Second Chances 7/12
Jun. 14th, 2016 09:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
write_my_dreamsTitle: Second Chances: Frantic
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
write_my_dreams
Pairings: past Hakuei x OFC, Hakuei x MiA, Tsuzuku x Koichi, Meto x Minpha, Yuuki x Rito
Genre: AU, supernatural, vampires. 1980s setting.
Warning: Language
Disclaimer: The band members portrayed do not belong to me but the writing/story and the original characters are mine.
Rating: PG-13
Chapters: 7/12
Summary: The desire for blood and sex brings Hakuei to Kabuki-cho one night. A chance encounter at a nightclub brings MiA into his life, giving him a second chance at love and happiness after the death of his beloved wife.
Author's Comment: I'd meant to have this out earlier but my allergies have absolutely decimated me. I know you're all dying to know who kidnapped MiA, but that revelation will have to wait until Chapter 8. This is Koichi's side of things.
Koichi woke shortly after sunset. He was disappointed to find that he and Tsuzuku were not, in fact, having delicious hot chocolate at a café in Paris. Instead they were cuddled up on the futon in MiA’s guest room. Wait—MiA. He hadn’t called them yet! Koichi vaguely recalled being woken in the afternoon which meant it’d been at least four hours since MiA’s departure. “Tsu?” he turned to his lover, who looked more awake than he did. “Do you think MiA’s okay?”
“He’s probably dying of boredom.” Tsuzuku stretched lazily then yawned. “I know he said there was a lot of paperwork to get through. We could go to the station and stage a rescue mission.”
Koichi smiled. “Can’t have him overworking himself.” He untangled himself from his lover so he could get up. Like MiA, he hoped that Hakuei would return soon. Koichi enjoyed his company and having him as a model—especially since he, unlike Tsuzuku, didn’t grimace at the colors or patterns of Koichi’s designs—but it was difficult to spread out in the apartment. Worse, having his sex life confined to the futon or shower wasn’t too pleasant.
“And you say I’m the perverted one,” Tsuzuku teased.
Koichi hit him with a pillow in retaliation. “Go make us some coffee then we’ll go check on MiA. Or do I want hot chocolate… make me both.”
“Make some yourself,” Tsuzuku complained. “I’m your boyfriend not your butler.”
They compromised: Koichi made hot chocolate and Tsuzuku made coffee. He let the pink-haired vampire have a few sips of his drink and left him to his hot chocolate. “I think we should pick MiA up and take him out to dinner. Hakuei leaves tomorrow so he needs a good distraction.”
“I hope you’re thinking of an actual restaurant and not a desserts bar. MiA needs a proper meal,” Tsuzuku admonished. They took their mugs to the couch and settled in to get comfortable while they enjoyed their drinks.
Koichi pouted at his lover. “Actually, I was thinking of a traditional restaurant. You know those fancy ones where we can dress in our best kimonos. You can style our hair.”
“You realize how long that’s going to take? We’d have to go to our apartments to get our kimonos, get dressed, do our hair, and then go out. It’s going to take forever. Better to do that tomorrow when MiA doesn’t work in the evening. Besides, he’s going to want to call Hakuei tonight and speak with him before he leaves for Siberia. They’ll need time to talk. Tomorrow he’ll be gloomy so the restaurant would be a perfect distraction for him.”
He had a good point. “Tomorrow then.” Koichi sipped his hot chocolate and groped for the remote. He switched on the TV and started flipping through channels. Sports, more sports, news ugh how boring, Doraemon… Koichi jumped when Tsuzuku snatched the remote out of his hand and turned it back to the news. Immediately he understood why his lover had done so. “Shit,” Koichi whispered. His hand began to tremble. He set the mug aside so he wouldn’t break it or spill hot chocolate all over his thigh. He grabbed Tsuzuku’s hand, holding it tightly as they watched the broadcast.
“Breaking news from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department,” the newscaster announced. “One hour ago a masked man entered the police station on,” she gave the address, “under the false pretense of delivering a wallet. He shot and killed the receptionist and abducted a young officer named MiA. Both MiA and the culprit have yet to be found. If you see either of them—”
Koichi tuned out the rest of her statement, eyes focused on a security photo of a masked man holding a gun to MiA’s head. It killed him to see how afraid MiA looked. If he and Tsuzuku had been there… Koichi forced himself to study the attacker. To see if there was anything familiar about him. Lightly curled silver hair reached his shoulders and his mask was trimmed with gold lace. His hairstyle was common enough and the color didn’t indicate age as, even with the mask, it was easy to tell that he was youthful. But that damned mask covered the upper half of his face and made it impossible to tell his features.
“Fuck!” Tsuzuku swore violently. He set his mug on the coffee table and shot to his feet. “We were supposed to be there for him! Get dressed, Ko. We’re going to the station. We need to speak with the officers and find out more.”
Koichi couldn’t take his eyes off the photo. How could he let Hakuei go through this nightmare again? He and Tsuzuku were supposed to protect MiA. Not be sitting on the couch! They should’ve been at the station with him even if it was during the day. They should’ve kept him safe from any and all dangers. Koichi’s eyes closed, pain filling his heart as he recalled the terrible news of Kana and Hakuei’s abduction. A grief-stricken Hakuei drowning in despair from seeing his wife murdered in front of him.
“Koichi!” Tsuzuku said sharply.
