Thankful Meeting

Hey all I’m back. Hope everyone had a great vacation. I know I did. Sleeping in and doing nothing all week is a dream come true. lol. Well here’s my next chapter so I hope you all like it. I separated the paragraphs so it’s easier to read so now it seems longer than it actually is. Sorry for the long wait. Oh, and thank you very much for all the love for my gravi fic. *big hug*

“words”=speech; ‘words’=thoughts

Disclaimer: this is on the first chapter so I don’t feel the need to continue to say so.

Zafiro:: Well here’s your description of Akuma. I was going to integrate it into the story but I thought this would be easier.

Akuma= He has chin length black hair with strips of dark brown highlights. Blue/green eyes and medium skin tone. He has just the right amount of muscles and is currently wearing a gray/brown business suit without the tie.

Chapter 4:

Yuki and Shuichi sat on a bench in the middle of the park. Kids were playing on the swings and a light breeze blew by. Shuichi sat looking into his lap with his hands folded. “I really appreciate all that you’ve tried to tell me but you shouldn’t bother.” He said quietly towards the ground.

Yuki looked down at Shuichi with an annoyed expression and a feeling that he wasn’t getting thru to him at all. “What the fuck do you mean? Do you enjoy being smashed into the pavement every damn chance he gets?”

Shuichi continued to look down, avoiding Yuki’s gaze but still feeling it on him. He spoke quietly, “It’s not that I don’t understand what you’re saying because I do. But, it’s just that Akuma would try his best to throw that logic right out the window. What would be the point in leaving if he’d find me and bring me back anyway, or worse kill me?”

Yuki raised an eyebrow and sighed. ‘I just can’t believe how naïve this baka is.’ Yuki thought, the said out loud, “You know. There are people that are just like you that have gone thru the same exact thing. And besides there’s this thing called the police! Why don’t you go and…”

Yuki was cut off as Shuichi lifted his head to look into his eyes and shouted, “But I can’t! You don’t get it. If I go he’ll catch me bring me back. If I file a complaint he’ll say I’m just lying to get attention or something. There’s no point!” Shuichi covered his face with his hands, squeezing his eyes shut against the tears.

“Let me ask you the reverse. What would be the point to just staying where you are and never taking a chance? You’d live the rest of your life weak and afraid of even your own shadow.” Yuki said back in a controlled tone just short of being angry and irritated. “It’ll only get worse for you.” He continued to say but in a softer tone.
* * * * *

Hiro walked outside his apartment and around to his motorcycle. With leather jacket on and his helmet in hand, he mounted his bike and just sat for a couple of minutes gathering his thoughts. Just two minutes ago, Hiro ended his call with Akuma concerning Shuichi.

*Flashback*
Hiro sat on his couch playing his guitar and going over some music that needed to be fixed. He was halfway thru one piece when over the sound of his guitar Hiro heard his phone ringing. Setting the guitar on the couch and putting aside his music, Hiro walked over the table. He answered and heard Akuma’s voice come thru on the other end.

“Hey man, sorry to bug you and all but I was hoping you could tell me where Shuichi went after work today.” It almost sounded as if Akuma was trying to control an unleashed anger.

Hiro’s eyebrows came together and he questioned, “Shuichi? I don’t know why? Did something happen?”

Akuma tried to sound cheerful but to Hiro it was a wasted effort. “Oh no nothings wrong. It’s just I wanted to pick him up since you all got out early and he never managed to tell where he goes for lunch.”

“I see. Well, all of us would on occasion go to the Deli Café. But then again, we’d also go to the Coffee Shop. You should try there first. You could always call him and ask.”

Akuma quickly answered, “No!” He cleared his voice and continued. “I mean, I can’t. You see, I want it to be a surprise that I’m coming.” Then he mumbled quietly to himself, “That kid is going to be so sorry when I find him. I’ll beat him just short of killing.”

Hiro, just barely hearing, asked, “What was that?”

Akuma, not paying attention, thanked Hiro for his help and quickly hung up. Hiro was totally be wildered. In any case, he put on his jacket and went for the door.
*End flashback*

Hiro started up his bike and drove down the street in the direction of the park. ‘I bet I know where Shu will be. Telling Akuma to go to the Coffee Shop first bought me some time. Maybe I can talk to Shu.’
* * * *

Akuma drove down four streets and up to the Coffee Shop, just a block away from NG. Parking his car, Akuma got out and crossed the street. Walking in the door, he looked around and made his way thru the crowd of people. Not finding any pink puff balls of hair that resembled Shuichi, Akuma walked up to the counter. “Excuse me ma’am. Have you seen a kid with pink hair come in here?” He asked a lady behind the counter.

