When Ritsu woke up his throat felt dry and his head began to ache. His eyelids were so heavy that he could hardly keep his eyes open. With a groan he sat up and rubbed his forehead. Why did he feel like waking up from the dead?
After a while he took a look at his surroundings and panic began to settle within him. Where was he? He was in a bedroom, of that much he was certain. It was small, messy and smelly, much like his own. The thing, that gave him a queasy feeling, was that it was absolutely unfamiliar to him.
Dreadful he looked down on himself, even lifted the bedsheets, only to find that he was indeed naked. Not only that but his body was graced with suspicious marks and bruises. There could be no doubt to what has happened to him. All colour drained from his face and his grip on the sheets tightened so much that his knuckles turned white.
No! No, no, no!, he chanted in his head, still in denial about what was already obvious. The shock about the sudden turn of events of which he had no memories of paralyzed his muscles. He was unable to move.
Before he was able to snap out of this state and to bolt out of the room and run as far away as he could get, the door opened and a broad man entered the room. He seemed to be at least ten years older than Onodera himself, according to the gray hairline and the wrinkles around his eyes. Truth be told, the man wasn't an attractive sight at all. His eyes were bloodshot, he hadn't - as it seemed - bothered to shave in months and his teeth were discoloured and dull. Ritsu wanted to throw up.
"Finally awake, sleeping beauty? Took you long enough", the man grumbled as he made his way over to the bed. The smaller mans eyes widened in fear. He didn't want this man anywhere near him. All he wanted was to leave as soon as possible.
"S-stay away from me!", he managed to shout as he covered himself with the bed sheet. Where were his clothes? Finally he located them under the bed. He would only need to lean over to be able to reach them. Being aware of his intention the man leaned over, caged the brunet between his arms and made it impossible for him to flee. His face was so close Ritsu could feel the others breathe on his own which reeked of alcohol. In pure horror his stomach churned and Ritsu was tempted to scrunch up his nose.
"Oh no, you're not going anywhere", the man stated with a dangerous, almost maniac glint in his eyes.
In his panic the smaller man started to thrash around in order to free himself but it only resulted in getting slapped across the face. The pain made him howl out loud.
His attacker began to curse. "Be quiet, you whore! It's your fault! You tempted me!" Forcefully he kissed his way along Ritus jaw. The quivering of the small man didn't bother him in the least. "You – you came to me, flirted with me!" The accusation was breathless but threatening nevertheless. It got more and more difficult to breathe for the brunet. "How could I resist you? You made me sin and you're going to pay for it!"
As large, rough hands went down south Ritsu snapped out of his daze and struggled. Aimlessly he threw punches and kicks, hoping to free himself. Unfortunately this man was much stronger than he was. His defence only infuriated the stranger even more so he stopped his travel to intimate regions and seconds later Ritsu felt pain exploding in his face as a fist collided with his right eye. More instinctively than intentionally he kicked out and hit the man between his legs. Although he was almost blind from the pain he seized the moment when the man let him go and bolted for his clothes. In fear the man might follow him he glanced around frantically, spotted a lamp on the bedside table and whacked the man's head with it. The clinking of shards was heard and then – apart from his own heavy panting – it was silent. For a few moments he continued to stare at the unconscious man. There was blood seeping out from a gash in his head.
As soon as he realized that the man wouldn't be able to chase him for a while he threw his clothes on in haste and ran. He ran and ran for so long that his lungs felt like bursting. But he didn't stop. Cars were honking at him for not regarding the traffic rules and people were shouting at him for bumping into them without as much of an apology. He didn't care. His feet just kept on moving, adrenaline kicking in, his mind demanded to get as far away as possible from the horrible place.
He had not the slightest idea how long he simply ran or how he could even manage to run nonstop without getting tired but he eventually found himself standing right before the apartment complex in which he lived in.
Knowing he would be safe there, he entered the building, now with a newfound calmness. As soon as he stood in front of his apartment door he realized that he had lost his keys and his mobile phone as well. But that didn't bother him for now. He was home again. As if making sure that he wasn't just dreaming he touched the door gently. Just now he realized what fate he had managed to escape from and how close he had been to experience one of the most horrible things done to a person. His knees started to shake so he slid down the door, unable to hold himself up on his wobbly legs. The adrenaline was starting to wear off and he began to hyperventilate. Focusing on keeping his breath steady he failed in suppressing the sobs that were now wrecking his whole body. In order to protect himself he curled into a ball, still shaking horribly. His mind was dead set on reminding him of the possible outcome of his dreadful situation if he hadn't escaped and kept replaying different horrible scenarios before his eyes. It was pure torture so when sleep finally found him he felt blessed, even though he was still crying in his sleep.
That's how Takano found him.
He had nearly searched the whole city for Ritsu but even after hours of running around and asking people he still had no clue about the whereabouts of his lover and it made him frustrated. If it hadn't been for Yokozawa, who had phoned his friend in worry to talk some sense into him, he would still be outside looking for Ritsu. Even with his friend listing logical reasons to call it a day and rest, he only agreed after realising that Ritsu could already be home again.
And indeed he was. Only Takano didn't expect to find him in the state he was in. His heart broke at the sight of his lover lying asleep in front of his door, clutching himself and whimpering. Without hesitation he picked the smaller brunet up bridal style, careful not to wake him, and carried him in his own apartment where he lay him down on the bed. Gently he brushed the soft bangs from his face but winced as soon as he gathered a gaze at his lovers face. He gritted his teeth in anger at seeing Ritsus bruised cheek and his swollen eye that already turned purple.
There was nothing he would want more than to scream at the sleeping man for being careless and making him worried sick. "You're such an idiot!", he hissed, not louder than a whisper. Contradicting to his words, though, he leaned down, brushed across the brunets cheek with his thump where he felt the traces of tears and softly kissed his forehead. Then he sighed, a deep tired sigh of the defeated. "What am I going to do with you?"