And you will be again."

The EMTs were being careful with Takumi, handling him as little as necessary. They warned both boys they'd be facing a more rigorous exam at the hospital and pronounced them fit to be moved. Once they were sitting in the ambulance, Takumi huddled into Daisuke's protective hug.

"What am I like?"

"You've never been hurt like Takumi. You have really cool parents who love you like crazy, and a big brother who's obsessed with protecting you. You grew up in Tokyo, and we met when you were fifteen, when we did a musical together."

"I never thought about being an actor."

Daisuke smiled. "When you were little, you wanted to be a hero."

"I think I remember that...what do I call you?"

"Dai-chan."

"Dai-chan. Takumi and Gii were our characters."

"Yes, baby."

Takumi said nothing for a moment. "Are they the reason we're together?"

"They definitely brought us closer, although I was in love with you before the movies. I should probably tell you that you're nineteen, and I'm nine years older."

"Nine years?"

"I know, I don't look it."

"You don't," the boy murmured. "Is my brother...okay with you?"

"It took some time, but yeah, I think so. He wants you to be happy."

"Is this really happening? I'm really not me?"

"You're still Mao, baby. Mao is just buried under Takumi right now."

"What if I can't be fixed?"

Daisuke kissed the top of his head. "I'll feel bad for you, but we'll make it work. I love you."

"You love Mao."

"It's hard to explain. You could say I'm in love with you too. And Takumi or Mao, whichever you answer to, you're you. I love you with every inch of my soul."

Takumi smiled a little into Daisuke's shirt. "You call me 'baby' because that's what you call him, right?"

"It's what I call you."

"Boys, how are you doing? Cold? Would you like blankets?"

"I think we're okay, thank you," Daisuke said, running his fingers through Takumi's hair. "Is Ishii in trouble?"

"I don't know. I think I heard one of the detectives say he's cut a deal, to testify to avoid jail."

"I'd like to thank him," Takumi said quietly. "He was very kind to me."

"Takumi-kun, do you know the names of any of the drugs used on you?"

He trembled, and Daisuke tightened his embrace. "The doctor gave him naloxopene tablets that he took a few times. The others, we don't know."

"That's all right, both of you will have your blood tested. Kid, I won't make you take anything off now, but do you know if you're still bleeding?"

"I might be..."

"He was naked when I was let back into the room," Daisuke said lowly. "I got him dressed, and there was a little blood on the sheets."

"I don't want you to be scared, but the doctors will have to check you both internally."

"I'm scared," Takumi whispered.

"I'll be with you. I won't leave you. We'll only cooperate if they don't separate us."

"I'm sure that won't be a problem. Okay, I think we've arrived."

In accordance with hospital protocol, both actors were taken in on stretchers. They were kept as close together as possible, but Takumi squeezed his eyes shut and breathed heavily. The sound of it muffled the noise around him, but not enough. As they were wheeled into a private room, Takumi clapped his hands over his ears.

"Hamao-kun, what's wrong? Does your head hurt?"

"I'm Takumi! Don't touch me!"

Daisuke jumped off the gurney and hurried to his boyfriend. "It's okay, it's okay. Sorry, but if you need to touch him, I have to be touching him too."

The nurse smiled apologetically. "I think we can accomodate you in that. We'll leave you alone for a minute so you can get those gowns on. Your parents are all downstairs giving us your histories, once we have them we can give Takumi-kun something to calm him down. Would you like to see them?"

"I don't think Takumi's up to that."

"All right. We'll get some tests done first. We'll be right back."

Takumi didn't seem to want to leave Daisuke's arms, but the elder managed to get them both changed and the gowns tied in back. Daisuke lifted him onto one of the beds and got in beside him, holding him and trying to ease his shaking.

"Gii, they're not my parents. I can't..."

"I know, baby. Not until you're ready."

"What are your parents like?"

"Same as yours, nice, normal. I have a sister, Namiko. She thinks you're the cutest thing ever and is always telling me to be careful with you."

Takumi smiled. "They like me?"

"Oh, yeah. They have from the beginning. And your parents like me."

"They're really nice people?"

The two nurses from before returned, with a kind-looking man in a white coat. Takumi edged himself closer to Daisuke.

"Watanabe-san and Takumi-kun, my name is Dr. Yamagawa and I'll be looking after you both." As he talked, Takumi focused on him and not the woman surreptitiously drawing blood from him. "I'm a primary care physician affiliated with this hospital as well as a psychiatrist, so my bosses thought I'd be qualified to help you. First, are either of you feeling any pain or discomfort?"

"I'm fine, Sensei. Takumi, does anything hurt?"

The boy shook his head. "Just sore."

"Get them both on drips," Yamagawa said to the nurses, "and give Hamao-kun one milligram of morphine. Boys, I won't make you stay in separate beds if you promise not to get your IVs tangled."

Daisuke smiled with relief as the nurses approached again. "We'll be careful."

The elder took his second needle bravely, grinning at his nurse who slightly blushed. Takumi flinched from his, but nodded that she could touch him, and Daisuke rubbed his arm soothingly as the other was injected.

"Honey, you'll start to feel better now," the nurse said gently.

"Th-Thank you."

The doctor passed two clipboards to them. "Before you get woozy, Takumi-kun, I need consent from both of you to perform exams."

"I'll go first," Daisuke said. "Baby, sign it 'Hamao Kyousuke.'"

Daisuke helped him trace the right characters, then pulled the other bed close before laying down on it, keeping a hand clasping Takumi's. He was determined to show no sign of pain as his gown was lifted and he was inspected, but it was merely uncomfortable, and a bit humiliating.

"Watanabe-san, were you penetrated?"

"Just once, but by Takumi, and it was consensual."