That jerked him out of his reverie. “It’s our fault,” he whispered. Koichi threw his arms around Tsuzuku’s neck and hugged him tightly. “How can we face Hakuei after this? We were supposed to protect MiA! We were supposed to save Hakuei from the horror of having his lover taken from him again!” He sniffed and buried his face in Tsuzuku’s shoulder. All he could think about was Hakuei’s grief over Kana. How he’d come so close to ending his pain forever. If anything happened to MiA…
“Ko, calm down. MiA isn’t Kana. What happened to her isn’t going to happen to him.” Tsuzuku wrapped his arms around Koichi, gently stroking one hand up and down his back.
“Exactly!” Koichi cried. “He’s human! She was a vampire. He’s in so much danger and we don’t even know what that fucker wants with him!”
“That’s why we have to go to the station. Now hurry up and get dressed.” Tsuzuku kissed his cheek then gently pushed him back.
Koichi glanced down at his Sesame Street pajamas. They were definitely inappropriate for a police station. “Okay.” He dashed to their room and dressed in black jeans and a button down shirt. He brushed his hair back into a high ponytail then returned to Tsuzuku. “Run?” he suggested.
“Definitely.”
The reason for why the attack had taken place before sunset was revealed when they stepped outside. Heavy clouds filled the sky with the promise of rain later. Koichi swallowed and squeezed Tsuzuku’s hand. All of this had happened when they were still sleeping. Maybe even when he’d dreamt of being in Paris with his lover. “Hurry,” he said, taking off with Tsuzuku close behind.
“I can smell MiA behind the building,” Tsuzuku said. “Go inside and speak with the officers while I see how far I can follow their trail.” He pulled Koichi in for a brief kiss then disappeared behind the building.
Koichi swallowed as he stepped inside. Caution tape blocked off the reception desk. Shit! Emi had been working tonight. He could smell her and MiA by the desk, could smell Emi’s blood. Fear for MiA turned into rage. Innocent Emi had been mercilessly gunned down. And for what purpose? Because she’d been talking to MiA right before his abduction? Emi was a sweet girl. She would’ve gotten married in two months…
“I’m here because of MiA,” Koichi said when an officer approached him. “I’m his friend. I’ve been staying with him in his apartment and picking him up from work each night. I… I saw the news.”
The man bit his lip. “There was nothing we could do.”
“I need to know everything.”
“That’s classified…”
Power layered Koichi’s words when he spoke next. “Tell me everything you know about this case.” He tried his hardest not to use his abilities on humans the way Katarina had done to him. In this case though, it couldn’t be avoided.
“Come with me.”
Koichi followed him down the hall and into an office where he closed the door. He pulled up the security footage on his computer, playing it three times for Koichi then relating his side of the story. “I was finishing up some paperwork and taking a break. I guess MiA was doing the same. There was a drug bust today so there was a lot of paperwork to get through and so many people to process. MiA and Emi were at the reception desk, having a coffee and chatting when that masked guy walked in. I thought it was strange how he kept his mask on in the police station, but I had work to do so I didn’t think much of it. Then a few minutes later I hear a gunshot. He’d shot Emi and grabbed MiA. He said he wanted MiA, that he’d shoot anyone who followed him. Then he walked him outside.”
“Is there security footage from the back of the building?” Koichi asked, thinking of Tsuzuku. If the cameras detected his lover poking around an active crime scene…
The officer shook his head. “The cameras were damaged shortly before MiA was taken.”
So Masked Jerk had planned this out. “How is the investigation proceeding?”
“Detective Tsukino was going to call you and your friend to ask you to come down to the station. See if you two know anything.”
Koichi could only image how that little interrogation would go. The moment the man saw Tsuzuku’s tattoos—if he hadn’t seen them already—he would assume the kidnapping had something to do with the yakuza. That MiA’s other tattooed “friend” had gotten him into gang troubles. “He’ll be here soon if Detective Tsukino wants to start.”
The officer bowed his head. “I’ll go speak with him.”
Koichi sat down at the desk and played the security footage again. Where was MiA now? Was he afraid? He buried his face in his hands and exhaled shakily. He couldn’t lose MiA too. Hakuei would be destroyed if he lost another lover. He reached for Tsuzuku’s thoughts, taking comfort in his lover’s mental presence. “Were you able to find anything?”
“Unfortunately no. Their trail led me to a smashed bottle of perfume which muddied their scent. There were tire tracks near it so he took MiA away in a car. That means he’s still alive.”
Koichi shuddered. “Come back to the station. The detective handling MiA’s case wants to speak with us.”
“I bet you a blowjob he’ll ask if it’s yakuza related.”
Koichi was too worried to smile. “You know he’s going to.”
“Good thing I wore a sweater.”
“You have tattoos on your neck and on the back of your hand,” Koichi reminded. He waited until Tsuzuku had turned back towards the station before breaking their connection. Sick guilt tugged at his stomach. How could they possibly explain this to Hakuei? “Hi, Hakuei. We’re useless excuses for bodyguards and lost your fragile, sweet human lover to a fucking psychopath who murdered Emi and kidnapped MiA.”
The worst part was that he knew Hakuei wouldn’t be angry with him or Tsuzuku. He would assure them that it wasn’t their fault. That they couldn’t have known this would happen today. Koichi didn’t want him to be understanding. He didn’t deserve it.
*
“Well that was a waste of time,” Tsuzuku muttered. He took Koichi’s hand and squeezed it as they left the police station. As expected, Tsukino had repeatedly asked about the yakuza, if they were involved, if they knew the man who kidnapped MiA, and if the mask or bone print suit was a new form of yakuza clothing. Tsuzuku got so irritated he snapped at the man to stop being a judgmental ass and take this case seriously.
