Ransom

By: Ryoko [Raiju]

Several days had passed since that night, in which time Shuichi and Azrael had been released, but Hiro was another story.

He'd been valiant in fighting as long as he did, constantly pulling himself through comas, but always falling back into them. As it stood, according to the doctor that took care of him, Hiro was going to get better, but it was going to take a long while. They promised to release him from the hospital the day he could carry himself and do more than lay awake for a few moments. But he was going to be alright, and that's what set all of their hearts at ease.

Each and every single day K and Azrael were at Hiro's side. Shuichi stopped in with Yuki and Fuijisaki whenever he could, and the rest of his friends and relatives visited on and off, mostly calling the front desk to see how he was doing, though. As time went on and on, Hiro began to stay awake longer and longer.

"K...?" He sat up slowly, grunting as he stretched.

"I'm here." The blonde's eyes were stuck on him, a smile playing across his lips when he saw the boy look at him.

"Where's Shu?"

"He had school today."

"And Az?"

"Somewhere with Seguchi."

"I see." Hiro pulled his knees up, thankful to bend them after such a long time.

"Hey! Don't overdo it. You're not supposed to be moving that much yet! You'll never get better."

"I know, I know. But YOU try being in a bed like I have for two weeks and let's see how YOU feel."

"As long as I can be in it with y-" he stopped himself dead in the sentence.

"K?"

"N-NOTHING!" he turned bright red, wanting badly to just die right about then.

"Did you just say what I thought you did?"

"N-NO! NOPE! I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING!" Oh crap, I blew it...! he wanted to hide from those seemingly innocent eyes that now questioned him.

"You did, didn't you?" Hiro's voice asked calmly, looking at the door, his eyes devoid of most happiness and gaining a little sorrow.

"Mnn..." K groaned, resting his head on his arms after folding them over the back of the chair. He didn't want to look up. "Yeah."

"I thought so."

"Hiro-"

"You told me awhile ago that you felt that way about me. It's okay. I haven't forgotten." A small smile returned to his face, and he turned to look the man directly in the eyes. "When I get better, I'll take up your offer."

The man blushed furiously, hiding his face in his arms.

Hiro laughed at the move, poking him playfully. "I saw that."

"As it stands, your friend should be ready to leave on Monday. That leaves two days to go. He's recovering very well, I might add." The doctor pushed up his glasses as he read, much more like a librarian than a doctor. Shuichi bit his lip to keep from laughing at the move.

"Well, that's awesome. Thank you for taking care of him." He smiled brightly, waiting for the man to leave before bursting into his fit of laughter.

"What's so funny? Azrael and Yuki asked at once, looking at each other in wonder.

"He was funny. It's nothing, really. Just something weird." The musician spun around, trotting over to the bed. "So how are you holding up?"

"Get. Me. Out. Of. Here."

"Ehh?"

"Hospital. Food. Sucks. Ass. I need real food. I need POCKY."

"Strawberry, right?"

"Of course."

"Here ya go." He pulled the box out of his sweatshirt pocket. "If they knew I brought it, they'd kill me."

"Ooh! Shuichi I love you!" He snatched the box from the boy and tore it open, feasting on the sugary-goodness like he hadn't eaten in months. "Ohh man, thank you so much! I needed this!" he sighed, finally breathing after ingesting at least half the box at once.

Shuichi blinked dumbly, sweatdropping as he watched the other eat. "You're...welcome?"

K hid his face in jealousy, but smiled as he watched the guitarist's face light up at the sight of real food. It was something he would never get tired of seeing more often.

By the time the room had settled down, Shuichi, Yuki, Azrael, and K sat around Hiro's bed, almost like a meeting.

"Has anyone heard about HIM?" Hiro asked first, a stick of pocky hanging out of his mouth.

"It's all over the press. The media is going bonkers over the trial and crap. I'm actually surprised that they haven't called any of you in as witnesses. After all, you three WERE the victims." Yuki pushed a hair from his face.

"They didn't need a case at all from US. Seems the last kids he kidnapped are the ones that filed charges against him. They did years ago, but the police never believed them. If I hadn't called the police before we'd went to pick you guys up, then they probably wouldn't believe US either. Anyway, yeah I've heard some about the trial too...seems Hitari is getting life in the slammer." The blonde turned to Azrael, resting a hand on the boy's head. "So none of you are gonna have to worry about that bastard again."

"They'll probably murder him in jail. Like they did that guy that murdered his own infant daughter. He only had ten years, but they still killed him in jail."

"Also. I've heard that he owned a large law firm...he was a lawyer. That means he had a LOT of cash stashed away. Because of your troubles, for some reason the police are gonna empty out all of his bank accounts and distribute the money evenly amongst the five of his victims. That includes you three and the other two that got hurt by his cruelty." Yuki explained, raising an eyebrow as he watched Hiro nibble at the end of the breadstick like a rabbit.

"How much money IS that?" Shuichi's eyes were wide with anticipation.

"A couple million. Remember, he had two ransoms to collect. That's a lot."

"A COUPLE MILLION?!?!?!" The three boys' jaws fell open.

"We'll be living like kings for a couple decades with THAT kinda money..." Azrael leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and his chin in his palms. "I never imagined I'd get out of there alive...but I'm glad that all of you were able to prove me wrong. I'm glad I'm here with all of you...thank you. It's a happy ending to a sad story after all."

GAME OVER.