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Beautiful Stranger	By : forsaken1973 Category: Gravitation > General Views: 3133 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Gravitation, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
Disclaimer:

I do not own Gravitation or any of its characters.
I just love them to no end and have a very twisted imagination. Please be aware
that I am extremely poor so suing me will do you no good. Thanks.

Warnings: Lemon Yaoi / Explicit Language / Angst
/ Rape / Violence / AU / A little Yuki OCC in this one ^^

Pairings: Yuki x Shuichi / Ryuichi + Tatsuha
/ Hiro x Ayaka / K x Sakano / Tohma x Mika /

FYI: Inner thoughts ‑‑ [ Flashback ]

Author=s Notes:

Finally,
after over a year of waiting, chapter eight of Beautiful Stranger is now here!
I�m so sorry for the terribly long wait, everyone. Thankfully though, since
I�ve been updating my fic chapters scene by scene, progress has been wonderful
and timely. Hopefully, the groove the muse has been on will continue and I can
get the next chapter out soon � at least before the end of the year! Anyway,
this chapter is a hodgepodge of various POVs, as
usual. You�ll see the reunion of Shuichi and Yuki, get to know Suguru a bit
more, enjoy a very lustful lemon, and get more insight into Tachi from Ma�s
perspective. Wow, you�ve got so much to look forward to! ^^

Thanks
to all who�ve sent me comments and inquiries in regards to this fic. Your support and concern has meant the world to me.

Well?
What are you waiting for? Go on, read the fic! And don�t forget to drop a
comment my way! I�d love to hear from you. ^^

Til
next time,

Forsaken

CHAPTER EIGHT

~ DEPTH
PERCEPTION ~

Sitting in the living room of
Yuki�s apartment, Shuichi waited nervously for his lover�s arrival. He was sure
the blonde was furious with him, and Shuichi couldn�t help but fear the
retribution he so rightly deserved. A part of him knew that Yuki would never
physically hurt him, but the other part, the part of him reluctant to trust
anyone fully, wasn�t so easily convinced. That side of him was too worn out by
the emotional abuse he�d suffered in the past. Too used to the pain and
humiliation that usually went hand in hand with his mistakes.

Shuichi sighed wearily,
running a hand through his reddish brown locks. But what else could he have
done? He wasn�t being paranoid or overprotective in thinking that Yuki would be
hurt or worse if Nao managed to locate him here. Fleeing had been his only
option, somehow knowing that Yuki would have never let him go otherwise.

But his efforts had been futile,
Shuichi thought somberly as he looked over at the boy sitting next to him. It
seemed that even Fate was against him these days.

�So, how long have you known
Yuki?� Suguru asked him suddenly, breaking the silence between them. �Can�t be
long or I would�ve seen you before today.� Suguru looked at him speculatively
from where he sat on the sofa chair opposite to Shuichi.

�No, not long. Just a few days,�
Shuichi replied, feeling more and more uncomfortable under the brunette�s gaze.

Suguru�s dark eyebrows rose in
surprise. �And you�re, you know, together?�

Feeling his cheeks redden at
Suguru�s accurate summation, Shuichi nodded in response, seeing no reason to
deny the obvious.

Suguru shook his head, a mixture
of confusion and disbelief on his face.

A little irked by the look,
Shuichi frowned at him. �What?�

�It�s just that I�ve never
known Yuki to get so... attached to someone before. I would ask if things
between you were serious, being the nosy person that I am, but I guess Yuki
practically having a manhunt out for you today answers that question.� Suguru�s
eyes latched onto his, serious and almost penetrating. �At
least, on Yuki�s part.�

Anger boiled inside of Shuichi,
knowing very well what Suguru was trying to insinuate. Who does this prick think he is? Questioning me like
he knows me. Like he knows so goddamn much.
This boy knew nothing of the things he�d experienced. Nothing.

His hands wanted so desperately
to clench, but Shuichi refused to give Suguru the satisfaction of seeing him
angry. As hard as it was, he reined in his temper and simply stared at Suguru,
refusing to waver under the other boy�s suspicious gaze. I�m not going to say a word. Not a single word. Let him wonder his ass
off.