The lady just blinked a few times and laughed. “Sir, do you know how many people have pink hair? Right now there are currently three in here, take your pick.”

Akuma’s face twisted in rage and he pounded the table, storming out of the Coffee Shop and heading back to his car. After sitting for a good 10 minutes, Akuma started his car and made his way to the Deli Café.
* * * *

Shuichi sat looking up at Yuki thinking, ‘What does he know. How can he possibly know if it’ll get worse or not? Why does he even care?’ Getting frustrated, Shuichi started to say out loud, “How do you kn…” But he was cut off as his cell phone started to ring loudly. Shuichi fumbled it out of his pocket and without looking at the caller id, again, answered, “Hello?”

“Shu, it’s me. You’re at the park right now right?” Hiro questioned as soon as he heard Shuichi answer.

Shuichi’s eyebrows gathered in thought. He could hear the roar of the motorcycle in the background. “Hiro? Yeah I’m at the park. Why do you ask?”

“Okay, I’ll be right there so get over to the side walk.” Hiro ordered calmly trying to steer and hold his phone at the same time.

Shuichi was getting confused. ‘Why does Hiro want me to go over to the sidewalk just to meet him there? Couldn’t He just park his bike and walk over to where I am?’ Shuichi sighed wondering if it had something to do with their conversation after work an hour ago. “Hiro, if you’re going to lecture me again about my life, which by the way does not concern you, then forget it.” Shuichi was starting to get annoyed at Hiro and closed his phone before Hiro could say anything.

Shuichi sat thinking, completely forgetting about Yuki until he said, “So, who was that? He seemed to rustle your feathers a bit.”

Shuichi turned his head to look at Yuki and raised his eyebrow at the phrase. “Rustle my feathers? I guess you could say that.” Shuichi sat back against the bench and turned to face front. “Hiro, that’s who called, keeps butting into my business. He keeps thinking that something is wrong with my relationship with Akuma.”

Yuki stared at Shuichi for a couple of seconds and shook his head. “Maybe you forgot, but, something IS wrong with your relationship. And did you ever think that maybe this Hiro guy could be concerned about you?”

Shuichi sighed and hung his head, speaking softly. “Yeah I know. I’m just so used to lying and acting as if nothing is wrong that sometimes I do forget.”

Yuki looked at his watch and stood up from the bench. “Well, I have to go but…” He offered a hand to help Shuichi to his feet and continued. “If anything happens before I see you next I want to call me right away.”

With an exasperated sigh, Shuichi mumbled back, “You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

‘Baka!’ Yuki thought and said, “Just promise me.” He then took a hold of Shuichi’s chin and brought his face up to meet his in a deep, full out kiss. Yuki turned to leave and started to walk away. As he heard a barely audible whisper of agreement, he smiled and continued to walk.

* * *

Hiro arrived at the curb of the park and saw Shuichi just standing in the middle of the grass, looking off in the distance. “Shuichi, get over here!” Hiro yelled loud enough for Shuichi to hear.

Shuichi turned and heaving a large sigh, walked over to Hiro. “What do you want?” He asked with an irritated voice.

“I just got done talking to Akuma. And no I didn’t call him. He called me first. Akuma wanted to know where you were.” Hiro said calmly.

Shuichi reached up to brush his hair aside and sighed once again. “Yeah, what’s so strange about that? I told him I was on break so what if he wanted to know where I was. What concern is it of yours?” He asked starting to get angry.

Hiro put out the stand for his bike and got off. He walked over to Shuichi and grabbed a hold of his upper arms and gently shook him once. “Shuichi knock it off! I’m worried about you! I know you didn’t get that broken arm from falling down the stairs. I asked the doctor myself. He didn’t seem to believe your story either. Now tell me, Akuma did this did…”

Shuichi pulled himself free, beaming with anger. He cut off Hiro, yelling, “Stop it!” Shuichi started to cry. “Why can’t you just leave it be?”

Suddenly a car pulled up behind Hiro’s bike and stopped. Akuma got out and walked over saying with a smile, “Shuichi, I’m glad I found you.” He embraced Shuichi and kissed his temple. “We should go. We have plans for this evening. Thanks for your help Hiro.” Akuma steered Shuichi towards the car and started to get in, leaving Hiro standing there.

Shuichi wiped at his tears before Akuma got a good look at him and thought ‘Just great. If Akuma’s being this nice and fast paced, he must be mad.’ Shuichi sighed and before he got into the car turned to Hiro and said, “Sorry Hiro. Gotta go.” They both got in and drove off.

