See Into the Eyes of a Medium

Chapter VII “The Angels and the Succubus: Part II”

Every one met back at the condo by eight. Kyo was the first to get in and he was pissed, Yataro didn’t look too pleased himself and right behind him was Suichi’s forlorn looking mother.

Kumiko Yukimura
Age: 46
Height: 5ft. 4in.
Build: Shapely, thin
Hair color: Black
Eye color: Brown
Ethnicity: ???
Sexual Standing: Bisexual {kind of}

“You better have a damn good excuse for him.” said Kyo going straight for the scotch, “If you don’t he’s either gonna kill me or you for bringing you here.”
“Oh bite it, queer bait.” She snapped at him and sat on the couch and pulled up her tube top.
The door opened and Shane came in looking tired, but very pleased with himself.
“Hey guys…who’s the broad?” he asked looking at Kumiko.
Yataro looked up, “It’s Suichi’s mom.”
Shane laughed, “So we finally get to meet the old skag. She’s younger than I thought she’d be.”
“Ok, is every one in this apartment gonna call me names or what?” she asked pulling out a cigarette.
“Hey with the karma you’re carrying around here, don’t be surprised if one of smacks the hell out of ya. Female or not.” He told her earnestly.
Next through the door was Toya was limping very heavily with a strange, copper colored dog next to him that looked like a wolf…but oddly enough it had an earring with a fang and a feather on it.
“Hey Toya…what’s with the dog?” asked Kyo.
Toya grinned, “He’s my new pet and he’s very protective of me, so I’d leave him be.”
He limped into the living room.
“That limp you have can’t be a good sign. I take it you had a lot of business.” Said Shane with a small grimace.
He nodded, “I got some business, but most of what this is, is from a guy the size of Suichi and a dick proportionate to his body size… hello.”
Kumiko was trying not to snicker, “Suichi’s big?”
“Suichi’s enormous.” Said Toya turning to her, “Who are you?”
“Kumiko Yukimura.” She responded and Toya nodded and sat next to her on the couch and he slapped her hard across the face and every one winced.
She sighed and rubbed her cheek.
“You weren’t kidding, buddy.” She said to Shane.
Toya narrowed his eyes at her, “You have a lot of nerve to show your face here you bitch! Who the hell do you think you are!?”
“A few things I’m sure…I was once a woman though…named Moira Adante.” Was her quiet response and Toya’s face fell as he looked past her brown eyes.
Kyo shook his head not even trying to understand and he walked to the back. He came back after a while.
“Suichi’s not here.” He said a little shocked.
They looked at each other, “They wouldn’t have come to get him already? He has until nine!” said Yataro desperately.
“I wouldn’t put it past them.” said Shane disgusted and he threw his money on the table.
Kyo rubbed his face looking sad and he threw his share next to Shane’s. Toya looked at the ground on the verge of tears and he placed his money next to theirs’. Kumiko put two and two together.
“Is he in some kind of trouble?” she asked.
“You should know!” yelled Kyo, “He’s gonna be sold because of your fuckin’ gambling!”
She raised an eyebrow, “…Kyoshiro I was tossed on my ass when I got pregnant at fifteen! My son and I lived in a slum apartment on my two jobs while I tried to make ends meet for that boy! Where the hell do you think I got money to gamble with!?”
“He’s only in here because of the debt you owe!” shouted Shane.
She starred at him and then she chuckled which turned into a laugh that was almost mad. They looked at each other and she slowly stopped and she sighed.
“Oh and…what ungodly amount did they say I owed…they’ve had him for thirteen years it must be a lot.” She asked roughly, “Well?”
“…He said…they…70,000,000 yen.” Kyo said clearly confused and she nodded.
“I barely even had enough money to buy food; I wouldn’t have enough to buy even a friggen lottery ticket to gamble with! This has absolutely nothing to do with money! Now what do they want to do with my son!?” she asked growing angry as she stood.
Every one knew where Suichi got his intimidation from. Most of them were bigger than her and they were still a little afraid of her. The front door banged open and they looked up. Suichi walked in and he was carrying Kaito wrapped in a blanket. He was alert once more, but half conscious.
“Oh my God what happened to him?” asked Kyo horrified.
“I found him in the snow next to this old woman’s mansion. It was weird…I had a dream about it and it felt like…more than a dream. So I went to her house and sure enough there he was in the snow.” Replied Suichi coldly.
