Make a Wish

Make a Wish Part 11

"Good morning, Yanase-san." The nurse entered Izumi's room at the hospital.

Izumi turned from the window. "Ah, good morning." He greeted.

Noting the half-eaten meal, the nurse suppressed a smile. "You have visitors. Should I send them in?"

"Visitors?" Izumi glanced over. "Who is it?"

"I didn't ask their names. Should I have?"

"No, that's alright. Send them in."

Smirking, the nurse took the tray and left. Izumi paced the room, unconsciously smoothing his hair back.

"Izumi-san." Kiichi and Haruomi entered.

"Oh, Sensei, it's you." Izumi seemed slightly disappointed.

"Well, that sounded excited." Kiichi teased, before embracing him briefly. "How are you?"

"I've had no attacks." Izumi replied softly.

"I should hope not, or we'd have to sue the hospital." Kiichi sat down on the bed. "The nurses tell me you've been being difficult."

"..." Izumi looked away, not replying.

"Izumi." Kiichi sighed. "With life there is hope. No matter how bad things seem. Death can't fix things."

"Some say it takes the pain away." Izumi brought up.

"Unless you've been speaking to ghosts, the people saying that have never had the experience. Or at the very least can't remember it. So how would they know the pain goes away?"

"..."

"I can't say death does or doesn't take the pain away." Kiichi confessed softly. "But I do know that only life gives us the chance to make things right."

"Do you think someone broken can be fixed?"

"...we're never quite the same again. But I don't think we're less than we were."

Izumi's head snapped up to stare at Kiichi. "Sensei?"

Kiichi chuckled, glancing over at Haruomi. "With life, there's hope. I know someday you will find what was worth the pain."

Izumi glanced away. "I want to believe that. I do."

The door slammed open. Kiichi stood up as Shougo and Kashima entered. Kashima closed the door, and for a moment no one moved or spoke. "Father, you weren't due back til tomorrow." Kiichi broke the silence.

Shougo brought out a gun and pointed it at Haruomi. "Where are they, Kiichi?"

Kiichi stared. "Who?"

"Do you want me to kill this dog or not? Where are Seiichi and Tomoki?"

Relief and fear warred across Kiichi's face. "You don't have them?"

Shougo clicked the safety off the gun. "Are you playing with me?"

Kiichi walked slowly forward, until he stood in the gun's path. Haruomi's eyes widened in alarm. "IF you don't believe me, pull the trigger. It won't change what I don't know."

Shougo slammed the gun into his face - sending him to the floor. Haruomi took a step froward, and Shougo pulled the trigger. Kiichi looked up in alarm, but the shot had only hit Haruomi's shoulder. "Useless." Shougo snarled, turning away. Kiichi grabbed Haruomi's arm before he could do anything in retaliation. Haruomi's eyes were deadly, but he did not move.

Izumi lowered his gaze as Shougo turned to him. "Owner."

"Did my son order the surgery?"

"I had an attack while out. The doctor's here performed the surgery on an emergency basis."

"Will it scar?"

"The doctor's say it's unlikely. Or if there is a scar it will be faint."

Shougo cuffed him, and Izumi crashed into the bedside table, gripping it to keep from falling. "For your sake, you better hope they're right." Turning, Shougo strode to the door. He glowered at Kashima, who only bowed his head, before leaving alone - slamming the door behind him.

"Kashima?" Kiichi looked at him.

Kashima crossed the room to Haruomi as Izumi straightened, holding his bruising cheek. "Izumi, please fetch a doctor." He took his adopted son's arm getnly, aiding Kiichi to his feet at the same time. "Haruomi, sit until the doctor comes."

"Kashima, what happened?" Kiichi asked as Izumi hurried out of the room.

"Seiichi and Tomoki were taken from our facility." Kashima replied. "Those watching them are missing."

"Who-?" Kiichi began.

"I don't know. I failed, though. Your father is displeased with me."

"They didn't escape on their own?"

"Amagai is smart, but I can't honestly give him that much credit. No, someone else got them out. We just don't know who yet, or why."

Kiichi tugged Haruomi's jacket off. Haruomi winced but didn't give any other sign of pain. "He's frightened. The bastard is actually frightened."

"Don't take too much pleasure in that, Kiichi." Kashima warned. "He'll take that fear out on everyone else."

"Nothing about him brings me pleasure. Not even his pain or fear. Even his death will only bring cloure - no more, no less." Kiichi countered.

"I could kill him." Haruomi spoke the words softly. Kashima's lips pressed into a thin line, but he said nothing.

Kiichi leaned his forehead against his lover's good shoulder. "Why waste your hands on his blood? His time will come, let it be."