At Shuichi�s silence, Suguru
frowned and was about to say something when the front door opened. Shuichi
instantly stiffened, fear coiling in his belly. He swallowed, releasing a shaky
breath, and forced himself to look over his shoulder. The instant his eyes fell
upon Yuki, Shuichi felt his heart stop.

His lover stood at the doorway,
one large hand still on the silver doorknob, the other wrapped tightly over the
set of keys within its grasp. Yuki�s slightly wrinkled blue shirt was no longer
tucked into his pants and his blonde hair was disheveled as if he�d run his
hands through it several times. But despite his rumpled appearance, Yuki looked
dangerous and feral as his yellow-green eyes raked over Shuichi�s body, slowly,
taking every inch of him in. Shuichi shivered, unable to look away.

Suguru looked from Shuichi to
Yuki and stood up. �I�ll just leave the two of you alone,� he said, a bit
nervous, as he quickly walked over to the door.

Yuki stepped aside, giving
Suguru ample room to walk through. �Thank you, Suguru,� Yuki said, his eyes not
once sliding away from Shuichi.

Suguru stumbled a bit at the
softly spoken words and his eyes widened almost comically. Red faced with
embarrassment, the brunette murmured a hesitant �You�re welcome� and quickly
exited the apartment.

The door closed, echoing lightly
through the room, as he and Yuki were finally left alone. At that moment,
Shuichi felt frozen in place, unable to think clearly, lost in the pools of
peridot engulfing him. But despite the dread gripping his insides, he felt
prompted to speak.

�Yuki... I...� He paused, trying
to find the right words to explain his actions. But before he could speak
again, Yuki crossed the distance between them and grabbed him by his shoulders,
pulling him to his chest in a blink of an eye. Shuichi�s eyes widened in
surprise, not only by the unexpected move but also by the slight tremors
running along the strong arms now wrapped around him.

�You stupid fool,� Yuki
whispered, almost raggedly. �You stupid, stupid fool.
Don�t you ever run away from me again.�

Shuichi�s eyes softened and
began to shimmer with tears as Yuki�s words reverberated in his mind, as the
meaning behind him, the feelings behind them, began to sink in. He cares about me. Really cares. �God,�
he sobbed and returned the embrace with all of his might, burying his face into
his lover�s hard chest. Tears trailed down his cheeks and into the soft
material of Yuki�s shirt as he tried to speak coherently. �I�m sorry... I
didn�t want to leave you. I didn�t. I was scared. So damn
scared.�

A gentle hand ran through his
hair, soothing him. �I know. I know,� Yuki replied, holding him tightly.

�If I stay... if he finds me
here, he�ll hurt you, Yuki,� Shuichi said, brokenly, his hands fisting into Yuki�s
shirt. �He�ll hurt you.�

Yuki sighed and pulled away
slightly. �It�s time for us to talk, Shuichi.�

Arms loosening but not letting
go, Shuichi closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against Yuki�s strong
chest as he nodded his head. Yuki was right; they needed to talk. And there was
nothing he could do to delay it any further. He would tell Yuki about Nao and
of the things he�d done in order to survive alone. He would reveal his
mistakes, his deeds, and his pain-filled past.

Shuichi could only hope that the
love he�d seen within Yuki�s eyes wouldn�t dim by the time he was done.

Walking out of the elevator and
onto the floor leading to the apartment he shared with Sakano and K, Suguru
slipped a hand into his pants pocket and fished out his keys. But as he
approached the door, keys jingling in the air, Suguru paused in the hallway,
his mind filled with tumultuous thoughts.

Did he really want to go in
there right now, when his emotions were so clear to see on his face? Sakano
would immediately pick up on them and wouldn�t hesitate to ask him what was
bothering him. Suguru shook his head. No,
I�m not ready to go in there right now. Not until I�ve got a handle on what�s
bothering me. Only then would he be able to withstand his guardian�s
concerned gaze and not act like befuddled child.