“It was.” Koichi looked back over his shoulder at the police station. “We aren’t going to find him ourselves. I’ll call the others.”
“I’ll see if Ryoga can help,” Tsuzuku offered.
Koichi shook his head. “No, don’t. Subaru and Kento are still too new. He won’t want to leave them.”
Tsuzuku sighed. “You’re right.” He squeezed Koichi’s hand. “Should we go back to MiA’s apartment or to ours?”
“Let’s stop at his first and then check Hakuei’s. His kidnapper might have left some sort of ransom note.”
“Ko, he’s a vampire. He isn’t going to want money for MiA.”
“He could want something else,” Koichi reminded. “Like for Hakuei not to leave the country. Or for him to take a different stance on vampire anonymity.” It made him sick to think of MiA being used as leverage.
Tsuzuku’s eyes widened. “You think that’s why he kidnapped MiA?”
“I don’t know. But anyone who knows Hakuei knows he’ll do anything to save himself from losing another person he loves.” Koichi looked at the station again. The humans were in way over their head with this case. They’d never find MiA’s abductor. And if they did, they’d be walking into a slaughter. He pulled Tsuzuku aside and reached for Meto and Minpha’s thoughts. They were less likely to be having sex than Yuuki and Rito. To his relief, they were sitting on the couch watching Ghostbusters while Meto drew Minpha in the uniform, Minpha giggling into his popcorn.
“Ko? What’s wrong?” Minpha picked up on his unease immediately.
“Did something happen to MiA?” Meto asked.
“He’s been kidnapped. Did you see the news?” In case they hadn’t he shared his memory of the broadcast, his examination of the police station and the crime scene, and Tsuzuku’s attempts to follow MiA which ended at the broken perfume bottle.
“We’ll do anything we can to help,” Minpha promised. “Do you want us to come meet you?”
“Come to our apartment. I’m going to check MiA’s first while Tsuzuku checks Hakuei’s. We’re seeing if his kidnapper left a ransom note.” He shared his theories with the couple then winced. Hakuei still needed to know what had happened to MiA. If he hadn’t watched the news yet…
“Do you want me to tell him?” Meto asked.
Koichi couldn’t let Meto take that responsibility. “No, I have to. Come to our apartment when you can. I’ll contact Yuuki and Rito next.” He broke the connection and turned to Tsuzuku. “Let’s split up then meet back at our apartment. I’ll check MiA’s and you can take Hakuei’s.”
“Alright.”
Koichi stole a kiss then turned and raced back to MiA’s apartment. He checked the mailbox (nothing), the balcony (still nothing), and then entered the apartment. No vampire would be able to enter as they didn’t have permission to it or the building so he wasn’t surprised when his search turned up nothing out of the ordinary. Out of nerves he grabbed a handful of chocolate chips. He didn’t feel much better after eating them. He was too worried about MiA to enjoy the chocolates. He leaned against the counter and reached for Rito’s mind finding him lying with his head in Yuuki’s lap on the couch, Yuuki crooning to him as he combed painted nails through Rito’s hair. Both couples were having a relaxing movie night.
“Ko-chan?” Rito asked.
“It’s MiA.” Koichi shared the same information he’d shared with Meto and Minpha, adding that his search of MiA’s apartment hadn’t turned up anything out of the ordinary. “I’ll talk to Tsuzuku once I’ve spoken to you two. Can you come to our apartment and meet us? We need to make a plan of how to get MiA back.”
“I’ll talk to Hiyuu and Satoshi too. They’ll help us look for MiA.”
“Thank you. I’ll be heading home soon.”
“We’ll see you there.” Rito broke the connection, leaving Koichi with his thoughts. He sighed as he looked around the apartment. To think just last night the three of them had been on the couch eating popcorn and laughing at a cheesy horror movie. He slapped his cheeks so he wouldn’t lose himself in his thoughts then brushed Tsuzuku’s mind. His lover’s thoughts were heavy, making him bit his lip. “Tsu? What… What did you find?”
“A note pinned to Hakuei’s door with a knife. There’s a lock of MiA’s hair attached.” Tsuzuku sighed and showed Koichi the note.
You have the Queen’s ear and I have your lover.
Forget what the council told you.
Leave Japan and MiA dies.
You have seven days to find him.
If you fail, he’s mine to do whatever I wish.
And he’s so beautiful.
Start looking.
“Fuck,” Koichi swore violently. His eyes closed in pain as he read the note again. Whoever had kidnapped MiA was making this into a twisted game. And taunting Hakuei about MiA’s beauty… He dug his nails into his palms as he flashed back to Katarina, tucking his hair behind his ear and telling him how stunning he was dressed in beautiful clothes and diamonds. Coercing him into bed. Was MiA’s kidnapper going to do the same to him? “I’m coming home. I told Rito and Yuuki to meet us there. Rito said he’ll ask Satoshi and Hiyuu to help in the search for MiA.”
“Good. We’re going to need all the eyes and ears that we can.”
“Is there anything defining about the note?”
“Do I look like Sherlock Holmes? It’s regular paper and he used a pen to write the characters. It’s also doused in that same perfume that was smashed so I can’t pick out any scent from it.”
“Can you recognize the perfume?”
“No.”
“Is it a scent a man would use? Or a woman?”
“It’s something floral so it could be either. You know Asagi loves smelling like a rose.”
