Hi~!

Chapter Eight.

"This is CG-TV live with the news, Good Evening, I am Yuri Ohara."

"And I am Atsushi Kisaichi"

"The time is now 7:55 pm the weather report has come in with a prediction of heavy rainfall tonight until the early morning, Also the stock market has seen an increase in CGS productivity, but it'll be more of that to come for now on to the news. We have Milly Ashford live with an update on a residential shooting that took place five days ago which has confused the public and law officials of the like, she'll be joining us now, Milly?"

"Thank you, Atsushi-San."

"This is Milly Ashford and I am here in front of the home where an awful ordeal has taken place, as reported before neighbors say on this usual peaceful 1200 block Apple-hill Lane, they heard screams and gun shots coming from this house behind me early in the evening, as you can see for five days the police have been here looking for clues trying to piece together what has happened here. The police do have two persons of interest in custody "

"Has there been any development on the condition of the patient or what it even seems to have happened happen Milly?"

"Well Atsushi-san, As far as what actually happen here it seems no one is sure just yet the victim in question who was taking away has yet to awaken but last we were told was in serious conduction after being rushed to an nearby hospital so maybe soon when they wake up we will get an answer, so far the officers have two people in for questioning for this crime one Allegedly is the victim's husband and the other an acquaintance unsure how he relates to either person."

"One thing is for sure Atsushi, we're all hoping for the recovery of the victim"

"That we are, Thank you very much Milly,"

"Now a word from our economist specialist about the current crisis on-

"Turn that shit off Gin, I can't take it." the smoking figure barked sitting at the bar. The slivered haired male sighed as he threw his magazine of Entertainment Weekly on the bar. Gin jumped up from his seat atop the counter, his prefect sliver pony swaying behind him, reached up to the mounted T.V. and turned off the news segment.

It was quiet now in the dimly lit diner, just the two of them filling the emptiness. Yuri had closed the diner temporarily until everything with Senji was settled; It didn't feel right going back to normal here without him. Yuri had told them of the closure through text telling them to not come in the next day. Brooky did as she was told, not really in much of a mood to work with everything going on with her close friend. Gin on the other hand couldn't sit still at all, the whole situation was bothering him and was clearly bothering the blonde as nothing has ever made them close the diner in the history of its opening. The next night Gin came down to the restaurant and found the blonde smoking at the counter and watching the news. Gin had been coming down to the diner every night since to be with Yuri, helping keep things stocked, cleaning and sitting in the one place that felt normal for them, while Brooky seemed unable to do the same. Both understood that Brooky was clearly upset about the whole ordeal and just wanted some time to think and get her head together. Both males would call and text her as much as they could to keep her spirits up.

Even though both were reeling in their own way.

Meanwhile Lloyd would come by once in a while for updates, though he would never admit it.

Gin knew Yuri was upset more then he let on and even more than anything else felt useless when it came to helping him. They all knew Senji was in no way guilty of hurting the raven, that boy loved Lelouch with everything he had in him. He would only fight for him not against him. Yuri and Gin, knowing Senji for as long as he had been there, from helping with homework to life advise. All of them had been there for Senji, but now all felt useless in this mess.

How were they supposed to get them to understand if they wouldn't even listen to them?

Gin sat atop the counter near where Yuri was sitting. The blonde took a long drag of his cigarette and looked up at the cook.

"What?" He uttered with none of the intimidating bite his voice usually carried. The slivered hair man skipped the opportunity to tease the man knowing he was tired and continued.

"You need to get some sleep soon; you're losing that edge I like so much." Gin purred halfheartedly at his friend. Yuri sighed and took another drag of his cigarette

"Can't, not until..." Yuri didn't finish exhaling the smoke from his lungs.

"I know, but not much you can do looking like you just clawed your way from Hell." Yuri glared at him but said nothing, making Gin sigh and lean closer to the smoking blonde.

