Spiderwebs

Spiderwebs Chapter Five

"So, do I have you to thank for the mess in my apartment?" Katsuki asked the man on his doorstep.

Tadeo shook his head. "No. My men would never have bothered you, Katsuki-san."

"So someone else is involved."

"I'm not at liberty to discuss such matters with you."

"So why are you here?"

"You know why I am here."

"He's not here. I haven't seen him since the night he was taken to the hospital."

"When did you last speak with him?"

Katsuki scowled, then glanced around. "Maybe you better come in."

"I'd be delighted." He inclined his head graciously. "And grateful."

Katsuki snorted, unlocking the door and entering. "I'd offer you a drink, but I don't have anything left to offer."

"I can make do without."

"A good idea - since your stay will be brief." Jin's voice cut into the conversation.

Katsuki froze. He had time to notice Tadeo did the same, as well as wonder how Jin had gotten back into his apartment before he was stunned again.

"Jinnai-san." Tadeo inclined his head to the host.

"Tadeo-san." Jin replied, unmoving.

"What brings you here? Surely Aoe-san is not so concerned over a few minor incidents involving one of the B&B's pageboys."

"Minor incidents can escalate."

"So Aoe sent you? Why here instead of my office?" Tadeo studied him a moment, then his eyes slid to Katsuki. "I see. Aoe didn't send you at all, did he?" He turned back to Jin.

"Maybe." Jin's reply was non-commital, but his gaze was hard.

"No, he didn't. You came on your own. I had heard recently that you'd aquired a pretty piece of property." His eyes slid to Katsuki again, his look smug. "Retirement plans, Jin?"

Katsuki flushed in embarrassment. Before he could speak up, Jin's fist smashed into Tadeo's face - sending the other man to the floor. Katsuki gasped in shock. "Jin!" Before he could move, though, Jin's hand gripped his forearm in a vicelike grip. He shot the host a glare, but Jin ignored him - keeping his eyes on Tadeo instead.

Tadeo climbed to his feet, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "That was out of line. I apologize."

"Apology accepted...this time." Jin's words were icy. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see if Katsuki-san had any knowledge of his brother's whereabouts."

:"Katsuki?" Jin prompted, still not looking a him.

Katsuki felt a surge of irritation at his treatment, but turned to Tadeo anyway. "No more than any other time. He knows better."

"But he has contacted you."

"...The night before last. I told him I couldn't help him this time."

"I imagine he did not take that too well."

"You could say that."

"Tane was fond of calling you "The prettiest piggybank in Tokyo"."

Katsuki winced, partly at the name and partly because Jin's grip on his arm tightened when he heard it. He tugged against the grip, and was surprised when Jin loosened his hold slightly - though he didn't let go completely.

Tadeo apparently oblivious to the interaction, continued. "You've never failed to pay his debts before. Are you truly going to turn your back on him now?"

"...It's too high a price now." There was a double meaning to his words, and he knew Tadeo, atleast, understood them.

"There is a man named Gato. His men are who most likely did this." He guestured to the apartment. "They were probably seeking some clue to Tane's whereabouts. I doubt they'll be back."

"What do they want with him?" Katsuki asked, ignoring the scowl Jin shot him.

"Tane allowed someone to steal what we had already stolen from them. They may want him dead. Or they may want him to identify the third party."

"You don't know the third party, either." Jin deduced.

Tadeo turned a cold glare on him. "Perhaps. Or perhaps not. It is of no importance to you either way."

"No, it's not. We're through now." Jin told him.

Tadeo hesitated, then nodded his acceptance of the fact. "If you'll both excuse me then. Jinnai-san. Katsuki-san." He bowed and headed for the door. He paused there to turn back. "I shall miss doing business with you, Katsuki-san." He stated, smiling slightly before exiting the apartment.