Koichi’s lips twitched into a smile. “Maybe you should ask him about the perfume then. Wait, you said MiA’s hair was attached?”
“With tape. It wasn’t ripped from his head or anything. It was cut with a knife.”
“…Do you think we should take it and the letter to the police? They might be able to lift some fingerprints from them. He’s covering his tracks against vampires but not against humans.” Koichi didn’t have much faith in the human police, but it was worth a chance.
“I doubt he’d be that careless. And if we gave that note to the police it would only cause questions that we can’t answer.”
Tsuzuku was right. “I’m coming home. Once I arrive… I’ll call Hakuei.” Koichi swallowed as he envisioned how horribly that would go. But he couldn’t leave Hakuei in the dark. He needed to know about MiA. His life was on the line.
Koichi all but collapsed onto his couch the moment he entered his apartment. Tsuzuku trailed after him, having arrived shortly after he did. “Watch the door. The others should be arriving soon.”
“What are you going to do?”
Koichi swallowed. “I’m going to call Hakuei.” He approached the phone as if it were coated in holy water. Slowly he picked it up and typed in the number. At least the council weren’t so boorish and old-fashioned so as to deny its residents and visitors the right to modern technology. Koichi clutched the phone as he waited for Hakuei to answer. What if he didn’t?
“This is Hakuei.”
Koichi wasn’t sure if he should be relieved or terrified. “H-Hi, Hakuei.”
“Is MiA torturing you with Star Wars?” Hakuei laughed.
Koichi would sooner drown himself in holy water than report what he had to say. “I… He… N-No,” he stammered. He swallowed and closed his eyes. “You need to find a TV and watch the knows. And know how truly, very sorry Tsuzuku and I are,” he whispered.
“Koichi?” All humor was gone from Hakuei’s voice now. “What happened?”
“MiA. He… he…” Words failed him and his breath caught on a sob. Arms circled around his waist then pulled him back against Tsuzuku’s chest. Taking comfort in his lover’s presence, the whole story poured out. MiA waking them to tell them about the call he’d just gotten from work. How he was supposed to call them later, how they’d planned to go to the station to check on him after having a coffee. Then seeing the story on the news, rushing to the police station… “Tsuzuku followed their trail as far as he could. W-We’re so sorry,” Koichi whispered. He hadn’t felt shame this deep since accidentally killing the person he was drinking blood from.
Hakuei had been silent the entire time. “I’m coming to Tokyo as soon as I can.”
Tsuzuku took the phone from him. “Hakuei, there’s one more thing.”
“…What?”
“There was a letter at your penthouse. A lock of MiA’s hair was attached to it.” The couple winced at the sound of Hakuei’s angry growl. Tsuzuku read the note and described it and the perfume to him to the best of his abilities, earning another outraged snarl.
“What do they want with my MiA?”
“We aren’t sure. I called the others. They’ll do anything they can to help us find him.” Koichi’s eyes closed as he imagined the depth of Hakuei’s pain. And it was all on his and Tsuzuku’s shoulders. “I’m… We’re so fucking sorry. You trusted us with MiA’s safety and we failed you.”
Hakuei sighed heavily. “I don't blame either of you. MiA wasn’t captured because of you.”
Koichi bit his lip. “How is this not our faults? While MiA was being abducted we were in bed instead of being there for him!” he cried, slumping against Tsuzuku. Hot tears welled up in his eyes. “We failed MiA as much as we failed you.” Tsuzuku hugged him tighter as he sniffed.
“Because this attack was planned. I wouldn’t be surprised if this masked man tipped the officers about the party or orchestrated the drug bust himself. He chose a dark, cloudy day where he would have the advantage over the two of you.”
Koichi wasn’t convinced. He shouldn’t have let MiA leave, should have made him stay in the apartment with them. If they hadn’t been so negligent MiA would still be here. “When can you get here?”
“As soon as I can. I have to make some calls first and then I’ll take the first train out of Kyoto.”
“Meto, Minpha, Yuuki, and Rito are going to meet us at our apartment,” Tsuzuku said. “Do you want to come to ours or should all of us come to yours and wait for you there?”
“Stay at yours. We can gather there together then move to mine later. I want to see if this coward is going to place more notes on my door.”
Koichi swallowed. “Call us when you leave.”
“I will. I know you feel responsible, but you can’t let guilt cloud your minds. MiA needs you more than ever.”
“We know,” Tsuzuku said.
“I’ll be there tonight.”
The line went dead, and Tsuzuku set the phone down. He turned to Koichi and they clung to each other, taking comfort in the other’s presence. No matter what Hakuei said they’d fucked up and fucked up royally. The only way they could redeem themselves was to get MiA back, safe and sound, into Hakuei’s arms.
Notes
1) Chapter 8 will return to MiA's POV. The chapter has turned out longer than I'd planned so I'm going to divide into at least two parts. Right now it's a Frankenstein chapter with bits and pieces written out. The subject matter in this chapter is quite dark so apologizes in advance if it takes me a while to post it. I'm still debating how much to show...
2) Ryoga and Subaru will make an appearance later.
3) For those who don't know who Minpha is, he's the adorable bassist of Pentagon! He looks like the love child of Koichi and Meto.
Author:
write_my_dreamsPairings: past Hakuei x OFC, Hakuei x MiA, Tsuzuku x Koichi, Meto x Minpha, Yuuki x Rito
Genre: AU, supernatural, vampires. 1980s setting.
Warning: Language
Disclaimer: The band members portrayed do not belong to me but the writing/story and the original characters are mine.
