Chapter Five

Safe House

The metro station was busy. It was something Sousuke could use to his advantage as they made their way through the crowds of suits, the people scurrying to get home. He had a gentle but forceful hold of Makoto as they walked towards the trains that whistled passed at an impossible speed, using that to direct him where to go.

He kept his eyes out for the man in glasses, sure he would be somewhere in the station but instead of focusing on being followed, Sousuke focused on making sure they got away and were hidden.

They got onto a packed train, Sousuke pressing his body flush to Makoto's as Makoto gripped onto a metal pole. The carriage was full of workers, of newspapers and tablets and cell phones and Sousuke took in all the faces, ignoring the fact he was pressed up to Makoto so very tightly.

Maybe it was too close. Probably was and Sousuke wondered how he would act if this was one of his average clients. If this was some actor or some model or someone else but because he was Makoto, it seemed Sousuke was losing his head, keeping his body closer than necessary.

The training for being a bodyguard always had one important thread – that the client's life was the priority and therefore Sousuke's job was always to keep his body in the way. He tried to believe that was his reasoning, that was why he was he had his hips almost in line with Makoto's, his chest, but he wasn't so sure. Damn it.

The train halted at a station and Sousuke grabbed for Makoto again, dragging them out into the bright lights of a different station. They waited for another train, Sousuke hoping that a few changes and a few different connections would cause enough confusion for them to not be followed. And the busyness of commuters aided them in that.

After a few changes, Sousuke keeping his hand on Makoto at all times, he finally felt safe enough to travel to the warehouse and they boarded a train heading in that direction, this time the carriage less busy and they took seats alongside each other, Makoto's arm pressed against Sousuke's. It was now much later and Sousuke suddenly heard a growling sound low and he turned to see Makoto give an apologetic smile.

"I haven't eaten since breakfast."

"Neither have I."

There had been no time for food, no thoughts of it and Sousuke realised he felt the same gnawing hunger in his belly. It was just a shame they'd not be getting any decent food. As he knew what the warehouse would have. Yes, it would have food… but the food would be barely worth eating. He sighed at the thought.

"They'll be food… soon."

He didn't dare say anything more, his eyes still cautious, still narrowed, still looking at every passenger that left and entered the carriage until they got to their own stop, Sousuke no longer holding Makoto at all times, just walking closely alongside him, keeping his own pace at the one Makoto set.

It had got dark now and they exited into the cooler night air. Sousuke looked over as they walked, seeing Makoto take in their location as the warehouse was near the docks and near the docks was perhaps not the most friendly place to be after dark. During the day, of course, there was work and deliveries and large cargo ships but now there were bars with neon and men stood outside smoking, and Makoto moved imperceptibly closer to Sousuke. And Sousuke tried not to take advantage of that almost involuntary movement, the sudden desire to wrap his arm around Makoto's waist, draw him close, a gesture that was far too unprofessional for someone such as Sousuke.

At least the warehouse was relatively easy to find, Sousuke breaking some glass of a low level window, looking around before readying himself to pull his body into the building.

"I will check the place. Don't move from this spot unless something bad happens. I'll secure the area."

Makoto nodded but seemed a little wary of Sousuke's plan but Sousuke had to check the warehouse hadn't been compromised, had to check it was a safe house and not a trap so he pulled himself up, feeling a shard of glass snag on his hoodie as he did. The warehouse was completely in darkness and smelt unpleasantly of old fish and the ocean and Sousuke walked, slowly, carefully, his footsteps not making much noise as the sound was deadened by dust. He wished he had a torch or something to find a light but instead he slowly walked across the room, finding a doorway that led to another room, and feeling around the wall beside, finally finding a switch for a light.

He expected the room to be illuminated in brightness but instead of brightness a single bulb was poised on a thin wire and Sousuke had hoped this warehouse would be modern, comfortable, somewhere to relax for the night but instead, the floor was covered with dust, boxes surrounded the walls and it smelt of stale fish. Tonight was going to be unpleasant. He wondered how to break that to Makoto. He saw the box that Rin had described, a sign of a shark on the outside and he walked towards it, noting a crow bar located and opening it without any issues.

Inside it was the sleeping bags, the energy bars, the bottles of water, the torches and the med kit. It wasn't a Hilton, Sousuke thought, but it would do. He grabbed for a torch and turned off the light not wanting to attract too much attention and went back to collect Makoto, relief flooding him when he was still there, his arms folded across his chest and eyes glancing everywhere in agitation.

"It's safe," Sousuke said and he offered Makoto a hand to climb in. Which Makoto refused, climbing in, his jacket snagging on the broken glass just like Sousuke's had.

Once inside, Makoto looked around even more unsure. "There's no light?"

"We need to keep it off," Sousuke said, "less obvious."

Makoto followed closely behind Sousuke and he almost wanted to laugh. "You don't like the dark, huh?"

It seemed after all the events of today, it seemed the most ridiculous thing – Makoto was a grown man who was being hunted by men who wanted to kidnap him and probably torture him and the night in a darkened safe house caused him anxiety. Sousuke tried not to be amused but Makoto didn't give him chance to muse this little bit of information when he felt a hand at his wrist, pulling him to face an angry green eyed stare.

"Don't you dare! I have followed you and done everything you asked me to do. My life has been turned upside down so don't mock me," Makoto said, his voice suddenly laced with anger and Sousuke didn't know how to respond to that as he was close, pressing close, so that their faces were mere inches apart.

Sousuke wasn't used to someone being as tall as him, as physically powerful, confronting him, calling him out. Rin called him out but Rin wasn't as physical as Makoto was and Sousuke didn't know what to do. But he probably picked the worst thing when he had an angry guy with incredible muscles shouting in his face.

And that was kissing him.