chapter 8
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Did any of it really happen?
Three days ago, Cody and Yuki were heated enemies.
Two days ago, they resolved their differences and Cody's father appeared.
One day ago, Cody had been taken away, Shuichi's heart being ripped out along with him.
Something had to be illegal. Something had to be wrong. It had happened to fast, like a bad daytime soap opera where the wife finds out she'd been the mother of her husband all along. Life wasn't meant to go that fast. It was a complete blur to Yuki.
Was it only a few years ago that he'd even met Shuichi, in that damned park? Had he ever really wanted to be rid of the singer? Since when did Shuichi want to be a dad, anyway? Wasn't it that talk show? Was all this because Yuki'd gone on a talk show that morning just to make Shuichi jealous?
Yes.
It was, wasn't it.
Yuki stared at the clock on the blindingly white hospital wall. 2 a.m. It'd only been that long?
//Shuichi continued screaming, Cody's body clutched in his arms. Yuki crouched down, taking the boy and snarling as Shuichi clawed for him back.
"Shuichi! Calm the fuck down - give him to me!"
Giving up, not able to fight Yuki, Shuichi collapsed against the door, gasping in as he breathed raggedly. He began continuously pounding his head on the hard wood.
Yuki carried Cody inside, laying him out flat on his back and pressing his ear to the boy's chest. At first, nothing. Frantically, Yuki began slamming his fist down on the small body. "Damn it, Cody - come on!"
"Yuki! YUKI! Stop it - stop doing that! YUKI YOU'RE BEATING HIM UP!" Shuichi's high pitched cries reached Yuki's ears before his physical retaliation did. Yuki whipped his head around, narrowing his eyes and stopping Shuichi cold before he could even try to pull Yuki away.
"Do you want me to try and save him or not!? Shuichi - this is dead serious! Call for an ambulance! NOW!"
Shuichi scrambled away, his cries temporarily subdued by fear. Yuki bent over, listening for a heartbeat again.
Christ.
He was alive.
Grabbing a blanket, Yuki wrapped it around the small figure in an attempt to keep him warm. Cody was in shock - he'd probably lost more blood than was mortally healthy - but he was alive at this moment, and, for the sake of the one he loved, Yuki would not let Cody die.
The ambulance arrived. They were all loaded up and taken away. At this point, Yuki wouldn't have been surprised if they'd dropped Shuichi off in the mental ward. He was that out of his mind.//
Sigh.
Two hours. Shuichi was in the room, Yuki was not, Cody was, or he wasn't. The writer was unaware of the boy's state. He was more focused on thinking about the boy's father. Where'd he go after 'dumping the body'? If he wasn't found, Cody was still in danger. Yuki was certain that the damn drunken asshole tried to kill his son because Cody was a witness to the original murder. He held back from feeling sorry for the guy. He was more than well aware that perfectly normal, respectable people could do horrible, unexplainable things when under the influence of alcohol. And he knew that's what did it – Cody had the stench of it all over him.
Yuki looked up as the door opened suddenly. Shuichi stood there, framed in the filtering light from the room. He stared at Yuki blandly.
"Shuichi?" Yuki inquired. He couldn't tell from looking if the news was good or bad. He did, however, notice the bloody gauze wrapped around the joint in Shuichi's right arm. They'd been taking blood from him, and it was obvious - the singer was pale and frail looking. Yuki could only hope the doctors had taken what amount was healthy, not what amount Shuichi felt he should give.
The suspense was tearing Yuki apart. He opened his mouth to ask, but Shuichi finally complied. His face broke out into a watery smile.
"He's fine."
Yuki stood up as Shuichi collapsed into his arms, weeping. "He's fine...he's fine, Yuki, he's going to live, Yuki...oh god..."
Smiling, Yuki led Shuichi over to the bench, wiping off his eyes. "Shuichi, calm down, it's okay. Tell me what happened."
