The Promise and the Threat

Co-written with Aya



Jiro covered a yawn as he stood and stretched. Hayate and Isao could handle the rest of the paperwork. There was too much going on right now and he needed to get back to the hospital and check on Daisuike. He'd been sleeping when he had stopped by that morning. Jiro smiled softly thinking of the scene he'd walked in on. Ruka had been sitting on the bed just watching Daisuike sleep and it had made Jiro feel good to see him there even if he looked dead tired.

"Hayate, I'm heading out."

"Alright, I'll call you if I need anything."

"Sure." He was almost to his car when his phone rang. "Moshi moshi Kobayashi here."

"Jiro! I- Daisuike- I-" Ruka was pacing the room trying to calm himself down. "S-Sorry, just- Akira. . . Daisuike. Fuck!" He squatted down gripping his hair trying to calm himself. He couldn't keep the panic down and he felt like throwing up. He had to breathe though. Taking deep breaths he started again.

"Daisuike woke up screaming about Akira being in danger. They're going after Akira and they're going to hurt him. I- I think it's the guys who hurt Daisuike are the ones after Akira. Some guy named Fujimaru. From what I could get before he passed out again was that this guy Fujimaru was behind it and that Akira is in serious danger. I-I don't think this was some delusion Jiro. I think Akira's in trouble."

Ruka collapsed onto the floor holding his head cradling the phone against his ear trying to calm the storm inside him.

Jiro's whole body went numb and he braced himself against the hood of his car. Fujimaru. "I've got to go Ruka. I'll call you back."

Could it possibly be the same Fujimaru? The other enforcer had been gone for two days. Hayate had told him what was going on and how he thought Fujimaru was trying to take Daisuike's position. Surely he wouldn’t go so far as to try to kill his former student? Though knowing Fujimaru . . . but why go after Akira? Looking down at his phone he hit the speed dial for Akira's number his hand shaking slightly. He wouldn't put anything past that fucking bastard. Not trying to kill Daisuike and not trying to hurt Akira. He’d known that the man had a violent streak, but nothing like this. Killing him would be too good for him at this point. Jiro put the phone to his ear silently praying that Akira would pick it up. It went to voicemail and he suddenly felt sick. Slamming his fist down on the hood of the car he swore unwilling to let the rush of fear dominate his actions.

Getting into the car he started it and headed for their apartment. He called Reiko, but she didn't answer either. That was when he really started to panic, his foot mashing the pedal to the floorboard as he sped through town. He called Ruka back.

"Ruka, I need you to stay calm, but Akira and Reiko are not answering their phones. I am on my way to the apartment now. If Daisuike wakes up again have him call me. I need to know more about what it going on."

Ruka nodded slowly holding the phone close, keeping his voice was steady as possible. "O-Okay. . . Just. . ." He inhaled slowly, "Just please don't alarm Daisuike too much." He looked towards the still figure on the bed. It had petrified him seeing his boyfriend so panicked and scared.

"He was really scared. He was literally in tears when he was begging me to let him go to save Akira. . . Please. . ." He curled up tighter unable to fight the images in his head. He never wanted to see Daisuike like that again.

"I promise I will try. Letting you go, I'm here." Jiro slammed the car into park not liking that there was a small group of people standing in the street. Jumping out of the car he rushed forward.

"Kobayashi-sama! Something happened! Come quick." Aki waved him over her face more wrinkled looking that usual as she wrung her hands.

Jiro ran the rest of the distance his eyes widening as he saw Reiko lying on the ground.

"Reiko!" He dropped down beside her and gently picked her up gesturing for everyone to move back. A cold numbness was setting in as he looked at her. The questions tumbled out before he could even think about them. "Reiko . . . are you alright? What happened? Where is Akira?"

Reiko flinched as Jiro moved her. Everything from her head to her toes literally hurt and she felt sick to her stomach. She couldn't stop them! It was all her fault that they had taken Akira! She couldn't stop them! Tears welled up in her eyes and she lifted her head to look up at Jiro.