"I mean it Yuri, and you've been in this shitty mood since you came back from the... what's it called?" He queried. Yuri sighed.

"A precinct, you idiot." Yuri looked down almost dejected and continued to smoke his cigarette. Gin knew Yuri was once a detective a long time ago and when all this started the first thing, he did was run to the police station to see someone who could tell him exactly what was happening with Senji and hopefully it was all a misunderstanding but that wasn't what he got.

Yuri walked into the precinct, walking past the receptionist and into the Bull Pin. The swirling smell of sweat, freshly printed papers, and bitter black coffee was familiarized themselves with him. It was as loud as ever in that room with screaming perp's, blended conversations, and furious typing of beat cop's filling out reports. It felt like not long ago he was here doing the same filling out reports quickly to get out of here before the day ran too long.

Yuri's eyes scanned the room in search of the one man who could help him. And across the room he spotted them drinking coffee by his desk speaking to a beat cop. The blonde crossed the room in only a few strides coming up quickly on the unsuspecting man.

"Odysseus." The blonde called. The muscled detective turned around and looked shocked to see the man standing there

"Yuri!" The Older man exclaimed. "Boy, I thought I'd never see you in this place again after-!" The blonde held his hand to keep the man from speaking farther.

"Sorry Odysseus." He said calmly. "But I'm here for something rather important." The older man's face changed from joy to one of concern.

"You're a serious guy, always Yuri." He said walking past him, Yuri followed after him. Odysseus led him to empty room and closed the door behind them, deafening the outside world. The older the detective sat on an old desk and pulled out a cart of cigarettes, hitting the cart against his knee to get one come up. Putting the cig up to his month and lighting. Taking a long drag of his cig before exhaling and passing the cart to Yuri, who mimicked his moves. Both sat in utter silence only the noise from the bull pen leaking in. If felt like an hour before the older man spoke.

"How you been son?" He asked eyeing the young ex-detective. Yuri dragged his cigarette before answering.

"Fine." he spoke coldly. "I opened that diner." Odysseus looked somewhat surprised by this then all out laugh. This made Yuri's eye twitch in announce.

I-I'm s-sorry I Just- You?!" He said between breathes. "T-The man who can barely take a joke, the man who could steal a babies smile just by looking at them!?" He howled again at the very thought. "You gotta be in the back!" Yuri sighed, but the smallest smirk crossed his lips.

"In a way." He told the detective. The pair spoke a little longer about trivial things, like Odysseus's wife and kids, his daughter was already 16 and rebelling according to him, as well as the force and how many of the people they started with were dead or retired, in the end the short conversation was on how much had change and how much had stayed the same. They talked for a while until the topic of Yuri's visit arose.

"So, what brought you here, I know this ain't for a trip down memory lane son." Yuri sighed and put his cigarette out in an old draw and looked at this old friend clearly.

"Senji Iamiuo." Odysseus raised an eyebrow at this.

"You know that boy?" The older man asked confused. Yuri nodded.

"He works for me at the diner Odysseus," Yuri told him. "That boy is Art History Major with no family other the people at my store, I know he didn't hurt that man." The older detective sighed and lit another cigarette.

"Because he loves him too much right?" Yuri said nothing, but he glared.

"I've seen you save a lot of people Yuri, and put even more of 'em away." He paused to take a drag of his cigarette exhaling he gave Yuri a harsh look. " But in all the years you served you never took the perp's side no matter the plea or relationship to anyone involved. You never let it cloud the judgement of the work we put into the cases."

"I know, but that kid did not do this." Yuri countered ignoring the harsh look. "This isn't my relationship clouding my judgement, I know him better any of those half ass cops you got out there." Odysseus hit his cigarette and looked up at the ceiling and sighed.