Rating: PG-13
Chapters: 7/12
Summary: The desire for blood and sex brings Hakuei to Kabuki-cho one night. A chance encounter at a nightclub brings MiA into his life, giving him a second chance at love and happiness after the death of his beloved wife.
Author's Comment: I'd meant to have this out earlier but my allergies have absolutely decimated me. I know you're all dying to know who kidnapped MiA, but that revelation will have to wait until Chapter 8. This is Koichi's side of things.
Koichi woke shortly after sunset. He was disappointed to find that he and Tsuzuku were not, in fact, having delicious hot chocolate at a café in Paris. Instead they were cuddled up on the futon in MiA’s guest room. Wait—MiA. He hadn’t called them yet! Koichi vaguely recalled being woken in the afternoon which meant it’d been at least four hours since MiA’s departure. “Tsu?” he turned to his lover, who looked more awake than he did. “Do you think MiA’s okay?”
“He’s probably dying of boredom.” Tsuzuku stretched lazily then yawned. “I know he said there was a lot of paperwork to get through. We could go to the station and stage a rescue mission.”
Koichi smiled. “Can’t have him overworking himself.” He untangled himself from his lover so he could get up. Like MiA, he hoped that Hakuei would return soon. Koichi enjoyed his company and having him as a model—especially since he, unlike Tsuzuku, didn’t grimace at the colors or patterns of Koichi’s designs—but it was difficult to spread out in the apartment. Worse, having his sex life confined to the futon or shower wasn’t too pleasant.
“And you say I’m the perverted one,” Tsuzuku teased.
Koichi hit him with a pillow in retaliation. “Go make us some coffee then we’ll go check on MiA. Or do I want hot chocolate… make me both.”
“Make some yourself,” Tsuzuku complained. “I’m your boyfriend not your butler.”
They compromised: Koichi made hot chocolate and Tsuzuku made coffee. He let the pink-haired vampire have a few sips of his drink and left him to his hot chocolate. “I think we should pick MiA up and take him out to dinner. Hakuei leaves tomorrow so he needs a good distraction.”
“I hope you’re thinking of an actual restaurant and not a desserts bar. MiA needs a proper meal,” Tsuzuku admonished. They took their mugs to the couch and settled in to get comfortable while they enjoyed their drinks.
Koichi pouted at his lover. “Actually, I was thinking of a traditional restaurant. You know those fancy ones where we can dress in our best kimonos. You can style our hair.”
“You realize how long that’s going to take? We’d have to go to our apartments to get our kimonos, get dressed, do our hair, and then go out. It’s going to take forever. Better to do that tomorrow when MiA doesn’t work in the evening. Besides, he’s going to want to call Hakuei tonight and speak with him before he leaves for Siberia. They’ll need time to talk. Tomorrow he’ll be gloomy so the restaurant would be a perfect distraction for him.”
He had a good point. “Tomorrow then.” Koichi sipped his hot chocolate and groped for the remote. He switched on the TV and started flipping through channels. Sports, more sports, news ugh how boring, Doraemon… Koichi jumped when Tsuzuku snatched the remote out of his hand and turned it back to the news. Immediately he understood why his lover had done so. “Shit,” Koichi whispered. His hand began to tremble. He set the mug aside so he wouldn’t break it or spill hot chocolate all over his thigh. He grabbed Tsuzuku’s hand, holding it tightly as they watched the broadcast.
“Breaking news from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department,” the newscaster announced. “One hour ago a masked man entered the police station on,” she gave the address, “under the false pretense of delivering a wallet. He shot and killed the receptionist and abducted a young officer named MiA. Both MiA and the culprit have yet to be found. If you see either of them—”
Koichi tuned out the rest of her statement, eyes focused on a security photo of a masked man holding a gun to MiA’s head. It killed him to see how afraid MiA looked. If he and Tsuzuku had been there… Koichi forced himself to study the attacker. To see if there was anything familiar about him. Lightly curled silver hair reached his shoulders and his mask was trimmed with gold lace. His hairstyle was common enough and the color didn’t indicate age as, even with the mask, it was easy to tell that he was youthful. But that damned mask covered the upper half of his face and made it impossible to tell his features.
“Fuck!” Tsuzuku swore violently. He set his mug on the coffee table and shot to his feet. “We were supposed to be there for him! Get dressed, Ko. We’re going to the station. We need to speak with the officers and find out more.”
Koichi couldn’t take his eyes off the photo. How could he let Hakuei go through this nightmare again? He and Tsuzuku were supposed to protect MiA. Not be sitting on the couch! They should’ve been at the station with him even if it was during the day. They should’ve kept him safe from any and all dangers. Koichi’s eyes closed, pain filling his heart as he recalled the terrible news of Kana and Hakuei’s abduction. A grief-stricken Hakuei drowning in despair from seeing his wife murdered in front of him.
“Koichi!” Tsuzuku said sharply.
That jerked him out of his reverie. “It’s our fault,” he whispered. Koichi threw his arms around Tsuzuku’s neck and hugged him tightly. “How can we face Hakuei after this? We were supposed to protect MiA! We were supposed to save Hakuei from the horror of having his lover taken from him again!” He sniffed and buried his face in Tsuzuku’s shoulder. All he could think about was Hakuei’s grief over Kana. How he’d come so close to ending his pain forever. If anything happened to MiA…
“Ko, calm down. MiA isn’t Kana. What happened to her isn’t going to happen to him.” Tsuzuku wrapped his arms around Koichi, gently stroking one hand up and down his back.