Shuichi nodded, sniffling. "He's lost a lot of blood...see, that's why it was so bad...he was shot four times. Here," Shuichi pointed to his shoulder, "here," then his upper arm, "here," his thigh, "and here," his calf. "His arm's broken, but they took out all the bullets and otherwise there's just tissue and muscle damage. It'll all heal...eventually...but he needs to be in bed for a while, then in a cast for a while. He looked so bad because of all the bleeding, it got all over him and made it look like he'd been shot in the chest. That's what the doctor thought at first. Then they took off his clothes and cleaned him up and nothing vital was hit. He was passed out from the pain, shock, and blood loss...his body was about to send itself into cardiac arrest, they think what you did might have saved his life..."
Here, Shuchi grabbed Yuki's arm and snuggled into him, causing the writer to go a little pink.
"Anyway, they needed some blood donated, and I'm A blood type, and Cody is A blood type..." Shuichi blushed, probably seeing this as some kind of father son bonding proof. "I donated a quart...or...two...I don't know...but now my arm hurts, Yuki, please kiss it and make it better."
Shuichi stuck his arm out in front of Yuki, who rolled his eyes and gave it a little kiss. This caused Shuichi to squeal and glomp Yuki tightly around the waist. As grumbly as he was outwardly, Yuki could have cried on the inside. Shuichi was being his old self again, the old self he was afraid he'd never see again yesterday. /Give me the happily dorky Shuichi over the broken one any day.../
"Shindo-san!" The nurse looked out the door, her cheeks flushing at the site of Shuichi wrapped all over Yuki Eiri. She cleared her throat, voice cracking. "He's waking up. You can come in now."
Shuichi yelped and stumbled back into the room. The nurse stared at Yuki, bright as a beet. Yuki dully looked at the wall.
"Are you going in, Yuki-san?" She asked timidly.
"No," Yuki sighed. "I'm going to to give those two their time."
"Ah," The nurse checked her watch. "What do you know, I'm on break."
To Yuki's dismay, she bustled over and sat down next to him, grinning. He groaned a little bit, wishing he could have a cigarette right then and there.
--
The room was dark, and Shuichi's eyes had to re-adjust once again. He hurried over to the bed, excited to see Cody wake up. For the past few hours, he'd been dreading it wouldn't happen at all.
Cody was stirring slightly, twisting around a bit, probably uncomfortable in his cast. His eyes fluttered, opening part way. In the dim light he could just barely see Shuichi's face hovering somewhere in space above him.
"Dad?" he ventured, voice timid. Shuichi frowned.
"No, Cody...he's not here anymore, he's gone. It's me, Shu."
Cody finally awoke fully, his face brightening and his large, brown eyes opening completely. Shuichi really WAS there, frowning down at him in a confused way. It wasn't like before, when he just imagined Shuichi was there. He was, he was now.
"DAD!" he cried, trying to reach his arms out but finding himself unable to move one of them. Instead he just grabbed hold of Shuichi one handed, pulling the singer down onto his chest and clinging to him as best as he could. Tears welled up in his eyes as he realized he'd not only survived, but he was calling Shuichi dad. He bit back his grin.
"Cody, I just said..." Shuichi was the one in a state of shock now, as he found himself suddenly vertical, Cody wrapped around him and snuggling into his shoulder. "I uh..."
"And I wasn't talking about that man," Cody raised himself up a bit to whisper into Shuichi's ear. "I'm talking about my /dad/."
Shuichi felt his heart skip a beat.
"You..."
Cody giggled, nodding.
"You mean...me?"
Cody nodded again, snuggling Shuichi closer. He heard a little squeak above him.
"Oh - Cody! You called me dad - you called me dad THREE TIMES!!" Shuichi burst out crying, his salty tears sliding down his cheek onto Cody's face. "And you're alive, and you're safe, you're not going to leave me again, you called me dad...oh, Cody, what happened? Jesus christ, you could have died..." Shuichi wrapped his arms tightly around his son, wishing he never had to let go. Cody continued to hug him back, cursing his broken arm.