Hiro stood there as if he had been frozen in time. ‘That seemed to go by rather quickly. I didn’t even need to blink.’ He thought getting back on his bike.
* * *

Shuichi sat in the passenger seat while Akuma drove back to the apartment. Shuichi was quiet, not knowing what to say. Then Akuma spoke up in a concerned voice, “You really shouldn’t lie to me like that. How was I supposed to know if you were alright?” When Shuichi didn’t answer, Akuma reached over and grabbed the back of Shuichi’s neck, squeezing hard. His voice got angry, “Answer me when I talk to you!”

Shuichi had his eyes closed against the pain that radiated down his spine. Speaking fast and in a high pitched voice, Shuichi said, “I’m really sorry! I didn’t mean to, please forgive me! I’ll never do it again!” Yet he had no idea what Akuma was talking about.

Akuma released Shuichi’s neck and took a hold of his hair. He then bashed Shuichi’s head against the dashboard once and spoke loudly, “Never tell me what I should do!”

Shuichi brought his head up, once Akuma released his hold, with his eyes tightly shut in pain. Moving his head too quickly, Shuichi grabbed his head when a blinding pain speared thru.

When they arrived at the apartment, Akuma got out of his car and walked around to the other side. He opened the door and dragged Shuichi out and up the stairs to the door. Once in the house, he then threw Shuichi on the floor of the living room, against the wall.
* * *

Yuki was in his kitchen after getting home. Making coffee, he walked over to the cabinet to grab a cup. He opened the door and pulled one out, another behind it falling out and crashing to the floor. Since the second cup was plastic, Yuki bent down to pick it up. As he stood back up, Yuki ended up knocking the top of his head on the corner of the cabinet door. He felt uneasy about something just then but figured it was just the bump and shrugged it off.
* * *

When Shuichi tried to get up Akuma stepped on his back and pushed him back to the floor. Raising his foot off of Shuichi’s back, it then came down again really hard, several times. Shuichi lie there yelling pain as his back started to ache. Akuma put his foot on the floor and grabbed a handful of Shuichi’s hair and pulled him up to his knees. Akuma used his other hand to reach around and grab Shuichi’s neck and started to squeeze, cutting off Shu’s air.

Shuichi opened his mouth to try to get air but with so success. His eyes started to see spots and he reached up and started to claw and scratch at Akuma’s arm and hand. Hissing in pain, Akuma released Shuichi and punched the back of his head, full force, with his fist before Shuichi fell to the ground.

Shuichi grunted and getting dizzy collapsed to the floor. He tried to speak but his voice was hoarse and not much came out. Akuma walked over to the closet and pulled out a hammer from the tool box. He went back over to Shuichi on the floor and pushed him over to his back and sat down on Shuichi’s chest facing his feet. Shuichi, on the verge of passing out, tried to keep focus and tried to breathe despite the weight on his lungs. Akuma then pushed down Shuichi’s left knee so that the leg was flat. He raised his arm in the air and came down hard and fast on Shuichi’s leg with the hammer. Shuichi screamed in agony, tears soaking the carpet around his face, as he felt the hammer come crashing down three times and he barely felt the crack that came along with it as his body stared to go numb.
* * *

Yuki sat at his laptop in his office typing up his story. He stopped to get a drink from his cup but when he picked it up the cup cracked down the side, spilling hot coffee. Yuki once again felt as if something was wrong but ignored it as he went to go clean up the coffee that spilled on the floor.
* * *

Akuma sat the hammer on the table and got off of Shuichi and picked him up by the back of the shirt. Slamming him into the wall, Akuma pulled Shuichi’s arm back and managed to break one of Shuichi’s fingers in the process. Shuichi, being beyond pain, just tried to stay awake.

Akuma yelled into Shuichi’s ear saying, “Don’t think you can lie to me and not pay the price!” Akuma’s voice briefly softened enough to say, “I love you Shuichi.” Before he pulled away and let him fall to the floor.

Shuichi hit the floor not moving. Tears were still falling from his open eyes, soaking in to the carpet. Shuichi saw Akuma bending down right before he passed out into the dark.

* * * *

Yuki sat in his living room watching TV after cleaning up the spill in his office. He was turning the channel when he suddenly got the worst headache. Yuki his head and closed his eyes. Within a minute the pain was gone but what came was once again the dreading feeling that something wasn’t right. Instead of ignoring it, Yuki got up off the couch and shut off the TV. Heading for the door, Yuki pulled off his blue sweater, leaving his white shirt underneath and grabbed his black leather jacket from the closet and went down to his car.

Well that’s it for today. Hope you liked it. Oh and I didn’t have much time to read over it before posting so if you find a mistake please let me know. Please review!