Knowing he needed to be alone
for a while, Suguru turned around and walked back to the elevator. Once inside,
he pressed the button leading down to the basement and stood patiently near the
doors as the elevator whisked past each floor gratefully uninterrupted, lost in
thought yet again. He startled a little bit when the doors opened, so engrossed
he�d been in his musing, but quickly walked through them.

Familiar with his surroundings,
Suguru walked through several corridors without a misstep, unafraid of the
darkness surrounding him and unperturbed by the silence drowning out the
outside world. He was in his favorite spot, his domain, the one place he could
turn to when he needed solace and time away from a reality that could be at
times too much to handle.

Relief swept through him, sharp
and powerful, when he finally reached the room he�d made into his haven.
Raising his hand to the digital security lock just above the door�s metal
handle, Suguru deftly entered the access codes he�d programmed into it in order
to safeguard his place of seclusion. He closed his left hand around the handle
as a soft click resounded loudly along the hallway and pushed down on it,
opening the door with a slight push.

The dark room was illuminated
only by the five video monitors aligned side by side on top of the long table
he�d placed against the far right wall. �Lights on,� Suguru commanded, as the
door closed quietly behind him, and in an instant, the room was flooded with
light.

Walking past several metal racks
brimming with an assortment of parts and equipment, Suguru sat down in the
leather chair he�d left facing away from the table and swiveled it around so
that he could face the monitors he used to keep watch over the building. Once
he was sure that everything was as it should be, Suguru crossed his arms over
the edge of the table and, with a sigh, lowered his head onto them. What the hell is wrong with me? Why can�t I
get them out of my head?

He just couldn�t get past the
emotions he�d been stunned to witness back in Yuki�s apartment the moment
Shindou and Yuki�s eyes had met. In that one instant, all of his doubts over
Shindou�s feelings for his employer had vanished and the reality of what was
between Yuki and the boy he�d just met had come crashing down on him. Suguru
raised his hand slightly and gripped a few strands of his dark hair, gently
tugging at them over and over again with his fingers, as he pondered over the
feelings he couldn�t quite get a handle on.

He wasn�t bothered by what he�d
seen. How could he when his own guardians shared the same kind of bond? No, it
was something else, something he couldn�t quite put a finger on. Suguru
released the hair he�d been toying with and lifted his head, resting his chin over
his arm. Perhaps it was the vulnerability he�d seen in Yuki�s eyes that had
struck such a deep cord within him.

Although Yuki�s face had been as
impassive as always, the older man�s eyes had not been. Emotions Suguru had
never before seen within the yellow-green orbs had stood out, unencumbered, and
he�d been totally blown away by them. He�d felt uncomfortable by the sight and
had rushed to leave the two men alone. He could easily lie to himself, letting
himself believe that his quick departure had been incited by his desire to see
Yuki and Shindou resolve whatever had been silently transpiring between them.
But, that would be taking the coward�s way out, something Suguru could not
abide. No, he had to be honest with himself. He had to admit how out of place
he�d felt at that very moment. Dark eyes stared at the monitors, watchful, ever
watchful.

He was an observer of life,
seldom unaware of the comings and goings around him. And everyday, he witnessed
the feelings others exuded for one another, watching from a far how love could
deepen a relationship and how friendship could strengthen a tentative bond. But
he was never really a part of it all. He was an outside participant, unsure of
his place. Suguru�s chest tightened suddenly as he realized then what was truly
bothering him.

He was afraid. Afraid of his
growing need to offer those very things to the people now weaved so deeply into
his life.

It had developed subtly, this
yearning, trickling into his heart slowly, lacing his every reaction, his every
thought. When he�d realized what was happening, he�d tried to staunch it, to
ignore it and then deny it, asking himself repeatedly if he could afford to
become so vulnerable. If he could permit pieces of his heart to no longer
belong to him. If he could relinquish control of his feelings in such a way
that those who cared to look could actually see �him�, really see him. But no
matter how hard he tried, his questions remained unanswered and the futility of
his quest was becoming increasingly clear.