"He was just lying, he doesn't even have a fiance...he got drunk, and he told me he was going to shoot me because I was the only witness to my mom's murder..."
"So Yuki was right," Shuichi mumbled.
"But he told me I wouldn't die if I laid on the floor...and if I...mm..." Cody bit his lip, this part of his memory fuzzy, mostly because he didn't understand it at all. However, he could feel that Shuichi had gone rigid.
"He...WHAT?!" Sitting up, Shuichi looked down at the now scared Cody, his eyes trailing him up and down. "Cody - he molested you?!"
"I don't know what he did, it was just really creepy!" Cody cried. "He put his hand on my leg, then..."
"What? Cody, you HAVE to tell me what he did!"
Cody turned bright red, shivering at what he could remember. "He put his hand in my pants...and he was grabbing me really hard, and...I tried to push him away, but he held me down and...and I don't know!" Cody put his hands to his face, not sure at all what had happened at this point. Shuichi looked like he was going to kill something...his eyes were glowering, and he was gritting his teeth.
"For god's sake...is there anyone in this entire god damned world who can be trusted?! Can there be ONE PART OF MY LIFE that's not been hurt like this?! First, Yuki - then, me - now Cody?! Cody - did he rape you?! God damn it..."
"Rape?" Cody whimpered. "He didn't hurt me anymore...he just...he pulled my legs apart and wouldn't stop touching me...I was really afraid, he was making awful sounds, and I felt something...funny...I kicked him and I tried to run away...that's when he shot me, I guess...then I woke up, here, just a few minutes ago...I thought I was going to die, but instead I can't feel my leg and my arm is in this thing..."
He looked up at Shuichi and cringed. Still angry, the heat rising to his face, Shuichi clenched his fists, wanting nothing more at that moment than to ram a fist down Yamaguchi's throat...
...then he saw Cody. The boy was cowering, whimpering, afraid. The image brought Shuichi's insides crashing down.
"Please, don't look that way...please...Dad?" Cody asked hopefully. Shuichi softened immediately, sitting down again and allowing Cody to glomp him once more.
"I'm sorry, Cody. I just...I have a hard time hearing about things like that," he said softly, caressing Cody's hair with his hand. "What he did was wrong. You know that, right Cody?"
"You two haven't brought me up THAT stupid, Sh-....D-dad." Cody stuttered over his words, still not quite used to it. Kitty ears popped up on Shuichi's head.
"Say it again!" he mewled.
"Dad," Cody giggled.
"Again!"
"Dad!"
"Yatta!" Shuichi cried, hugging Cody again. "Son!"
"Dad!"
"Idiots," Yuki grumbled, stepping into the room quietly. He was incredibly testy after being interrogated by the overly happy nurse, but the fact that, upon entering the room, all he could see was Cody being hugged by Shuichi and the two of them shouting random things at one another, cheered him up. He joined Shuichi, sitting down on the edge of the bed. He rolled his eyes at all the giggling.
"Yuki," Shuichi snickered, "guess what I am."
"A dumbass."
"No, YU~KI! Cody, what am I?"
"A dumbass?"
"NO!!!" Shuichi pouted, his lower lip devouring the upper. Yuki let off a gentle smile as Cody giggled uncontrollably. Shuichi wiggled around, insulted. The poofy, pouty look on his face was enough to make Yuki kiss him. He didn't, but it was still enough. A little smile on his lips, Yuki turned to Cody, the mischievous glint gone from his eyes.
"But really, Cody – what's got Shuichi so excited?"
Cody shrugged, slumping forward so his head was buried in Shuichi's arm. "No clue. What's gotcha so excited, dad?"
Yuki raised an eyebrow as Shuichi began glowing, his poofy pout turning into the smallest little "u" shaped smile. He shook, looking at Yuki with an unrestrained, insane sparkle in his gaze.