“Exactly!” Koichi cried. “He’s human! She was a vampire. He’s in so much danger and we don’t even know what that fucker wants with him!”
“That’s why we have to go to the station. Now hurry up and get dressed.” Tsuzuku kissed his cheek then gently pushed him back.
Koichi glanced down at his Sesame Street pajamas. They were definitely inappropriate for a police station. “Okay.” He dashed to their room and dressed in black jeans and a button down shirt. He brushed his hair back into a high ponytail then returned to Tsuzuku. “Run?” he suggested.
“Definitely.”
The reason for why the attack had taken place before sunset was revealed when they stepped outside. Heavy clouds filled the sky with the promise of rain later. Koichi swallowed and squeezed Tsuzuku’s hand. All of this had happened when they were still sleeping. Maybe even when he’d dreamt of being in Paris with his lover. “Hurry,” he said, taking off with Tsuzuku close behind.
“I can smell MiA behind the building,” Tsuzuku said. “Go inside and speak with the officers while I see how far I can follow their trail.” He pulled Koichi in for a brief kiss then disappeared behind the building.
Koichi swallowed as he stepped inside. Caution tape blocked off the reception desk. Shit! Emi had been working tonight. He could smell her and MiA by the desk, could smell Emi’s blood. Fear for MiA turned into rage. Innocent Emi had been mercilessly gunned down. And for what purpose? Because she’d been talking to MiA right before his abduction? Emi was a sweet girl. She would’ve gotten married in two months…
“I’m here because of MiA,” Koichi said when an officer approached him. “I’m his friend. I’ve been staying with him in his apartment and picking him up from work each night. I… I saw the news.”
The man bit his lip. “There was nothing we could do.”
“I need to know everything.”
“That’s classified…”
Power layered Koichi’s words when he spoke next. “Tell me everything you know about this case.” He tried his hardest not to use his abilities on humans the way Katarina had done to him. In this case though, it couldn’t be avoided.
“Come with me.”
Koichi followed him down the hall and into an office where he closed the door. He pulled up the security footage on his computer, playing it three times for Koichi then relating his side of the story. “I was finishing up some paperwork and taking a break. I guess MiA was doing the same. There was a drug bust today so there was a lot of paperwork to get through and so many people to process. MiA and Emi were at the reception desk, having a coffee and chatting when that masked guy walked in. I thought it was strange how he kept his mask on in the police station, but I had work to do so I didn’t think much of it. Then a few minutes later I hear a gunshot. He’d shot Emi and grabbed MiA. He said he wanted MiA, that he’d shoot anyone who followed him. Then he walked him outside.”
“Is there security footage from the back of the building?” Koichi asked, thinking of Tsuzuku. If the cameras detected his lover poking around an active crime scene…
The officer shook his head. “The cameras were damaged shortly before MiA was taken.”
So Masked Jerk had planned this out. “How is the investigation proceeding?”
“Detective Tsukino was going to call you and your friend to ask you to come down to the station. See if you two know anything.”
Koichi could only image how that little interrogation would go. The moment the man saw Tsuzuku’s tattoos—if he hadn’t seen them already—he would assume the kidnapping had something to do with the yakuza. That MiA’s other tattooed “friend” had gotten him into gang troubles. “He’ll be here soon if Detective Tsukino wants to start.”
The officer bowed his head. “I’ll go speak with him.”
Koichi sat down at the desk and played the security footage again. Where was MiA now? Was he afraid? He buried his face in his hands and exhaled shakily. He couldn’t lose MiA too. Hakuei would be destroyed if he lost another lover. He reached for Tsuzuku’s thoughts, taking comfort in his lover’s mental presence. “Were you able to find anything?”
“Unfortunately no. Their trail led me to a smashed bottle of perfume which muddied their scent. There were tire tracks near it so he took MiA away in a car. That means he’s still alive.”
Koichi shuddered. “Come back to the station. The detective handling MiA’s case wants to speak with us.”
“I bet you a blowjob he’ll ask if it’s yakuza related.”
Koichi was too worried to smile. “You know he’s going to.”
“Good thing I wore a sweater.”
“You have tattoos on your neck and on the back of your hand,” Koichi reminded. He waited until Tsuzuku had turned back towards the station before breaking their connection. Sick guilt tugged at his stomach. How could they possibly explain this to Hakuei? “Hi, Hakuei. We’re useless excuses for bodyguards and lost your fragile, sweet human lover to a fucking psychopath who murdered Emi and kidnapped MiA.”
The worst part was that he knew Hakuei wouldn’t be angry with him or Tsuzuku. He would assure them that it wasn’t their fault. That they couldn’t have known this would happen today. Koichi didn’t want him to be understanding. He didn’t deserve it.
*
“Well that was a waste of time,” Tsuzuku muttered. He took Koichi’s hand and squeezed it as they left the police station. As expected, Tsukino had repeatedly asked about the yakuza, if they were involved, if they knew the man who kidnapped MiA, and if the mask or bone print suit was a new form of yakuza clothing. Tsuzuku got so irritated he snapped at the man to stop being a judgmental ass and take this case seriously.
“It was.” Koichi looked back over his shoulder at the police station. “We aren’t going to find him ourselves. I’ll call the others.”
“I’ll see if Ryoga can help,” Tsuzuku offered.
Koichi shook his head. “No, don’t. Subaru and Kento are still too new. He won’t want to leave them.”