"I did?" Takumi looked surprised, and faintly pink. "I don't remember."

"It was while you were still Mao, baby."

"Okay, Watanabe-san, everything looks fine. Takumi-kun, it's your turn. How do you feel?"

"Scared...light-headed. Sato-san gave me something once that made me feel like this, after..." The boy shut his eyes as his gown was folded up.

"Try to relax, Takumi-kun, this will be unpleasant, but it won't take long. Do you remember how many times you were penetrated?"

"It was several times," Daisuke murmured, and pressed the hand he held to his lips.

Takumi whimpered, then suddenly half-screamed and arched up. "No!"

"Baby?"

"I brushed his prostate," the doctor said. "I'm sorry, I'll try not to do that again. I'm going to put some antibiotic gel inside you. It will be cold, but it will prevent infection and help you heal."

"Is he okay?"

The doctor snapped his gloves off and replaced the gown. "There's some swelling and tearing, but the bleeding's stopped. No lasting damage. You just need to be gentle with him for a while."

"He always is." Takumi gave his boyfriend a weak smile.

"Are there any other injuries I need to look at? No? Takumi-kun, I see your arms are a little bruised."

"He held me down."

"Are you up to talking a little bit?"

Encouraged by his lover's arm around him, Takumi nodded. Daisuke volunteered to start, as much to protect the boy as because Takumi's memories didn't extend back to the beginning of their ordeal. He stayed calm through his anger and explained how he'd been taken, what Sato had done to both of them. Takumi looked away and squirmed, and hugged his boyfriend as much to comfort as to be comforted, or more.

Daisuke talked and talked, mostly about things Takumi didn't remember. It was bizarre to hear about his real self, this Mao person who was his exact twin but apparently a happy, well-adjusted person. As loved as he felt, he knew Daisuke wanted Mao back.

Is it possible? I think I want it to be. If that's who I really am, if I can be a person not haunted, if I can love Gii better than this...I have a brother. Is it the man from my dream?

"A few hours ago, I was awakened with a hand covering my mouth. I was dragged out, locked in a bedroom for a while, I don't know how long. Sortly before we were rescued, I was brought back to Takumi."

"Takumi-kun, can you tell me what happened during that time?"

The boy let out a shaky sigh. "H-He raped me."

"Did he say anything?"

"He kept saying he loved me. Why did he do that?"

"To justify what he was doing. He sees to have been quite obsessed with your characters. Did he acknowledge your true selves at all?"

"He asked me questions," Daisuke said. "He wanted to know about us, and seemed to know quite a bit already. It didn't last long."

"You played along? That was the right thing to do. If the delusion was strong enough, had you resisted, he likely would have hurt you even more. Takumi-kun, can you remember being Hamao Kyousuke at all?"

"No, but...I had a dream. There was another me, and a man who said he's my brother."

"That's a good sign. It means Hamao-kun is still in there." The doctor smiled gently at him. "Are you afraid of disappearing?"

"A little...but I want to be who I really am. He looked so peaceful, in my dream. I've never really felt that way."

Daisuke stroked his hair as Takumi's head nodded. "Can you help him?"

"I have a few ideas, and some calls to make. In the meantime, lunch will be brought for you two, and you both should rest. I'll be back soon."

Takumi was blinking sleepily. Daisuke managed to get him to eat a few mouthfuls of ramen, then held him while he slept, hoping the dreams going on inside his lover's head were good ones.

daimaodaimaodaimao

Takumi woke up agitated, but calmed after he was permitted to shower. His parents had sent a change of clothes through a nurse, and while he put them on, he didn't feel like the garments were his, although he liked them and they fit perfectly. While he picked at some rice, Daisuke stepped just outside, staying in sight, to hug his parents and sister and try to appear okay so they'd stop crying.

The Watanabes were understanding that he wanted to get back to Takumi, and didn't keep him long, saying they'd be waiting with the Hamaos, who were eager to see Kyousuke but understood the delay. Namiko wept quietly through the visit before giving her little brother a long hug and a wet kiss on the cheek.

"I'm really all right, Neesan. Really. The asshole was mostly focused on Mao."

She sniffled. "The poor baby. He's just a kid. Will he be all right?"

"I think so."

"He really thinks he's Takumi?"

"Yes, but he seems open to being Mao. Mom, Dad, if it's all right with the Hamaos, I want to stay with him for a while after we're released."

"That's all right, sweetheart, but you and Mao have to come stay with us for awhile once he's feeling better."

Daisuke hugged his parents again, gently disentangled himself from his sister's arms, and went back to Takumi. The boy hadn't gotten down much food, but at least he seemed to be keeping his juice down.

"I heard your mom crying," Takumi said softly, as arms wrapped around him.

"And Nami. They're okay."

"My parents are probably crying too, aren't they?"

"They're okay too. You don't need to see them until you feel better."

Takumi looked down. "Akaike-kun and Misu-kun...they aren't real."

"Their actors are called Takki and Ryoma, and they're good friends of ours." Daisuke smild. "You know, we're the second Takumi and Gii. Our friends Tomo and Keisuke played them in the first movie."

Takumi nodded slowly, and looked at him. "It's so strange. How can I feel like someone I have almost no memory of?"

"I know, baby. I can't imagine how confused you must be. But I'm with you. You'll be okay."

"I love you," Takumi whispered, and hugged him. "That's the only thing I know for sure."

"I love you, baby."

There was a knock at the door, Dr. Yamagawa with a nurse behind him. "Hi, boys. Takumi-kun, I have some ideas about how to help you. Are you feeling up to trying them?"

"I want to be the real me," Takumi said softly.

"Okay. Here's what we're going to do."

To be concluded.