�God,� Suguru moaned, burying
his hands into his hair. �Why am I worrying about this shit?� he asked himself,
his voice haunted. Closing his eyes, he rested his forehead on his palms and
ignored the biting edge of the table against his elbows. �Why?� But even as he
uttered the solitary word, Suguru knew the answer.

He wanted, truly wanted, what he
could not yet allow himself to give and the knowledge of that fact was becoming
almost too much for him to bear.

�Lights off,� Suguru whispered,
and the room was plunged back into darkness.

After Shuichi had eaten a decent meal and changed out of his
worn clothes and into one of his white long sleeve shirts, Yuki sat them both
down in the living room, determined to talk to Shuichi, not only to learn more
of his past but also to convince the terrified man that all would be well as
long as they were together.

It was difficult, however, to put his plans in motion when
his lover was being more than a little hesitant to speak. So he sat next to
Shuichi on the sofa, his arm curled protectively over his lover�s tense
shoulders, and waited patiently for Shuichi to open up to him.

�I�m sorry.�

Yuki�s brow furrowed. �For what?�

Troubled eyes looked at him. �For causing
you so much trouble.�

�I guess you can�t help it. You�re just a natural pain in
the ass.� Yuki tilted his head toward Shuichi. �So make it up to me.�

�How?�

�Talk to me, Shuichi. I�m going to help you whether you want
me to or not. But I�d prefer to get into this mess with my eyes open, not closed.�

�I already told you about my past.�

Yuki nodded his head. �Yes, a bit. But I need to know more,
Shuichi.�

�I don�t exactly remember what I told you that night��

But Yuki did. Very clearly. But he
wanted Shuichi to tell him again in hopes of deriving more details out of his
reluctant lover, details that Shuichi had probably omitted the first time
around in fear of revealing too much to him. �Why don�t you start from the beginning.�

Shuichi looked away and stared down at his lap. For a long
moment, there was only silence between them, but just when Yuki was about to
suggest postponing their talk for another time, Shuichi began to talk.

�Six years ago, my family died in a freak house fire.
Something to do with a short circuit, they said.� Shuichi took a deep breath.
�Since I had no other living relatives, I was sent to an orphanage. But I
didn�t give them the chance to place me anywhere. I ran away, thinking that I�d
be better off on my own.� Shuichi smirked bitterly. �I realized too late that
things aren�t that simple. You need money to survive, to get food and shelter.�
Shuichi paused for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts. �Later, when I was
at the park, sitting on the bench I�d slept in for two days, I met this guy
named Toru. He seemed really nice. And when he offered me a way to make some
money, I didn�t hesitate to go with him.�

Yuki could feel how tense Shuichi was getting, and he wished
there was something he say to make this easier on Shuichi. But he knew more
than anyone that one�s past could often be a collage of mistakes and regrets,
an agony that could not be lessened by mere words. All he could do right now
was allow Shuichi to speak, hoping that his presence
was a comfort Shuichi could rely on.

�He brought me to this place where there were others like
me, kids that were homeless and trying to find a way to stay alive. I thought
that I�d be okay, you know? That I was finally safe.� Shuichi�s hand fisted
where it rested on Yuki�s lap. �Then I met Nao.�

Now it was Yuki�s turn to tense. Murao... Yuki couldn�t stop a wave of pure hatred to wash over him
at the mention of the bastard who�d abused Shuichi. I don�t know how I�m going to be able to listen to this without
exploding. But he had to. Shuichi needed him to be calm, to be his usual
collected self. There would be enough time later to allow his control to slip
free.

�At first, he was very kind to me. He gave me a place to
stay and even a little cash to spend like I wanted to. But soon enough, I
learned that his kindness came with a price and that I had to earn what I was
given. I ended up working the streets with Toru, learning quickly how to pick
pockets, to shoplift, to be the best thief I could be. I got really good at it
too, despite how much I hated what I was doing. For years, I did what Nao wanted, living under his strict rules and taking the
punishment he gave out whenever I fucked up. But one day...� Shuichi stopped
talking and his body began to tremble within Yuki�s embrace.