Jin scowled at the closed door. "I bet you will." He muttered so low, Katsuki wasn't certain he'd heard him right. He moved to walk away, pulling at the grip on his wrist, and was surprised when Jin's grip tightened again. The host yanked him back, spinning him to face him. "What was he doing here?"

"You heard him yourself."

"Why did you let him in?"

"What ? I was supposed to hold the conversation about Tane's whereabouts on the doorstep when the police might have been around?"

"I told you to cut your ties with Tane and his associates."

"And I did."

"Then why were you asking about what Tane had done?"

"Those men wrecked my place, don't I atleast deserve to know why?"

"And was that all it was?"

"..." Katsuki found himself looking away from Jin's searching gaze. Was that all it was? Had taking care of Tane's money problems only ever been convenience? Or had he in some way wanted to keep a connection, however tentative, with his brother? Had he wanted to know what had happened in hope that he could still help somehow?

"You don't owe him anything." Jin continued. "He doesn't give a damn about you."

Katsuki closed his eyes, swallowing uneasily. "I know that."

"Do you?"

"You've never even met him."

"I don't need to. I know enough about Tadeo to know the kind of men who work for him. Besides, why would he put you at risk by dragging you into his business if he cared at all? Why would he let Tadeo near you?"

"Tadeo only ever comes looking for the money Tane owes."

Jin snorted. "He was doing plenty of looking, but it had nothing to do with your brother."

Katsuki blinked, startled, before turning a thoughtful frown on Jin. "This is the second time this week - if you were anyone else - I'd accuse you of being jealous."

For a moment the words lay between them and Katsuki waited for the same mocking response Jin had given him the other evening. He wasn't prepared for Jin's mouth crashing down on his hungrily. For his arms to wrap around his waist, pressing his body to his. For a moment he was stunned, then he relaxed into the heated embrace. Jin's hands slid down his sides to his hips, and he guided him backwards to the couch cushions still on the floor.

There were no words. There was nothing to say. Nothing either of them would say. Katsuki let himself be swept up by that moment. He didn't want to think about anything else but Jin's touch.


Someone shoved at his shoulder. He swatted them away, but the hand came back - more insistant.

"You should fire your cleaning service."

Tane's voice broke through the haze of sleep. His eyes shot open, though he had to blink to clear them. "Tane? What are you doing here? Are you crazy?" He was disoriented from being suddenly awakened, and it took him a moment to remember where he was, and who he'd last been with. He felt the sheets pooling around his waist as he sat up.

"Matter of opinion."

"The cops-"

"They haven't even bothered to get the warrant. Or stake out your apartment. Guess you made an impression on them. Of course, they're idiots for thinking you'd tell them the truth, but most cops I've known have been idiots so it's no surprise. But unless you took Twiddledum up on his offer from the other night, I don't think the cops were the last ones here."

Katsuki wondered briefly where Jin had gone to. He pushed the thought aside. He was no doubt back at the B&B. And under the current circumstances that was for the best. "Don't be an ass." Grabbing up his pants he pulled them on. "And you still haven't answered what you're doing here."

"Tadeo was here."

"And?"

"What did you tell him?"

"Exactly what I told you." Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he stumbled into the kitchen to grab a glass of water.

"You told him you weren't paying?"

"Damn right."

"Damn it, Kyousuke! How could you-" Tane followed him.

"Take a look around!" Katsuki snapped. "Think I keep the place like this?! I finally get a place of my own, stuff of my own, and now this!"

Tane glanced at the partly cleaned up disaster briefly. "Atleast there's no water, right?"

Katsuki shivered at his words. "Get out, Tane."

"Is he worth it?"

Katsuki blinked. "He who?"

"Whoever he is." Tane made a guesture toward the living room. "I thought you learned from her mistake that love was nothing but trouble. But here you are making all the same mistakes she did."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Katsuki crossed his arms.

His brother snorted. "Do I look like an idiot?"

"Do you really want me to answer that?" Katsuki retorted.