"In a prefect world a could just take your word for it and let him go." He uttered to his old friend, looking back down at them. "But you know I need something other than your word, which with the turnover rate here, ain't held that high anymore'. "

"I know." Yuri leaned back against the cold steel chair atop the desk behind him and pinched the bridge of this nose. "Regardless of the outcome it'll be a lot of tears..." "Can I at least know what you have?" Odysseus put his cigarette out.

"That boy and the husband are both pointing the finger at each other with weirdly the damn near same story, your boy says he came over after a disagreement they shared at his job." Odysseus paused and looked up at Yuri. "Which now I'm getting' is your place." Yuri nodded and he continued. " He says he was coming over to apologize to the guy and there in the window found the victim in a corner crying husband holding a gun to his head he goes through this open window and they struggle things break and the gun is going off, eventually hitting the boy behind them."

"And the husband?"

"Same thing your boy says but reserved he and his partner were home, on other sides of the house, the victim cooking dinner for 'em both. He heard glass breaking, runs into living room sees his spouse and attacker fighting, Husband run's in to save the boy, pull's the guy off, they fight, same endin' " He older detective sighs in frustration. "The shit just don't make since Yuri and the only real witness we got might not even make it..." Yuri gave him a harsh confused glare.

"What does that mean?" Yuri asked. Odysseus looked at him, curious about his response, "How bad is it?"

"It seems you' know my victim too." Odysseus observed, but Yuri ignored.

"They shot him in his lower abdomen, damn near ripping his organs open, thankfully and I say that loosely, only to slice his larger intestines some muscle tissue and exiting out his left hip, but that's not all." Odysseus eyeing him carefully as he told him this. "He's pregnant." When Yuri made no expressions, Odysseus stood up. "I see you already knew though." Yuri still said nothing so the man could finish, which annoyed Odysseus, Yuri knew more than he did about any of this mess, but not enough to help him close it.

"You know my victim, knew he was pregnant which I had to be told many times 'cause I just ain't believe it and you're not gonna tell anything, huh?" Odysseus asked him in a pointed tone. Yuri still said nothing, making the man sigh. "I need at least something I can go on from you, if that boy and his baby die's, it's a guarantee you' boy are going down too, like you said this is gonna have a lot of tears." Yuri pinched the bridge of his noise once more and sighed.

"I don't have much or rather anything, but yes, Lelouch would come in and Senji was always their server." Odysseus raised an eyebrow at that, but Yuri cut in on whatever thought he was piecing together. "They were not sleeping together, so don't look at this as a love affair gone wrong, Senji just had a rather large crush on him, but..." Yuri leaned forward using his arms lazily as support. "Something about Lelouch was always off, he always wore long sleeves, turtlenecks and heavy foundation no matter the weather and skiddiest... real skiddiest." The older man smirked.

"You still got it." Yuri smirked as well.

"It's kept me in business." Odysseus chuckled at this but after his face went to stone.

"Honestly, I'll try to give this the benefit of the doubt, but Yuri..." Yuri nodded, Odysseus didn't have to explain anything. Someone other than him having faith in Senji no matter the amount.

"It's all I can ask for..."

"You know why Gin." The slivered haired man smiled sadly and patted the top of his friend's head gently, Yuri had told him everything the night he came in from the station. The idea of Senji doing this is unthinkable but the husband had more power in the situation by simply being the husband and the police having nothing to go on, everybody and everything seemed to be against him. He & Yuri were hoping for something to break, but with Lelouch and his child's life hanging in the balance nothing was certain.

"I know we all feel like crap but," Gin took Yuri's face gently into his hands, having the blonde look up him. "Yuri, Senji needs us to be strong, we're all he has, we can't give up! you look like a complete dumpster fire! " Gin turned himself completely to the blonde folding his legs. "Yuri you're the cool headed badass that gets shit done so think of something we can do! because this-" he gestured waving his finger in the man's direction. "Is. Not. It." Yuri slapped gin's hand away.

"Like what Gin?" He barked. "I'm not a detective anymore." Gin glared and flipped his pony annoyed.