Not really knowing what he was doing but needing to soothe
Shuichi somehow, Yuki pulled Shuichi to him until the younger man was
straddling his lap and his head was resting on Yuki�s chest. Wrapping his arms
around the shivering form practically molded against him, he held Shuichi close
as his mind was bombarded with sudden doubts. Maybe I shouldn�t be doing this. I shouldn�t be forcing him to talk
about this shit. It�s causing him more harm than good. �You don�t have to
tell me anymore, Shuichi.�

Shuichi shook his head, causing soft curls to slide gently
across Yuki�s chin. �No, I want to say this. I want you to know everything.�
Yuki remained silent, prompting Shuichi to continue. �One day, I stood up for a
kid who had botched up a job. I knew what Nao was likely to do to him, so I
even tried to take part of the blame. God, that was a
big mistake. Nao got so furious with me... He punished me like he was prone to
do whenever any of us upset him. But this time,� Shuichi swallowed, �he decided
to do more than just hurt me.�

Yuki closed his eyes, tightening his hold over his lover.
Somehow, he knew what Shuichi was about say, and he wasn�t sure he could handle
hearing it.

�I lost my virginity that day,� Shuichi whispered, his hands
fisted around Yuki�s shirt. �It hurt so much, Yuki. So much that I thought I�d
die. When it was over, I thought the pain would finally stop. But he wasn�t
finished with me yet.�

Yuki�s eyes opened, their depths cold, clouded by anger.
�What did he do?� he asked in a voice even he couldn�t recognize, already
knowing the answer.

Shuichi let out a shaky breath. �He whipped me, over and
over again, until I passed out.�

Yuki�s hold involuntarily tightened as the scars he�d seen
on Shuichi the night they�d first slept with each other once again came vividly
to mind. Hatred pulsed inside him. I
swore that night that I�d make you pay. And I am. I�m going to kill you, Murao.
I�m going to fucking kill you.

�I woke up in the basement, naked and bleeding... dirty,�
Shuichi continued, his body shaking uncontrollably, tears now running freely,
soaking Yuki�s shirt. �I was so scared. I begged and begged, but he wouldn�t
let me out.� Sobs began to escape Shuichi trembling lips. �God, Yuki. I hate
him. I hate him so much!�

With those final words, Shuichi broke down completely,
crying into Yuki�s chest, as he allowed years of pain and anguish to break free
at last.

�That�s it. Let it out,� Yuki spoke softly, running his
hands gently through Shuichi�s hair as he held him. �It�s alright. I�m here.�

Whether his words were comforting Shuichi, Yuki honestly
didn�t know. He was out of his element, unused to offering himself this way.
But despite his uncertainty and his apprehension, Yuki couldn�t stop his
unrelenting need to share some of the warmth that had been recently resurrected
inside of him. So he sat there, holding his crying lover in his arms, lost
within a sea of doubts and fears but grounded somehow by newfound hope and
love.

Minutes passed before Shuichi�s tremors subsided, the
occasional sniffles faint within the otherwise silent room. Taking a shuddering
breath, Shuichi pulled away from him, not meeting his eyes, and spoke in an
almost terrified whisper. �Do you... Do you hate me?�

Yuki�s yellow-green eyes widened. �No,� he quickly replied,
stunned by such a question.

Shuichi raised his head, his watery, red-rimmed eyes holding
a mixture of disbelief and hope. �You don�t?�

Yuki grinned slightly and shook his head. �You really are a
fool.�

Shuichi frowned at the comment, still sniffling, as his lips
curved into a delightful pout. �Yuki.�

Hands buried in the soft waves of his lover�s hair, Yuki
cupped Shuichi�s head as his slow kisses covered Shuichi�s forehead, nose, and
eyes. �You�re mine now. Mine to
protect. Mine to love. You�ll belong to no
other in this lifetime or beyond.�

�Yuki,� Shuichi whispered, his eyes shimmering with emotion.
�I love you.�

Feeling as if he�d been given a gift without measure, a gift
he�d thought he�d never hoped to obtain, Yuki spoke the words that were now so
clear in his heart. �And I love you, Shuichi Shindou. With
everything that�s in me.�

Fresh tears trailed down Shuichi�s face as Yuki lowered his
mouth onto the trembling lips already opening for him.