"I-I'm s-s-sorry! I co-couldn't! I-They-I couldn't s-stop them!" She was crying harder now and she turned her face away curling in on herself despite the pain in her body. There was a sharp pain in her hand and she blinked at it seeing her hand balled around something.

Carefully, almost painfully she opened her hand feeling something sticky and metal in it. Whatever it was, she must've had a death grip on it because her fingers hurt to uncurl. With wide eyes she stared down and started to cry harder, sobbing nearly hysterically.

It was Akira's fleur de lis pendant, but it was covered in blood. The chain had been snapped the broken ends dangling from her hand.

Jiro swore seeing the pendant. Akira was gone. He was too late. He pulled Reiko closer needing something to hold onto for the moment. Whoever had taken Akira had beat her badly and he felt the nearly irrepressible urge to hurt something. As soon as he found them they would regret the day they were born. He'd make sure even their ancestors felt his rage.

"We will get him back Reiko. I promise you I will get him back." It was difficult to speak around the lump in his throat. One brother nearly being killed and now the youngest being kidnapped, it was almost too much for him to take. He looked up hearing the siren. Someone must have called an ambulance. He kept hold of Reiko until the paramedics made him let go.

"Junko, take her to Junko."

***

Reiko stared blankly at the wall in front of her, clutching the pendant tightly in her hand. She wasn't in as much pain as she had been before but the ache in her heart hurt worse. They had taken Akira from her and now he was gone and in horrible danger. As she had stared at the wall she had been working out who those guys were and it dawned on her just what was going on. When she’d helped Daisuike earlier that week they had stopped a shipment from going through their territory. The Fudoka-kai had been trying to sneak stolen goods through one of their piers. Reiko had used her connections to track the shipment and get it stopped.

Right now the cargo container was sitting in a warehouse that only she and one other person knew the location of. Those men must have been from the Fudoka. They had attacked Daisuike wanting to find out the location of the container and when he didn’t tell them where it was they had resorted to kidnapping Akira. It all made sense. Especially since her contact had told her that there was about ninety eight million yen worth of drugs and stolen artwork in the container. Which if her math was right was close to million in American currency. A lot of money. No wonder someone was willing to kill for it.

She had to get Akira back though. All she needed was a bit of information and she could save him. She would save him and she'd never let him go again. He meant far too much to her and to have him ripped away from her was more than painful, it was agonizing.


Jiro went back to see Reiko as soon as the nurses would let him. He'd checked on Daisuike, but he was still out. Probably a good thing too if he had been as upset as Ruka had said. It really made him wonder exactly what had happened to him. Daisuike wasn’t the kind to feak out like Ruka said he had. Though if it was Fujimara that had gotten a hold of him . . . Jiro shuddered at the thought. The man was a sadist in every sense of the word and he just just glad that Daisuike had even survived. Ruka had been quiet when he'd went in, neither of them saying much after Jiro had told him about Akira's kidnapping. He'd explained that he had all of his guys combing the entire city for any news of who had taken him, it was just a matter of time now. Though it bothered him that it had been nearly three hours and there had been no word from the kidnappers.

Reiko was sitting on the bed staring at nothing as he came in. In exactly the same position as the last time he’d been here. Had she moved at all? Had any of her family come to see her? Surely someone had contacted them. He’d have to ask the nurses.

"You did everything you possibly could Reiko." His voice was soft as he looked at her. "We will get him back and they will pay for what they have done a hundred times over."

Reiko didn't say anything as Jiro came in. His words hurt even if he was just trying to reassure her. It was her fault he was gone and she couldn't stop the small voice from taunting her that it was her fault Daisuike was hurt and Akira was gone. Reaching up into her hair she tugged at it pulling her legs to her chest.

"I'm sorry. . . I could've. . . I should've. . ." The sobs wanted to come up again and she shoved them down trying to let her anger take over refusing to let the pain and sadness welling up inside her and break free.