“It was a vampire…I swear to God…” muttered Kaito as Suichi laid him on the couch and they all looked at each other.
“He’s serious.” Said Suichi, “He’s dead serious, look.”
He pulled down the blanket next to his neck and they saw the two holes in his neck. Suichi lifted the 3,000,000 he had found on his body.
“You guys…have been trying to collect money all day haven’t you?” he asked not needing an answer as he dropped it next to the rest.
“Uh…Suichi you’re mother is here.” Said Toya.
Suichi nodded, “I know I’m trying not to look at her. I want to know who brought her here first.”
Kyo swallowed and Suichi turned to him and headed his way. Kyo backed up and he grabbed the lamp raising it.
“Hold on Suichi! Before you do anything…she was at the hospital…I was treating her…she insisted I bring her here. She wouldn’t let me work until I agreed to take her here.” Kyo told him and Suichi sighed.
“Fine, but before I waste my last hour of freedom on her. I have to know…just how much money you guys got and how…because this is just…phenomenal.” He said with a small smile.
Shane chuckled and he got a calculator.
“Ok before we went out we rallied about 6,770,000 together. Let’s see what we got on this table.” He said and he started to count and stack the money.
Every one waited with baited breath and they watched with their eyes. Shane started typing in numbers to the calculator and when he laid down the last of it he typed in a few more and hit equal.
“We made…33,804,000 yen.” He finally said.
They all looked at each other amazed. Suichi sat down hard and he ran his fingers through his hair.
“I can’t believe this…oh my God…God you guys were so close…this is…” he shook his head and a stack of money landed on the table.
Suichi looked up at his mother.
“Just enough…but trust me when I say this money will do you no good.” She told him and he slowly stood and looked down at her.
“What do you mean? Did you lose more money now?” he asked her facetiously.
She chuckled and smiled at him her eyes going soft, “My boy…you found your friend because of a premonition. I know you’ve never had one before since you thought it was a dream.”
He took a step back, “Wait a second…you know about…”
“Oh open your eyes Suichi. With the way we lived where do you think I got money to throw away when I was trying to keep us alive? This isn’t about money Suichi…this is about our blood…about what we can see. That…disgusting excuse for a man used up his own wife until there was nothing left of her and when he was finished with her…exactly thirteen years ago…he went for another seer just as strong. He had to keep you away from me because if I could teach you about your sight you’d be more of a threat. He couldn’t get enough from his daughter because like you and I she was separated from her mother too early.” She told him leaving him completely stunned.
He looked so lost and he looked up at Toya.
“Believe her Suichi…like I said before, it doesn’t happen often, but when it does…” he said as he stepped beside her and he took her chin into his hand and pointed her face to his so they made eye contact, “It leaves them destroyed on the inside.”
Suichi swallowed looking into his mother’s eyes as he was drawn in once more. He heard a scream when he was suddenly thrown out and Kumiko ripped her eyes away from his.
“Don’t do that Suichi!” she told him harshly, “Now tell me…what is this money for?” she asked him.
He sighed, “I’m being sold by some woman. Her name is Azami Totowa.”
She growled and spat on the ground, “That isn’t a woman that’s a filthy, life devouring, succubus who loves to watch people squirm.”
Suichi looked at her a little surprised. She finally lit up the cigarette she had taken out and she took a drag, but Kyo snatched it away from her.
“You have bronchitis! Do you want pneumonia!?” he yelled at her.
She rolled her eyes, “Shove a dick in it Blondie.”
Kyo sighed and kneaded his sinuses, “It’s …Suichi in female form.”
They all froze once again as there was a knock on the door. Suichi looked up at the clock…nine. He took a deep breath and he walked over to the door and he opened it.
There was a very fierce looking woman at the door. She was dressed in black leather all the way down. Her fire orange hair was pulled up in two buns with black ribbons trailing from them, her eyes were bright green and her skin was pale. Her sharp brow hung low over her narrow, jewel shaped eyes. Her lips were painted dark red and she was tall and shapely wearing a black leather brazier under a leather jacket despite the cold. And she was also wearing a pair of leather chaps over a red G-string and a set of stiletto boots.