Tsuzuku sighed. “You’re right.” He squeezed Koichi’s hand. “Should we go back to MiA’s apartment or to ours?”
“Let’s stop at his first and then check Hakuei’s. His kidnapper might have left some sort of ransom note.”
“Ko, he’s a vampire. He isn’t going to want money for MiA.”
“He could want something else,” Koichi reminded. “Like for Hakuei not to leave the country. Or for him to take a different stance on vampire anonymity.” It made him sick to think of MiA being used as leverage.
Tsuzuku’s eyes widened. “You think that’s why he kidnapped MiA?”
“I don’t know. But anyone who knows Hakuei knows he’ll do anything to save himself from losing another person he loves.” Koichi looked at the station again. The humans were in way over their head with this case. They’d never find MiA’s abductor. And if they did, they’d be walking into a slaughter. He pulled Tsuzuku aside and reached for Meto and Minpha’s thoughts. They were less likely to be having sex than Yuuki and Rito. To his relief, they were sitting on the couch watching Ghostbusters while Meto drew Minpha in the uniform, Minpha giggling into his popcorn.
“Ko? What’s wrong?” Minpha picked up on his unease immediately.
“Did something happen to MiA?” Meto asked.
“He’s been kidnapped. Did you see the news?” In case they hadn’t he shared his memory of the broadcast, his examination of the police station and the crime scene, and Tsuzuku’s attempts to follow MiA which ended at the broken perfume bottle.
“We’ll do anything we can to help,” Minpha promised. “Do you want us to come meet you?”
“Come to our apartment. I’m going to check MiA’s first while Tsuzuku checks Hakuei’s. We’re seeing if his kidnapper left a ransom note.” He shared his theories with the couple then winced. Hakuei still needed to know what had happened to MiA. If he hadn’t watched the news yet…
“Do you want me to tell him?” Meto asked.
Koichi couldn’t let Meto take that responsibility. “No, I have to. Come to our apartment when you can. I’ll contact Yuuki and Rito next.” He broke the connection and turned to Tsuzuku. “Let’s split up then meet back at our apartment. I’ll check MiA’s and you can take Hakuei’s.”
“Alright.”
Koichi stole a kiss then turned and raced back to MiA’s apartment. He checked the mailbox (nothing), the balcony (still nothing), and then entered the apartment. No vampire would be able to enter as they didn’t have permission to it or the building so he wasn’t surprised when his search turned up nothing out of the ordinary. Out of nerves he grabbed a handful of chocolate chips. He didn’t feel much better after eating them. He was too worried about MiA to enjoy the chocolates. He leaned against the counter and reached for Rito’s mind finding him lying with his head in Yuuki’s lap on the couch, Yuuki crooning to him as he combed painted nails through Rito’s hair. Both couples were having a relaxing movie night.
“Ko-chan?” Rito asked.
“It’s MiA.” Koichi shared the same information he’d shared with Meto and Minpha, adding that his search of MiA’s apartment hadn’t turned up anything out of the ordinary. “I’ll talk to Tsuzuku once I’ve spoken to you two. Can you come to our apartment and meet us? We need to make a plan of how to get MiA back.”
“I’ll talk to Hiyuu and Satoshi too. They’ll help us look for MiA.”
“Thank you. I’ll be heading home soon.”
“We’ll see you there.” Rito broke the connection, leaving Koichi with his thoughts. He sighed as he looked around the apartment. To think just last night the three of them had been on the couch eating popcorn and laughing at a cheesy horror movie. He slapped his cheeks so he wouldn’t lose himself in his thoughts then brushed Tsuzuku’s mind. His lover’s thoughts were heavy, making him bit his lip. “Tsu? What… What did you find?”
“A note pinned to Hakuei’s door with a knife. There’s a lock of MiA’s hair attached.” Tsuzuku sighed and showed Koichi the note.
You have the Queen’s ear and I have your lover.
Forget what the council told you.
Leave Japan and MiA dies.
You have seven days to find him.
If you fail, he’s mine to do whatever I wish.
And he’s so beautiful.
Start looking.
“Fuck,” Koichi swore violently. His eyes closed in pain as he read the note again. Whoever had kidnapped MiA was making this into a twisted game. And taunting Hakuei about MiA’s beauty… He dug his nails into his palms as he flashed back to Katarina, tucking his hair behind his ear and telling him how stunning he was dressed in beautiful clothes and diamonds. Coercing him into bed. Was MiA’s kidnapper going to do the same to him? “I’m coming home. I told Rito and Yuuki to meet us there. Rito said he’ll ask Satoshi and Hiyuu to help in the search for MiA.”
“Good. We’re going to need all the eyes and ears that we can.”
“Is there anything defining about the note?”
“Do I look like Sherlock Holmes? It’s regular paper and he used a pen to write the characters. It’s also doused in that same perfume that was smashed so I can’t pick out any scent from it.”
“Can you recognize the perfume?”
“No.”
“Is it a scent a man would use? Or a woman?”
“It’s something floral so it could be either. You know Asagi loves smelling like a rose.”
Koichi’s lips twitched into a smile. “Maybe you should ask him about the perfume then. Wait, you said MiA’s hair was attached?”
“With tape. It wasn’t ripped from his head or anything. It was cut with a knife.”
“…Do you think we should take it and the letter to the police? They might be able to lift some fingerprints from them. He’s covering his tracks against vampires but not against humans.” Koichi didn’t have much faith in the human police, but it was worth a chance.