"Reiko-chan, these were the same guys that almost killed Daisuike. If they could do that to him, you and Akira didn't stand a chance." Jiro sighed. "Just try to rest. I'm doing everything I can to track down where they took him. Suke might know something . . . when he wakes up . . ."

Jiro shrugged, not sure if Ruka would even let him ask Daisuike any questions, but if they were going to get Akira back he had to know. If Fujimaru was involved he had a starting point. If not then he was completely in the dark and that was the worse possible place to be at the moment. He started to say something else when his phone rang. He pulled it out his heart seeming to stop as Akira's name flashed on the screen. He immediately flipped it open.

"Aki-"

"Don't you wish, Ji-ro-san."

Jiro felt the blood drain from his face, his body suddenly cold and numb. He backed away from the bed not wanting Reiko to hear their conversation. He immediately recognized Fujimaru’s voice and he felt at once sick and slightly relieved.

"Fujimaru. Where is he?"

"Oh, he's right here. Say hi Aki-kun!" Jiro flinched hearing Akira's yelling abruptly cut off by a yelp.

"You fucking son of a bi-"

"Shut up Jiro and listen to me. I want that shipment. You've already lost one brother, ready to make it two? Maybe I'll see if I can get him to scream like Suke did. I bet he screams a lot sooner though, he looks pretty fragile."

Jiro was shaking so hard it was difficult to keep his grip on the phone. His voice was low and raw. "Don't you fucking dare-"

"The shipment Jiro. Get it and get him back. Until you decided to cough up the locations I’m going to have fun playing. I’m sure you saw how much fun I had playing with Suke."

Reiko stared in horror as she listened to the conversation. Even if Jiro moved away and kept his own voice quiet it didn't stop Fujimaru from keeping his loud, nor did it stop Akira's cry of pain from coming through. Slowly letting the information sink in Reiko felt suddenly very cold and very sick. She had been right. It was about the shipment. The shipment she had stopped. Her insides went suddenly cold and she stared at Jiro for a moment unsure of what to do. She had to help Akira. It was completely her fault that he had been kidnapped and that Daisuike had gotten attacked. It was all her fault.

***

Daisuike struggled to get awake. He had to do something. Akira was in danger. He couldn't just lie here and do nothing. Where were Jiro and Haru? Why weren't they doing anything? He had the horrible feeling that he was too late. He couldn't let Fujimaru get a hold of Akira. Fujimaru would kill him. He should have just told Fujimaru what he wanted to know, except he had no idea where the shipment was. It was his fault. All of it was his fault. He clutched at the sheets, his knuckles white. All he could see was Fujimaru's sneering face, the excruciating pain overwhelming him.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Akira, I'm sorry."

Ruka sighed as he moved over to Daisuike stroking his hair and climbing into bed with him. Wrapping his arms around him careful of the bandages he continued to stroke his hair.

"Shh, it's okay Daisuike. Jiro has it taken care of. Akira will be fine. He'll be okay." All he could do was comfort Daisuike in the only way he knew how with physical touches. Words were meaningless at this point and Ruka sighed holding him close.

***

Reiko stared at Jiro her eyes slowly gaining a bit of life back into them.

"The shipment. . . It's the one I stopped isn't it." Shaking her head, she pulled the I.V out and moved to get off the bed, stumbling as her legs refusing to work, her vision going black for a moment. Stupid head rush. Why was her body refusing to work! She had to save Akira!

Jiro moved over to her, taking her arm. "Get back in the bed Reiko, you are in no condition to do anything right now. I'll get the shipment and get Akira back. You just rest."

He looked at her, "Just get back in the bed Reiko. I don't want to have them restrain you."

He sighed as his phone rang again. It was probably one of the guys. "Back in bed."

He left her by the bed as he went out the door to see who was calling him.

Reiko glared at the door for a good 5 seconds before she instantly got out of bed, her vision once again going black for a few seconds. It didn't stop her from quickly changing back into her school uniform and moving to the window. She had to get out of there. She knew where the shipment was and she had to save Akira. No one was going to stop her from doing it.