Azami Totowa
Age: Unknown.
Height: 5ft. 10in.
Build: Voluptuous, busty
Hair color: Orange/red
Eye color: Green
Ethnicity: ???
Sexual Standing: Bisexual

“…Is she a dominatrix?” said Shane voicing every one’s mind.
Toya had gone pale seeing her as she stepped in and behind her were half a dozen of Gensai’s agents.
“I am Azami Totowa.” She said directly looking around with distaste.
She walked up to Suichi and she grabbed his chin in her hand and turned his head every which ways.
“Ugh. They want me to train this beast?” she muttered and grimaced, “He’d make a very tempting pet, but it’ll be hell to break him.”
He yanked his head from her grasp.
“Look I have the money.” He told her and she snorted.
“Do you now?” she said in a patronizing fashion, “And I bet you worked so hard to get it too, but it’s after nine now and the only way to save you now is if you could pay off your entire debt this very moment.”
“That’s bull shit!” started Shane, but Suichi held him back.
“You want me…to come up with seventy million on the spot?” he asked her and she chuckled.
“You came up with forty thousand in twenty four hours.” She told him with a grin getting in his face, “Why don’t you …pray real hard? Maybe an angel will come down and deliver you from the hell I am about to put you through.” She told him and then she laughed derisively behind her hand.
The door banged open and Rukia was there. She was out of breath, in her drag, beaten up and she had a bag slung over her shoulder.
“Thirty million right here bitch!” she said scathingly through her teeth glaring at Azami.
Azami narrowed her eyes at her as she walked in and she went to the coffee table and she poured the bound money from the bag onto the table and she turned to Azami and pointed to her.
“Don’t let the door hit your pretty ass on the way out, sweet heart.” She told her with a small grin.
Suichi chuckled incredulously and he grinned.
“…Nothing is stopping me right now from taking him.” said Azami walking up to her.
“Except for me.” Replied Rukia folding her arms and cocking her head.
Kumiko stepped next to her, “And me. I’d rather die than see those bastards take my son away again.”
Azami looked over her shoulder and the agents went into the hall way and closed the door. Azami ripped Rukia’s wig off and snorted.
“Is this supposed to scare me? The brat daughter of Gensai and a forty six year old mystic hag?” she asked contemptuously.
Kumiko grinned and she faked her out with her left and she flinched in time for her right fist to connect with her face and send her to the ground. Kumiko leaned over her with half a smile on her face.
“This mystic hag has been dragged through the gutters and the rocks. I’ve been used, beaten, chewed up and spit out and I’m still standing…bitch I’m from the fuckin’ block, so you better recognize who you’re insulting before I hand that pretty head of yours to you in a box.” She told her maliciously with a mad grin.
Azami stood and she wiped her mouth on the back of her hand and she looked between Rukia and Kumiko. She glanced back and her eyes connected with Toya’s and he gasped and she smiled.
“Tell you what…I have Suichi’s contract with me…he can have it back if you return something that belongs to me.” She told them.
Suichi eyed her, “What?”
She pointed to Toya and he took a step back.
“My little toy.” She told him.
Suichi stepped in front of her.
“Not a chance.” He spat at her.
She laughed, “Fine then I shall just tell Gensai just what Toya is and what value he is…he will be begging for death before the end of the month. So it’s either you or him and should you choose neither… Toya will be the one to pay the price.”
Rukia almost disappeared and Azami was swept into the wall with her gun jammed under her chin. They were both locked together.
“Or you will be the one who is begging for death Azami.” She muttered into her ear.
Azami’s eyes slowly traveled down to a combat knife buried in her side. Blood dribbled from the wound down her pale flesh, but blood dripped from no where between them on the floor.