"You hear-?"
"Yes, I hear." Yuki wished he could lift Cody into his arms and give him a cuddle. The simple thought made Yuki feel all shojo-anime lame, but still, he wanted to. "I'm proud of you, Cody…you got over your fear."
Even as Shuichi burned with happiness and Cody with obvious pride, Yuki was still troubled. Oh, it was lovely, they were all getting along just fine, Cody was fine, through only time would show it, and there was no possible way any family member would show up and be legally allowed to take him.
But should Yamaguchi have been allowed to take Cody in the first place - so sudden, so fast?
Frowning, Yuki wondered. The thoughts flowed through his brain, until he stood up finally, heading for the door.
"Yuki?"
He turned, the small voice catching his ear. Cody was looking right at him.
"You leaving?"
Yuki nodded.
"To where?" The boy's curious innocence was almost too much, however, Yuki restrained himself.
"Going to go find out why this had to happen to you at all."
The door closed gently behind him.
--
Attorneys. Who the hell needs them? Other than everybody. Yuki searched for a few hours, going from building to building, lost in a government daze. Finally, in a small office near downtown Tokyo, he found the man he wanted. Smiling coyly, the writer sat down opposite the desk. The poor guy stared back, looking helpless.
"You organized this perol from jail, right?"
"I did…he was innocent, all the proof was-"
"It's your job to thoroughly analyze all data in a case like this. Especially because it was murder. It took me a few hours – a few hours! – to discover your flaw. She was left handed, you son of a bitch. There's no way she would have been able to shoot herself in the head according to your pictures. Besides, Cody testified just under an hour ago that he attempted to murder him because he was a witness to his mother's murder. You see? How long did that take me to figure out? And this isn't even my job."
He threw the papers down on the desk, scattering them. The tiny man trembled, staring up at Yuki with a mixture of fear and disgust.
Suddenly he realized.
"You were with him all the time – weren't you? Helping him get out of jail."
"I-" the man stuttered.
"You wanted to see Cody back with his father, didn't you?" Yuki's voice was steel. "You're afraid of me, but not because I'm being intimidating…"
The already small man shrunk to an even smaller size.
"You're homophobic, aren't you?"
The cold edge in Yuki's words could have sliced into the man's skin. He gave a visible shudder. Turning, Yuki snorted softly, scornfully.
"I should have you arrested. The next time you let your fears determine whether a small boy will live or die, I hope they put you away for a long time."
He was gone. The man slumped in his desk, breathing again. Yet he continued to tremble.
--
It was nighttime when Yuki returned to the hospital room. He was almost not surprised to find it packed with people. Everyone who'd missed out at the end of the party was there, including some of Cody's old friends from the adoption agency.
Shuichi was smiling, standing along the far wall. Yuki joined him there, lacing his fingers with the singer's and watching Cody's happiness multiply as more and more people had him open the gifts he hadn't gotten to open at the house.
"I never got to give him my gift," Yuki mumbled softly. Shuichi turned his head, shocked.
"You got Cody a gift?"
"I've been buying him gifts since we got him, but I was always to bitter to bring them out. I have a pile stored somewhere in my closet. I'll take them all out when we get home. The damn kid's already being spoiled enough here."
"I'm glad," Shuichi giggled, leaning against Yuki and kissing his cheek. "It's all he deserves."
"Dad!" Cody's cry drifted over the sounds of his admiring friends. Shuichi looked up. "Dad, when are we going home?" The small boy quizzically tilted his head to the side.
Shuichi smiled.
"Soon, Cody. We're going home soon."
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SAP!!!! GARRRR! *vomit* WHY SAP!!
need...angst! need...blood!!! >.!!! *attacked by cute pink bunnies
that kiss me all over* BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEH
to be continued.
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follow the arrow and click, onegai
shimasu.*
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