Izumi hurried to the nurses' station. "A man's been shot."

The nurse wouldn't look at him. "The doctor's on his way."

Izumi stared, then stepped back. "I see."

A buzzer sounded and the nurse stood. "You should get some ice on the cheek," She offered, glancing at him only briefly before hurrying up the hallway.

Izumi's hands gripped the nurses' station, knuckles turning white as conflicting emotions assailed him. Comprehension, anger, fear, frustration, sorrow. Everything but the emptiness he was accustomed to. That seemed to allude him.

"Izumi?"

Izumi turned to who had spoken, and found himself facing Arashi. "Arashi-san?"

"Why are you standing out here?" Arashi's keen eyes took note of both the bruise on his cheek and his death grip on the counter. He lay one hand across the bone white knuckles. "Hey, you okay? What happened?"

The gentle gesture seemed to break something inside of him and Izumi felt tears fill his eyes. "I..I just..."

"Whoa, hey, don't cry." Arashi reached up to wipe away his tears gently, but more fell in their place.

"I'm crying? I..." Izumi couldn't recall the last time he'd shed tears. He backed away. "I'm sorry."

"Hey, easy." Arashi rested one hand on his shoulder, wiping more tears away with the other. "Oh, geez. What do I do?" He pulled Izumi against him, petting his hair with a light touch. "It's gonna be okay. Don't cry."

Izumi buried himself into his arms, letting his tone soothe him more than the words. He wanted to stay in that moment forever.


Nobody dared say a word to Shougo as he strode through the halls of the B&B. One look was all it took to see it was no time to cross the Owner of the Blue Boy. He entered his office seething - slamming the door behind him.

"Did you have some bad news, Aoe-san?"

Shougo froze, then turned cold eyes on the intruder sitting calmly in one of the chairs. "This is rather unexpected, Yabi-san. When we last spoke I thought you'd chosen to end all connection with my club."

Yabi Souma stood; his return smile was cold. "I'm here on business."

"I already sent Haitana the kid."

"I'm not here on Hatiana-sama's command, but the two young masters'."

"The cat and the brat have something to say?" Shougo mocked.

Souma smirked. "Cats have claws, Aoe-san. And while Wataru may be a brat, he's Haitana's brat." Placing a hand over Aoe's desk he dumped an assortment of rings, stud earrings, and buttons on it. Shougo studied the collection coolly. "Not as gruesome as fingers and ears, perhaps, but I think Wataru-san's point is clear. Don't you?"

"I won't be seeing my men again, I take it."

Souma's eyes were cold. "They understood the risk of their occupation."

"Amagai Seiichi has a contract with me."

"Under the circumstances, I think it's best if you consider the contract void. Young Master Naoya views Amagai as a friend. Should you bother him or his lover again, he and Wataru may consider it a personal offense. Is one man really worth a fight with the Haitana?"

Aoe swept the items off his desk with cold disdain. "This time I'll look the other way. But should they attempt to interfere further, things won't be as easy for them."

"I'll pass on that message."

"You'd better." Aoe walked around to sit behind the desk. Souma had yet to move, and his eyes narrowed. "Was there something else?"

"No need to be so suspicious, Aoe-san." Souma picked up a briefcase from the floor. "I'm here to put some money in your pocket."

"Oh?"

"I was informed that Akechi Imura is back at the B&B. I take it whatever exclusive he had taken was terminated. Atleast, that's the only explanation I can think of." Souma's expression was deadly as he faced Shougo across the desk. It was obvious he knew the real truth.

Shougo's eyes narrowed. "Your point?"

Souma set the briefcase on the desk. "I'll be buying his contract off of you. If this amount is insufficient, I'll write a check to cover the rest. We both know money is no object to me."

"I don't recall saying he was for sale."

"Nor do I recall asking if he was. This isn't a request, Aoe-san. I won't be leaving this room until he's delivered to my men waiting outside. And neither will you."

"If the Haitana want a war, Yabi, they only have to ask."

"Don't misunderstand me. This has nothing to do with the Young Masters. And naturally it has nothing to do with Haitana-sama. He would never allow emotions to affect a business transaction. That's why he remains so much more powerful and successful than either one of us."

"You realize that should I choose to retaliate, Haitana would not protect you once I played a copy of this conversation for him?"

"True enough. But vengeance against me would be a simple matter. Not fun for you at all. Isn't it better to think of this as a way to recooperate from some of your recent financial losses?"

"...Leave the check blank."

"Done."

Shougo picked up the phone and pressed a button. "Find Akechi. Take him to the car waiting outside. I don't care how you do it, just do it."