Rukia leaned in and she whispered, “I know some one who has a taste for human blood…and she wants a new pet…some one… young…” she ran the nose of the gun along her neck, “With tight flesh.”
Azami breathed hard, “…You win this time…but this isn’t over.”
Rukia drew back her knife and her gun and Azami stepped away from her and closed her coat like the wound was nothing. She pulled from the pocket a roll of paper and she threw it at Suichi’s feet and she left closing the door. Suichi bent down and he unrolled his contract and looked at Rukia. Blood was dripping from a wound in her side and she yanked out a small knife and sighed and turned around.
“…Trading a life of servitude for one of perils and pleasures.” She said faintly, “Believe in us now?”
He nodded weakly and Rukia let out a breath and went to one knee. Suichi dropped his contract and he walked over to her and lifted her. He took her to the living room. Kaito was sitting half way up on the couch and he placed her next to him.
“…That woman knows about this whole thing?” asked Suichi.
Kumiko nodded, “This is way deeper than you might imagine. She’s kind of like…an anti-seer, is one way to describe it. She sided with the ones who try to control us for immunity.”
“The whole thing is a really long story.” Said Toya, “But we can explain it later…some of us more than others need to rest.”
“Amen.” Said Rukia from the couch, “Kyo can I get some doctoring over here?”
Kyo went and he got the first aid. Suichi knelt next to the coffee table and he separated the money. Kyo came back as he piled a lot of it into Rukia’s bag and threw it to Yataro.
“Go in the morning and buy out your little boyfriend for good.” Said Suichi and Kyo blinked at him.
Suichi took a third of what was left and pushed it at Shane.
“Don’t go selling any more crap you, got me?” he told him and Shane smiled and he nodded.
He looked to the side at Toya and he pushed the rest of the money at him.
Suichi sighed, “…This has been the best damn Christmas I have ever had.”
His mother snorted and sat on the arm rest, “Yeah, but it’s about to be the worst week you’ve ever had.”
She flinched when Rukia screamed. Kyo looked bemused and sickened if anything as he found another wound in her side and with drew a jagged piece of glass. He pushed her shirt up higher, but he shook his head and cut the whole thing off with a scalpel. Suichi stood when her body was bared to have dozens of wounds on it.
“Where the hell did you get this money Rukia?” he asked her incredulously.
She turned her head to him, her eyes swimming in and out of focus. She muttered something indiscernible, when she went silent and her eyes closed. Kyo looked up and he checked her pulse and shook his head.
“She’s losing too much blood.” He said trying to work to keep her alive.
Yataro seemed to come in from no where and he helped Kyo like he had in the clinic. He finally stopped the bleeding on her and wrapped her up temporarily.
“Rukia needs a hospital right now. She’s lost too much blood; she could go into cardiac arrest at any time.” He told Suichi.
“But we can’t take her; you know they’d just throw her out or report to her father.” He replied running his fingers through his hair, “Isn’t there anything you can do?”
Kyo thought for a moment and he nodded, “Yes, grab Kaito too. We’re going to Tokyo General.”
He wrapped up Rukia and he lifted her off the couch. Like last time none of them stayed behind. Kyo had them take a side entrance and he slipped ahead of them telling the others to wait while he went into the chief of medicine’s office. Hojo was on the phone, but he looked up at the blood on Kyo and he hung up.
“What’s the matter?” he asked standing.
Kyo sighed, “Listen…me and my friends have a girl with us that could die at any time. I need a bed for her and it needs to be private and no one else can know about it…her life is at stake here and so are ours. Please…”
His uncle stared at him for a moment and then he sighed.