"No one's asking you to become Monk or whatever, but Yuri, I know you better than anyone..." Gin's eyes soften. "And I know you're gonna help Senji and Lelouch no matter what, no matter how..." Gin looked down and away dejected. "Yuri you're..." The blonde's eyes softened as the man's voice sounded like it was breaking.

"Gin..."

"Kami! You know I suck at this type of thing and this has been very hard on me too. " Gin cried. " I don't know how to give someone confidence or make them feel good about themself... "

"That's always been you."

"Gin, you don't-" Gin interrupted glaring at him through his tears.

"No! I need you to know how important you are us! To Senji!" Gin lashed then his expression changed to one of sadness. "To me..." Yuri stared at the slivered man stunned, true Gin never was an emotional person, he was playful and sly at times in the many years they know each other, he couldn't say they had many hearts to heart convocations. Yuri would even go as far to say this was the most emotional, he had ever seen Gin.

"I hate seeing you like this! You're the strongest person I know, if you give up Yuri." Gin's voice break tears streaming down his porcelain cheeks. "I'll have no one to look up to anymore... I'll fall apart Yuri and I won't be any good to him alone, I mean look at me!" He yelled slapping his hand to his chest. "I'm a flamboyant, idol obsessed, sweet addicted, maneater! I could never do this! I wouldn't even know how start!" Suddenly gin grabbed the blonde by the collar and pulled him forward.

"But You're smart and strong and scary! The three S's! So, I need you to cheer the hell up! because who the hell do you think you are?!" Yuri smirked and took Gin's hands into his own catching the man off guard a shock express going across his face.

"You're an idiot." Yuri pulled the man forward before Gin could figure out what he was doing, Yuri had pulled him into a tight hug. The slivered haired man's eyes went wide, and pulled back from him.

"w-w-w I-I-I-" Gin was stunned Yuri NEVER gave hugs out.

"Shut up," Gin, instead of biting back at the man sat quiet. "You're an amazing person, but don't let that go to your head." The blonde whispered, wiping his tears. "You're stronger than you think Gin, you better at this "thing" than you think."

"All those things you list about yourself are the things I value about you the most." Gin smiled through the tears and through himself at Yuri, nearly knocking the man out of the bar stool.

""Kami, do you have been so dramatic?" The blonde asked. Gin pulled his head back and wiped his face.

"You seem to like it." Yuri sighed ruffling the man's hair much to his disapproval.

"Thank you." Gin kissed him on his Forehead.

"Yeah well, don't let it go to your head."

Dull tired violet eyes slowly blinked open only to be greeted by a velvet darkness. The room was pitch black, only a small illuminating glow surrounded him. cautiously sitting up they scanned the empty... room? Confused they stood up and continued to look around the space.

It was nothing.

This place was... nothing.

"Wake Up!"

the sudden small chipper voice breaking through the quiet void made them jump in fright. Spinning quickly on their heel's they were met by what looked like a small child standing behind them, just at a few arms' length away. Their face shrouded in shadow only to show their pale flush cheeks tiny nose and mouth, their lips held a genuine happy smile. Confused they reached out cautiously to the small figured.

"Who..."

"You have to wake up!" The figure spoke again. " I can't wait to meet you!"

"Meet me?" They asked hesitant.

"Yes!" the figure piped. "I've been waiting for so long!"

"Waiting... why?"

"Because! We're going to have so much fun together when you do so, please-" The figure reached their tiny pale hand out to them.

"Let's wake up, ok?"

Violet eye's shot open violently and their body shot up from their position. All their senses were saturated with noise's, bright lights and foreign objects touching their skin. Violet pools darted around and found themselves in a blinding white room with a window shining sunlight right into their eyes. Terrified and scared, they closed their eyes again and instinctively tried to run away from the lights, only to be met with immense pain from their back and lower half. Trying to cry out at the awful pain spreading across every part of their heavy body making them fell back onto the bed, was met with another challenge. A breathing tube.