Tane's hand whipped out to smack him across the face. "You're getting quite a mouth on you, little brother. You need to remember your manners."

Katsuki stood frozen for a moment, his eyes watering from the blow. He could feel the stinging warmth of where his brother's hand had met his skin. It was probably swelling already. His hands clenched at his side, then his eyes snapped up, and he slammed his fist into Tane's face. His brother slammed back into the wall, grabbing his nose with his both hands. "My manners? MY manners? You come here uninvited, with all you're stupid problems, and what? I'm supposed to take it? Get you money to do what with? Pay off your mistake? What did you lose that has two groups after you - including your own?"

"I think my nose is bleeding." Tane muttered.

"Try not to drip blood on the carpet. My apartment could still be searched for evidence." Katsuki started to storm past him, but Tane grabbed his arm.

"You've grown up, you know that? Hyouga said you'd changed. That you weren't one of us anymore. He was right."

Katsuki stared at him. "When did you see Hyouga?"

"Today. He did it, didn't you? Changed you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I think a part of me could hate him for it." Tane let his arm go reluctantly. "It wasn't a what. It was a who."

"What do you mean?"

"Who. It was who I lost, not what I lost. Gato's son. Daiki."

"You lost a person? You kidnapped a person?" Katsuki stepped back. He felt chilled as he watched Tane, waiting for his response. He'd known what Tane was, but at the same time...

"Wasn't involved in the kidnapping. Just in charge of him for a time while Tadeo saw to the ransom note. Somebody else got in on the action."

"Go on. I'd love to hear more." A new voice interupted. Tane whirled, but froze when he saw the four men in the living room. One already had a gun out, facing him.

"Shuji. You don't give up, do you? How did you find me?"

The man's smile was cold. "Patience. I figured you'd be back. You don't have anyone else to go to, do you?" He came forward, studying Katsuki. "So, this is your Piggybank, eh, Tane? Very pretty. How did you even come from the same gene pool?"

Tane's eyes narrowed. "You leave him out of this, Shuji. I'll only warn you once."

"I believe you were explaining what happened with Daiki. Go on."

Tane smirked. "Sudden memory loss."

"Pity." Shuji nodded at two of his men. They came forward slowly. Tane smirked, and waved them forward cockily. Suddenly Shuji stepped forward to grab ahold of Katsuki's arm. Katsuki gave a shout, his fist swinging up, but Shuji blocked it easily.

"Kyousuke!" Tane lept forward, but Shuji tossed the younger man at the fourth man in the room. Katsuki went to move, but froze when he felt the cold metal of the barrel of a gun pressing against his temple.

"It would be a shame to have to hurt him Tane. I suggest you start talking." Shuji held up an arm to block Tane's way. But Tane didn't try to push past him. In a smooth motion a gun appeared from his sleeve, and the rapport of a bullet made Katsuki wince, until he felt the man's grip on him release, The gun clattered to the floor as the man fell backwards. He felt himself start to shake. From fright or shock of what had just happened he wasn't sure.

"The next man who touches my younger brother gets the same." Tane pointed his gun at Shuji. "Kyousuke."

Katsuki managed to pull his eyes up from the floor to look at Tane. His brother didn't return the gaze, instead he kept watching Shuji carefully. "Tane..." His voice was unsteady. He saw red on the carpet, and tried not to think about what it was.

"Run. Get out. Now."

His legs were shaking as he stood up. He refused to look at the man on the floor, instead he ran for the door. He only made it a step out the door before he was grabbed. He gave a shout, before something covered his face, silencing and blinding him. He heard Tane shout his name, and then a crash.

"Get over your memory loss. We'll be in touch." Shuji's voice came from inside, followed by a loud thud. Katsuki struggled against whoever was holding him, then Shuji's voice came again. "We don't have time for that. Knock him out."

There was a flash of pain on the back of his head, before darkness overcame him.

To Be Continued...