Once he'd hung up, Souma placed the blank check on top of the briefcase. "While I cannot say our business has been a pleasure, Aoe-san, I can thank you for your time and effort."

Shougo picked up the check to study. "A King's ransom for a Jester. You're a fool, Yabi."

"One man's trash is another man's treasure. Besides, if you wanted something, nothing would stop you from obtaining it. Would it?"

"Are you truly comparing yourself to me?"

"We're all the same, Aoe-san. You, me, Haitana, Wataru...spoiled children in an adult-sized playground. Broken people replace broken toys, real bullets replace toy guns. But we're still no more than rulers of our own sandboxes. The world's gotten smaller, but we've gotten no bigger. And sooner or later someone comes to bring our playtime to an end."

"That's good food, you know. Wasting it is rude." Wataru commented. Naoya hit the back of his head. "Hey!"

"Berating a guest is rude too." The other boy reminded him.

"I just can't help but worry about what Aoe-sama will do." Seiichi told them. Beside him, Tomoki looked concerned.

Wataru shook his head. "Get it through your head, you're Haitana now. Nothing that old geezer can do about any of it."

"He may not be as powerful as Haitana, but he's not weakling." Seiichi told him. "You shouldn't underestimate him."

"I'm not underestimating him, idiot. You're overestimating yourself." Wataru countered.

"Wataru!" Naoya lectured.

"Hey! I can't help it if it's true." Wataru told him, turning back to Seiichi. "You're a replaceable commodity. Alone, you're a run away underling. So, of course, punishing you was necessary. Losing you to us is different. It just makes you one more sacrificed pawn in a game of chess. I mean, you were just one of his whores. You don't even rank a knight or a bishop. So why should he care?"

"Don't call Seiichi that." Tomoki frowned at him.

Naoya hit Wataru again. "Ouch! Hey! What was that for??"

"Sorry about Wataru's mouth, Tomoki. He tends to let it get away from him." Naoya apologized.

"I didn't say anything that wasn't true!" Wataru protested.

"It's okay, Tomoki, I'm not insulted." Seiichi squeezed his hand. "It's just hard to imagine Aoe-sama giving up. Especially after losing face."

"It's called "check"." Wataru replied. "He had to defend. Naturally, he'll only set up to attack again, but it won't have anything to do with you. It's a big chessboard, after all."

"You only won the first round, don't get cocky." Naoya told him.

"Hey, we can handle him." Wataru replied. "Don't turn chicken now."

Naoya paused. "We?"

"Of course "we"! You're a Haitana now, and don't you forget it!" Wataru told him, a light blush coloring his cheeks.

Naoya smiled. "I won't"

Tomoki hid a smile in his cup, but paused when he saw a distant look on Seiichi's face. "Seiichi? Are you still worried?"

"About us? No. But about the people still there? I can't help but worry about them."

Katsuki stared out the window. The afternoon sun wasn't making him feel any warmer. Since his phone call the previous evening to Souma, he'd been racked with doubts. Had he made the right decision? Could Souma really help Seiichi and Tomoki? What would happen between him and Akechi?

He heard the door open and glanced over to see Jin had entered. Jin didn't look at him as he poured a drink,s o he turned back to the window. He was surprised when a moment later a cup was held in front of him. For a moment he stared blankly. "What-" He began.

"Seiichi and Tomoki have been rescued."

Relief poured through him and he took the cup, drinking half its contents gratefully.

Jin chuckled, taking a swallow from his own glass. "Remember Kiichi's Kitten? How it turned out he was Haitana's grandson? He was with Kiichi and Haruomi when they got the news. Guess he adjusted to his new position fast. He used it to have them rescued. They're untouchable to Shougo right now."

He'd forgotten about Naoya. He was used to thinking of him as Aoe-san's lover. The thought that in this world he was growing to be a rival of Shougo's was both surprising and a little disturbing. Jin took another sip, and he followed suit. Had his phone call to Souma had any influence, he wondered. Or had it all been Naoya?

Moist lips on the back of his neck distracted him. He took in a shaky breath, only partially surprised by the sudden action.

"You've been distracted lately. First Izumi. Then Seiichi and Tomoki." Jin murmured into his skin, before gripping his waist and turning him to face him. "I'm getting tired of not being the center of your attention."

His lips captured his in a searing kiss. Demanding and coaxing at once. He opened his mouth willingly, his free arm wrapping around his neck as his body pressed into his. He could feel his arousal against his hip, and his own body responded with a fervored yearning. Jin broke the kiss to trail his lips down his neck, and Katsuki pressed back into the window, which felt cool against his suddenly heated skin.