Panicked they started to pull the piping out with their hands which burned and stung worse than anything they ever felt, tears stinging their eyes at this action everything in them begging them to stop as it felt like needles, but in the end, they pulled the tubing out and coughed harshly holding their sore throat. Breathing heavily, they tried to understand what had happened to them and where they were.

"Hospital..." That much they seemed to understand. Moving was impossible their body felt tied down with an anchor. They had no strength in their leg's and their whole stomach felt... odd. He was in a lot of pain that much was sure, but their abdomen just felt wrong. Laying in the world's most uncomfortable bed they searched their mind for answer to question in mind.

Why?

How they get there?

"Everything hurts..." They groaned their voice hoarse from leak of use. Raising their lump arm up to block some of the sunlight permeating the room and froze.

There on his left hand was a sliver wedding band with a small diamond. Before they knew it their mouth roughly uttered one word.

"Su..zaku..?" Their large violet pools widen in horror and realization, everything was coming back to him and it was making there physically sick. Suzaku he...

Lelouch dragged himself by the rail to the edge, leaned over the bed frame and vomited violently. He was completely disgusted at the images flooding his mind of that day, he shook his head like it would shake the thought's, the memories, and the overwhelming feeling of shame out. A broken sob escaped their throat, Suzaku, his husband, the person who he promised his whole life to, had tried to take it from him. The memory of being dragged by their hair and being told just how much he didn't matter rang in his ear's. His body was shaking, he didn't know how to really feel or what to think. He couldn't- no he didn't want to process this, it had to be some type of mistake, a dream. It had to have been something he could have done to have kept this was happening something to make it right. He shook his head harshly again.

"This is horrible..." He sobbed. His mind clouded with thought' and voices that did not sound like his own. What was he thinking, what was he do next, he wouldn't even had been alive without Senji-

"S-Senji. " He had forgot about Senji! Was he ok? Was he here in the hospital too? What happened between him and Suzaku. Then a blurred broken memory of Senji crying over him as he held him close, he felt riddled with guilt as it came. That's right Suzaku had shot him trying to kill Senji who had come to his rescue. He had dragged the artist into his life and it may have harmed him or worse.

"No, No, don't think that way..." he cried. Senji couldn't be dead, he just couldn't be, not because of him. He couldn't bare that, this was his fault not his, he was the one that should have died! Lelouch hand wondered on instinct in search of the one thing that calmed him always, his round stomach.

"What do I do bab-" Lelouch paused his blood running ice cold, the little color he had drained immediately from his face. His hands tightly and roughly grabbing at the fabric of his nightgown and began to shake.

his bump was gone.

His baby was gone.

gone.

gone.

gone.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no -" His hands pulled and yanked at his stomach erratically, desperately. "How, How -!"

Suzaku

Suzaku did this.

A sharp piercing ranging began to burn his ear's he could hear distant screaming. Quickly, he brought his hands to his ears to block it out but it penetrated and persisted still. He began to rock back he forth in the bed has the waves of grief and pain struck his already fragile heart.

His baby, the only thing that kept him moving, kept him alive.

Gone.

Gone.

"Suzaku did this to me!"

The ranging became louder and his grip on his ears tighten. Suddenly he felt himself being pulled down to the bed, lights and hands all over him. Sound of obscure voices spoke over him with distorted faces... Or speaking to him?

"Y... St-!" He couldn't make it out but his body fought against them, why were they doing this? why were they holding him down like this. He wanted to be let go and alone.

He wanted to die.

"Sir!' He finally heard through the constant ranging that was now splitting his head open. One of the disembodied hands had gotten his hand away from his head.

"Please! You have stop screaming sir!" The voice echoed; a cold harsh reality had set into him.

The ranging he was hearing...

Were his pained and inconsolable inhuman wails.

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