Their tongues slid across one another, quickly heightening
the passion already arcing between them, and the hours they�d spent apart, the
pain they had felt at being separated, suddenly disappeared, leaving behind a
need so strong that neither of them could deny.

Yuki�s hands slipped underneath Shuichi�s shirt, running
along smooth skin until his palms slid over Shuichi�s rounded buttocks. He
pressed them taut against him and ground into his lover�s answering erection
with a savage hiss. Shuichi responded with abandon, rotating his hips with
fervor, causing a puff of air to escape Yuki�s lips as his desire, his need for
Shuichi began to overrule his senses.

He stood up abruptly, holding Shuichi close, and propelled
them both into the bedroom. Once inside, he released Shuichi, placing him
gently on the bed, and took a step back so that he could discard his clothing.
His fingers fumbled in their task, however, as he watched Shuichi slide further
back on the bed, hands behind him, the oversized shirt barely covering his slim
shoulders, and spread his legs wide open, blatantly offering himself. Shuichi
looked at him then, violet eyes dark with passion and need, and Yuki nearly
burst right then and there.

Eyes transfixed on the glistening erection now exposed to
him, Yuki somehow held on to his wavering control, forcing his surprisingly
clumsy fingers to work open the buttons on his shirt and the zipper on his now
overly tight pants. Throwing the bothersome garments across the room, he
quickly climbed onto the bed, gloriously naked, and placed himself in between
Shuichi�s legs. His mouth slammed into Shuichi�s just as their bodies met and
molded to one another.

Yuki was desperate, greedy for more, wanting more than
anything to be buried within the body quivering deliciously beneath him. He
could not wait a moment more. Lust overtaking him, he slid his tongue across
Shuichi lips and said in a husky tone, �Turn over.�

Shuichi shivered at his command, but didn�t hesitate to
obey. He sat up quickly and got on his hands and knees. Yuki licked his lips as
Shuichi lowered his head onto the bed, turning his face to the side, and lifted
his hips up high, causing the material covering him to fall away, revealing a
most tantalizing sight.

Enraptured, Yuki moved closer, fitting his hips snugly
against Shuichi�s backside and ran his member back and forth along the crease
of Shuichi�s buttocks. He was immediately inflamed by the tiny moan issued from
his lover�s lips. He stroked against him again and heard Shuichi suck in a
ragged breath, awakening a dangerous need within him to both overpower and bind
himself.

He reached under the pillow and grabbed the small tube he�d
thankfully left there from the night before. He slicked his hardened shaft,
hissing at the sensation, and slowly mounted Shuichi, pressing his abdomen
against the younger man�s clothed back and brushing his wiry curls against the
rounded globes ready to be kneaded, to be spread as wide as they could be.
Placing his hands on the bed, on either side of Shuichi, he positioned himself
at Shuichi�s entrance, rubbing at the puckered flesh, covering the little hole
with a mixture of his precum and clear lubricant. That was all he could manage,
lust and impatience cutting short any further preparation. Full and throbbing,
he thrust into Shuichi, sliding into exquisite heat in one sure stroke.

He tightened his arms around Shuichi�s waist and pulled him
up tightly against his groin. Shuichi arched and cried out at the sudden change
in position, his smaller hands clutching at Yuki�s strong arms. Reveling in his
lover�s reaction, Yuki buried his face into the strands of Shuichi�s hair,
biting his earlobe right through the damp curls.

�God, Yuki,� Shuichi pleaded, whimpering in need. �More, more.�

Yuki groaned a ragged breath next to Shuichi�s ear and
pressed himself even more into the slick channel that seemed to be swallowing
him whole, enslaved by the passion now ruling over his every thought, urged on
by the cries of the man he cherished more than life itself. He surged into his
lover, powerful and fast, strong and deep, no longer a man in control of his
nature.