The door slammed open, and they both froze a moment before turning. Shougo watched them coldly; several suited men were with him. A chilling cold replaced the heat that had been infusing him. Jin slowly drew away. "Owner."

"So you remember who I am, Jin?" Shougo's voice was cold. "You seem to have forgotten who and what you are. So I wasn't certain you did."

"I don't understand, Owner." Jin eyed him warily.

"On your knees." Shougo ordered.

Jin hesitated. "Aoe-sama?"

Shougo gestured, and two of the suited men moved forward. Katsuki saw Jin's body tense, but he did not fight when the men twisted his arms behind his back and forced him to his knees. "Who owns you?"

Jin gritted his teeth, but replied. "You do, Aoe-sama."

Shougo paced forward. "Everything here, in this room, do you own it?"

"...No."

"Who does?"

"You do, Aoe-sama."

"With all the privileges I've allowed you over the years - did you begin to forget your position, Jinnai? Did you honestly begin to think of yourself as a man?"

"...I am a Host."

"Did I hear a hesitation, Jinnai? Say it again."

"I am a Host."

Shougo backhanded him across the face. Katsuki took a step forward, but one of the other men Shougo had brought stepped between them. "Why did you contact Yabi Souma?" Shougo demanded of Jin.

"Souma?" Jin did not look up, but Katsuki could hear that he was perplexed.

Shougo struck him again, his eyes dark with anger. "You think you can fool me? Do you think I've forgotten who stole Yabi's number all those years ago? But Imura was too much of a coward to even make your trouble then worthwhile. I suppose you thought Amagai deserved some help for having the guts to defy me. So you called Souma in to rescue Seiichi and his boy."

"I thought Kiichi's kitten saved them."

Shougo grabbed a handful of Jin's hair and yanked his face up. "Are you honestly trying to fool me? Who else could have called him?"

"I called him."

The room seemed to freeze. Shougo turned cold eyes on Katsuki. "How could you even know who Souma is?"

Katsuki faced him with a confidence he didn't truly feel. "He was who called the ambulance for Izumi. He gave me his business card on the way to the hospital. Of course, I wouldn't know his connection to anyone here. Until Marudo arrived and ordered him out of the hospital."

"Marudo told you?"

"His intention was that I understand why not to mention Yabi-san to anyone. But when you had Amagai-sempai and Tomoki, I realized Yabi could be useful."

Shougo released his grip on Jin's hair. "A call out of the B&B itself to anyone of Haitana's members would have been flagged. How is it you contacted him?"

"Izumi's phone. I stole it when he had his attack."

Shougo gestured and the men holding Jin released him. Jin slowly got to his feet. "Is this how you train, Jin? You train my people to betray me?"

"Why blame Jin?" Katsuki broke in before the host could speak. "You don't want broken dolls. They're boring. Isn't that what you once told Izumi? Isn't my defiance what makes me amusing?"

Shougo laughed, and Jin shot Katsuki a warning look. Stepping between them he bowed to Shougo. "If I have failed you, Owner. I am willing to accept punishment for it."

Shougo's eyes glittered darkly as he looked at him. "Oh, I know how to punish you. Both of you. It seems to me the kid's ready to be a Host." Jin tensed, but did not look up. "You have no objections. Do you, Jin?"

Jin remained silent, and Katsuki resisted the urge to smile. The lack of words from the Host said more than a thousand would from another. Unfortunately, he wasn't the only one who understood the meaning of the silent reply.

"I'm surprised at you, Jinnai. Losing your head over such a trivial matter." Shougo paced around him. "So unlike you." He turned to Katsuki. "It's New Year's eve tonight. I'm sure finding a client for you will be easy. Unless you have an objection, Kyousuke?"

He'd wanted to cling to Jin the first time he'd thought he was going to meet a client. He wondered if this world's Katsuki would have felt the same. But that seemed a lifetime ago. If Shougo was trying to scare him, he was dealing with the wrong Katsuki. He bowed. "As you wish, Owner."

"Take him to a room to prepare. Appropriate clothing will be sent over." Shougo ordered.

Katsuki wished he could have caught atleast a glimpse of Jin as he was escorted out. But the suited men blocked his view.


To be continued...

Almost...Closer and closer. I bet nobody knows what I have up my sleeve. Guaranteed. So I skipped Arashi and Izumi's first meeting. But I showed their second. And that was good too, right?

And I love how strong Katsuki is in the final scene of the chapter. And Naoya becoming a permanent member of the Haitana in this world is quite a twist, don't you think? But my favorite piece, bar none, was Kiichi walking into the path of his father's gun. It's just...so Kiichi. And sad and sweet at the same time, despite how horrible the situation is.