“I doubt he’d be that careless. And if we gave that note to the police it would only cause questions that we can’t answer.”
Tsuzuku was right. “I’m coming home. Once I arrive… I’ll call Hakuei.” Koichi swallowed as he envisioned how horribly that would go. But he couldn’t leave Hakuei in the dark. He needed to know about MiA. His life was on the line.
Koichi all but collapsed onto his couch the moment he entered his apartment. Tsuzuku trailed after him, having arrived shortly after he did. “Watch the door. The others should be arriving soon.”
“What are you going to do?”
Koichi swallowed. “I’m going to call Hakuei.” He approached the phone as if it were coated in holy water. Slowly he picked it up and typed in the number. At least the council weren’t so boorish and old-fashioned so as to deny its residents and visitors the right to modern technology. Koichi clutched the phone as he waited for Hakuei to answer. What if he didn’t?
“This is Hakuei.”
Koichi wasn’t sure if he should be relieved or terrified. “H-Hi, Hakuei.”
“Is MiA torturing you with Star Wars?” Hakuei laughed.
Koichi would sooner drown himself in holy water than report what he had to say. “I… He… N-No,” he stammered. He swallowed and closed his eyes. “You need to find a TV and watch the knows. And know how truly, very sorry Tsuzuku and I are,” he whispered.
“Koichi?” All humor was gone from Hakuei’s voice now. “What happened?”
“MiA. He… he…” Words failed him and his breath caught on a sob. Arms circled around his waist then pulled him back against Tsuzuku’s chest. Taking comfort in his lover’s presence, the whole story poured out. MiA waking them to tell them about the call he’d just gotten from work. How he was supposed to call them later, how they’d planned to go to the station to check on him after having a coffee. Then seeing the story on the news, rushing to the police station… “Tsuzuku followed their trail as far as he could. W-We’re so sorry,” Koichi whispered. He hadn’t felt shame this deep since accidentally killing the person he was drinking blood from.
Hakuei had been silent the entire time. “I’m coming to Tokyo as soon as I can.”
Tsuzuku took the phone from him. “Hakuei, there’s one more thing.”
“…What?”
“There was a letter at your penthouse. A lock of MiA’s hair was attached to it.” The couple winced at the sound of Hakuei’s angry growl. Tsuzuku read the note and described it and the perfume to him to the best of his abilities, earning another outraged snarl.
“What do they want with my MiA?”
“We aren’t sure. I called the others. They’ll do anything they can to help us find him.” Koichi’s eyes closed as he imagined the depth of Hakuei’s pain. And it was all on his and Tsuzuku’s shoulders. “I’m… We’re so fucking sorry. You trusted us with MiA’s safety and we failed you.”
Hakuei sighed heavily. “I don't blame either of you. MiA wasn’t captured because of you.”
Koichi bit his lip. “How is this not our faults? While MiA was being abducted we were in bed instead of being there for him!” he cried, slumping against Tsuzuku. Hot tears welled up in his eyes. “We failed MiA as much as we failed you.” Tsuzuku hugged him tighter as he sniffed.
“Because this attack was planned. I wouldn’t be surprised if this masked man tipped the officers about the party or orchestrated the drug bust himself. He chose a dark, cloudy day where he would have the advantage over the two of you.”
Koichi wasn’t convinced. He shouldn’t have let MiA leave, should have made him stay in the apartment with them. If they hadn’t been so negligent MiA would still be here. “When can you get here?”
“As soon as I can. I have to make some calls first and then I’ll take the first train out of Kyoto.”
“Meto, Minpha, Yuuki, and Rito are going to meet us at our apartment,” Tsuzuku said. “Do you want to come to ours or should all of us come to yours and wait for you there?”
“Stay at yours. We can gather there together then move to mine later. I want to see if this coward is going to place more notes on my door.”
Koichi swallowed. “Call us when you leave.”
“I will. I know you feel responsible, but you can’t let guilt cloud your minds. MiA needs you more than ever.”
“We know,” Tsuzuku said.
“I’ll be there tonight.”
The line went dead, and Tsuzuku set the phone down. He turned to Koichi and they clung to each other, taking comfort in the other’s presence. No matter what Hakuei said they’d fucked up and fucked up royally. The only way they could redeem themselves was to get MiA back, safe and sound, into Hakuei’s arms.
Notes
1) Chapter 8 will return to MiA's POV. The chapter has turned out longer than I'd planned so I'm going to divide into at least two parts. Right now it's a Frankenstein chapter with bits and pieces written out. The subject matter in this chapter is quite dark so apologizes in advance if it takes me a while to post it. I'm still debating how much to show...
2) Ryoga and Subaru will make an appearance later.
3) For those who don't know who Minpha is, he's the adorable bassist of Pentagon! He looks like the love child of Koichi and Meto.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2016-06-15 02:16 am (UTC)I'm so nervous to find out what's happening to MiA. But I have to know, so I will definitely look forward to the next chapter. (Minpha is the perfect pairing for Meto, btw! Such a cutie!)
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Date: 2016-06-15 07:49 pm (UTC)I'll start working on the first part this week. I adore Minpha with Meto, they fit so well together and are just adorable. Minpha snuck in for a larger role in a later chapter so he'll be around a little more.
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Date: 2016-06-15 04:38 am (UTC)i can't wait for the next chapter ^^
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Date: 2016-06-15 07:51 pm (UTC)I hope I can have it out soon!
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Date: 2016-06-15 12:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-06-15 07:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-06-16 03:19 am (UTC)