He rose up higher onto Shuichi, arching his back to grind
into him, pounding into the pliant body in his grasp, until Shuichi�s cry of
fulfillment echoed in the room. Vision blurring as quivering muscles tightened
around him, Yuki�s release took hold of him as well, rushing through him like
molten fire, shattering all coherent thought. Instinctively, he buried himself
to the hilt, hands tightening on Shuichi�s hips, and he shouted in sweet agony
as his seed pulsed out of him over and over again.

Their joined bodies still shuddering in ecstasy, Yuki�s arms
tightened around Shuichi. �I love you, Shuichi,� he whispered into his lover�s
neck, in between panting breaths. �Nothing, not even God Himself, can force me
to give you up now.� It was a promise, one that Yuki swore he would keep until
his dying breath.

Chest heaving, Shuichi turned his head towards him, looking
deeply into his eyes, and smiled, hope once more lighting up the depths of his
beautiful violet eyes.

Yuki knew that there were more things to be discussed, more
truths to be revealed. But for now, they could wait.

Unable to resist the man in his arms any longer, Yuki
claimed Shuichi�s warm and supple lips and allowed himself
to tumble into euphoria yet again.

In the living room, Ma tapped
his fingers against his foot. He was going to get a cramp soon by having his
leg draped over his knee for so long. But at the moment, Ma didn�t exactly give
a shit. He was tired, frustrated, and more than a little worried.

Long ago, he�d learned the hard
way to be observant, to be patient and shrewd, instead of an idiot ready to
rush headlong into things beyond his comprehension. It was a habit he�d
mastered throughout the years alongside Tachi, one that allowed him to keep his
best friend safe from harm and out of needless trouble. But there were times,
like now, when his hands were tied, when all of his experience was utterly
useless. Ma sighed, his fingers once again resuming their dance over his shoe,
as his thoughts centered on the man he�d chosen to devote his life to.

He�d met Tachi years ago in the
orphanage he�d been taken to shortly after his mother�s death. Everything had
changed for him then. He�d lost everything: his mother, his friends, his home,
his security. Even at the age of eight, Ma had understood that he was alone in
the world. He had no one he could trust, no one he could confide in. And little
by little, he grew to hate his life, to hate everything around him. He became
unfeeling and cold, not caring whether he lived or died.

Because of his attitude, the
other children had avoided him, giving him wary and even disdainful looks. He�d
made a show of not giving a damn of what they thought of him. But deep inside,
he�d never before felt so alone, so lost and confused. The isolation had hurt
him, especially since he�d known it was his fault to begin with. But once
started, the act had to be carried out, no matter how much he�d wished
otherwise, leaving him in a grim situation his own stubbornness had created.

That all changed, however, the
day a scrawny looking boy with black hair and eyes came to the orphanage.
Confident and arrogant, Tachi Aizawa had made an abrupt entry into his world,
one that he would always remember and would forever be grateful for.

Ma smiled, his eyes distant, as
he remembered that fateful day with fondness. He could still remember how Tachi
had eerily latched onto him once their paths had crossed, never leaving him
alone, never ceasing his chatter, never allowing him to wallow in his self-made
misery. Before he knew it, like the sun slowly rising high in the sky, his
world began to brighten and his life began to have meaning again.

They stayed together,
inseparable, for nearly three years until the day Tachi�s paternal grandmother
had come to collect him. His world ended then, losing its light forever. But,
as the years passed, the memory of his best friend faded along with the pain.

Ma, never having been adopted, ran
away from the orphanage as soon as he�d turned fifteen. His life, always miserable,
became darker as he began to associate himself with the vermin of the streets,
doing things no decent person would be proud of in order to survive.

When he was nineteen, however,
Ma had grown tired of merely existing, no longer wishing to keep up the
struggle of living a life he�d never asked for, a life that had given him
nothing but pain. It was at that time, when he�d been at his lowest, when he�d
been ready to give up, that Tachi found him, offering him a way to escape the
dark. And, like a drowning man, Ma had taken Tachi�s hand, allowing his best
friend to save him once more.

After that, Tachi became his
world, his center, his purpose. And now, seven years later, nothing had
changed. Tachi meant everything to him, now and always, until the end of his
days.