Ichi. She had to call Ichi. He'd be able to help her.

***

Daisuike shoved Ruka away not wanting to be comforted. He didn't deserve to be comforted. He was such a total fuck up.

"Let go. I have to make sure he's alright."

Ruka frowned at Daisuike sighing. There wasn't much he could do to stop him from pushing him away and he slowly moved off the bed. He didn't want Daisuike hurting himself fighting him, though it hurt to be pushed away.

"You can't do anything in the shape you're in Daisuike. All you can do is tell Jiro what you know. Which I need to call him and tell him you're awake. But please, Ouji-sama. . . Rest for now. Once you're better you can help get Akira back but by that time Jiro and your guys will have saved him. This will all be over by tomorrow." Or at least he hoped.

Walking to the window he stared down blinking. There was a girl in a school uniform running from the hospital and her hair. . .

Hime-chan?

She was at the hospital but why was she leaving? That's when he noticed the slight limp to the run and he bit his lip. She had been hurt but was escaping? This didn't seem good at all.

Daisuike laid back against the pillows watching Ruka for a moment. He was too late. Much too late. They'd already taken Akira. He shuddered to think of what Fujimaru might do to him. He looked over as the door to the room opened Jiro striding through.

"Reiko's gone. Suke, I'm sorry but do you have any idea where-"

"No. I don't."

"Daisuike just listen to me for a moment. I need to know where she might-"

"I don't have any idea where the shipment is."

"Shut up for a second and let me talk damn it." Daisuike glared at him for a moment before looking away but was silent. Jiro went on. "I need some kind of lead on where they might have taken Akira. Where were you yesterday?"

Daisuike shifted suddenly uncomfortable. He didn't want to think about yesterday. The pain and humiliation where too fresh.

"The warehouses across town." He looked up at Jiro his eyes haunted. "They wouldn't have taken Akira there, not if they were going to just hold him somewhere."

"Okay." Jiro paused for a moment. "Fujimaru thinks you are dead. What exactly happened yesterday."

A shudder went through Daisuike at the mention of the name and he shook his head his eyes firmly fixed on the bed in front of him. "I don't want to talk about it right now. Just find Akira and do something about Reiko or she'll be the next one to get hurt."

Ruka sighed as he moved next to Daisuike placing a hand on his stroking the top of it. Even if he didn't want comfort, Ruka was going to give him it.

"We'll figure this out Daisuike. . ." Looking at Jiro he frowned, "If there's anything you need that I can do to help, just ask. Your family and Reiko are very important to me and I'll do anything I can to help."

***

Reiko finally collapsed against a bench coughing and shuddering as she laid her head against the seat calling Ichi. The hacker was one of her few contacts that she trusted completely.

"I need help. . ."

"What can I do for you Rei-chan."

"Can you track Akira's phone? He- He's been kidnapped. His brother was almost murdered and- And the people who are doing it want the shipment we stopped."

"They want my art collection?"

"And the drugs I assume. . ."

"Fuck, okay. Give me some time and I'll get everything I can together for you. And Reiko?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry."

"Me too. . ."

Jiro looked at Ruka for a moment. "Actually, can you go see if you can find Reiko. If anything happens to her Akira will freak. Daisuike, you rest. I'm going to go meet Haru and see if there is any new info."

Daisuike glared at the door after Jiro left. Jiro always acted like he knew exactly what to do even though he knew that he was freaking out as bad as the rest of them. Daisuike had no intention of staying in the hospital. Not when Akira was in danger. Not when he knew what Fujimaru was capable of doing to him.

Ruka bit his lip looking at Daisuike for a moment before gently touching his face. Turning it towards him he leaned close kissing him slowly.

"Please stay put. I need you to get better. If you hurt yourself more I don't know what I'll do." Parting slowly he kissed him one last time adjusting his clothes. "I'll be back after I look for Hime-chan. Damn her for running off. . ." Ruka sighed as he left the hospital room wondering if he needed to get some orderlies to watch Daisuike's room.