Sighing, Ma leaned back into the
sofa�s backrest and lowered his leg, wincing slightly as his sore muscles
stretched. Once again regret washed over him as he thought back to the days of
their childhood, remembering when they�d both been so innocent, so unaware of
the grim fate waiting for them. Ma stared up at the ceiling, his face troubled.
How the hell did it all slip away from
us, Tachi? How the hell did we wander into this game we�re playing now?

�You okay?�

Memories scattering, Ma turned
his head and looked at his other long time friend who was standing on the other
side of the room. �Yeah, just thinking.�

His prized shades resting on top
of his head, Ken nodded in understanding and raised the drink in his hand up to
his mouth as he leaned forward a bit over the bar. Dressed in a tight blue
T-shirt, which was adorned with a shoulder holster and gun, and a pair of black
slacks, Ken looked more like a mobster than a cop. Ma wasn�t sure if it was
actually Ken�s appearance that was giving him such an impression or if it was
the memory of a much younger Ken running alongside him on the streets after
they�d stolen some food from one of the local markets.

�That�s your third one in the
last hour. Tachi�ll have your head if you get your ass
drunk.�

Ken lowered the now empty glass
onto the counter and looked at Ma, his eyes serious for once. �I�m not going to
get drunk. I just need to... I�m just worried. I don�t like all of this
waiting. I don�t like any of this shit.�

Ma stared at his friend,
surprised. It was quite infrequent for Ken to get rattled by something. Even
when they�d been younger, living on the streets, getting beat down by the
world, Ken had rarely allowed reality to trample over him. He�d been a tower of
support, a pillar of strength, for him, someone that even Tachi had recognized
as a friend and had come to respect. To see him like this, flustered and unsure,
bothered Ma immensely. But there was nothing he could say to reassure the other
man, not when Ma found himself just as lost.

From the day Tachi had come for
him, Ma had sworn to protect Tachi with his life, as had Ken in gratitude for
Tachi�s generosity in taking a total stranger into his protected circle. In
doing so, he and Ken had taken it upon themselves to temper the storm that
constantly raged within Tachi�s soul. But it was a pledge that was becoming
harder and harder to uphold.

In their plight of keeping close
to the light Tachi offered them, they had both followed him unresistingly into
obscurity. Now the three of them were trapped in the world of Tachi�s making,
and Ma didn�t know what any of them could do to obtain their freedom.

Ma closed his eyes and sighed,
suddenly feeling so very tired. �Hopefully, now that Tachi�s found the kid, we
can get Murao off of our backs for a while.�

�I hope so. God, I really hate
that guy.�

�So do I,� Ma agreed softly, his
thoughts now on Murao, Tachi�s greatest error in judgment.

Since the day Tachi had accepted
Murao�s offer of �employment�, their lives had changed irrevocably. He�d
watched helplessly as his best friend evolved into someone who no longer
followed the rules or upheld the law, someone whom Ma feared would one day
abandon him if a single word of protest was voiced.

He truly hated what Tachi had
become, and he wanted to shout at him, make him see the destructive path he was
following. But his fears held him at bay, made him silent and wary, unable to
put a stop to the madness ruling his friend. All he could do was offer Tachi
his support and advice, hoping to divert what seemed to be inevitable.

His eyes opened when he heard
the front door open. He shifted his gaze towards the doorway and watched as Tachi
entered the living room with his usual air of strength and authority. With a
dull ache in his heart, he watched as his best friend took off his jacket and
draped it over the arm of the sofa opposite from the one Ma was sitting on. Tachi
looked at them both, his eyes vibrant and resolved, and smiled.

Ma held back a sigh. What are you going to throw at us now,
Tachi?

No matter what though, Ma knew
he would remain by Tachi�s side, as would Ken. If Tachi, their guide, their
savior, their hope, faltered on the walkway of life, he would not teeter into
the abyss alone.

Resigned to whatever Tachi was
about to involve them in, Ma sat up straight and waited for his friend to
speak.

TBC...
- 8
- 9
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