Kyo met the others with a gurney and a body bag on it. Hojo was right behind him.
“I know it’s morbid, but put her in the bag.” Said Kyo.
They did thing it was rather morbid, but they slipped her in the bag and followed Kyo to a back elevator and they took it all the way down.
“The only way you’ll be able to keep her hidden from the other nurses and staff is if you take her to one of the empty rooms in the morgue and quarantine it off. I have one intern who can help you, but he is the only one.” He told them as they got to the morgue.
He took them to one of the empty autopsy rooms and he closed the door. They took her out of the body bag and laid her on the gurney. They heard voices at the door and Hojo went over and looked out before he opened it. In walked Gen and next to him with an intern pushing another gurney with a lot of equipment hidden under the sheet. They could instantly tell who the intern was. He was older than Gen next to him, but they almost had the same face, but what he resembled most was the girl almost dying next to them.

Ryonosuke Kawakami
Age: 27
Height: 6ft.
Build: Lanky, muscular
Hair color: Black
Eye color: Blue/ gray
Ethnicity: Japanese
Sexual Standing: Straight

He pushed over the gurney and they started setting up the monitors. Hojo put up one of the make shift curtains and he drew it blocking the others out. After a while Ryonosuke walked out and shed a pair of gloves. He pushed the empty gurney over behind the curtain and he pointed to Suichi who had Kaito. Suichi went over and he put Kaito on the gurney behind the curtain. Every one else waited. After half an hour the curtain was draw back. Rukia was wrapped up in bandages, on a morphine and saline drip along with some extra blood hanging next to them and had on an oxygen mask.
“See Taro-kun, you saved some one’s life today giving blood.” Said Kyo pointing to the blood bag on Rukia’s pole.
“…That’s my blood?” he asked.
“Yep, had your name on the label.” Replied Ryonosuke off handedly as he fixed her sight.
Kaito was pretty wrapped up himself and had an arm in a sling as Kyo was hanging up some extra blood for him.
“So every one is gonna live?” asked Gen.
“Yep.” Replied Hojo as he peeled off a pair of rubber gloves, “Don’t hesitate to page me if you need something.”
Kyo thanked him again as he left. Ryonosuke finished with Rukia and he took off his gloves and he sat on one of the autopsy beds with a sigh.
“…Thirteen years.” He muttered to himself.
Gen patted his shoulder and sat next to him. Ryonosuke looked a little haunted starring at his sister’s bed.
“She looks just like her doesn’t she?” Gen asked his older brother and he nodded.
“How did this happen?” he asked.
Gen chuckled, “From what I heard she came up with thirty mill in twenty two hours.”
“Oh God.” Was Ryonosuke reply as he put his head in his hands, “So all that stuff is true right? She’s on the hit list?”
Gen nodded, “She’s got is just like mom did. She didn’t have any one to train her though so no doubt she’s been using it on a whim.”
“You’ve heard from Ryosei or Ryouta lately?” he asked quietly.
“Not Ryouta…but Ryosei is one of dad’s lackeys.” He replied.
Ryonosuke snorted with disgust, “That kid’s got a beating headed his way. Friggen coward…so…what did she need 30,000,000 for?”
Gen pointed at Suichi who was standing next to Rukia’s bed.
“…For some guy?” he replied puzzled, “I know it’s been a long time since I’ve seen her, but that doesn’t seem like her.”
Gen chuckled, “Ah, but these guys you see around us found her in an ally. Dad had already tried to kill her and dumped her in an ally. When they didn’t find her body he knew she was alive. They took her in, knowing who she was and they protected her as well as mortals can.”
“…So she was paying them back.” He replied with a nod, “Yeah…that’s our sister.”
“But…I’m almost certain she wanted to free Suichi over all of them.” He added and Ryonosuke looked at Suichi.

Suichi looked at how wounded she was. 30,000,000 yen worth of damage he mused with a small smile, but quickly dropped it. Even if she was trying to pay him back…he wanted to know why she would go through this for that money. He had to know…this went so far past returning the favor because she almost died…again. The thought of her dying…
He sat on the side of her bed with a sigh. Why did her life matter so much to him? In fact, out of all the roommates he had ever had in that condo why did these people matter so much to him? And why did he matter so much in return? He treated them just as he had treated any of the others who passed through there. And yet these ones’… They worked themselves to death for the last twenty two hours to keep him from being sold. And then his mother…
He rubbed his face and found it wet. He wiped his eyes and he slipped his hand over Rukia’s. Her hand twitched and she turned it over and took his hand. Her eyes slowly opened and blinked and looked over at him. He gave her a small smile and she looked around and saw the morgue drawers and she chuckled a little and took a deep breath.
“Should have figured…the one place they won’t look for me.” She said in a raspy voice.
He nodded, “I doubt they’ll ever think you’ll die. You must be immortal.”
He looked at his shoulder over to Gensai and Ryonosuke. They got up and went over. Suichi stepped to the side and she smiled at Gen, then to Ryonosuke and her smiled widened.
“…Ryonosuke…No-kun look at you…big bad doctor now.” She said with tears in her eyes.
He smiled back at her, “I’m surprised you recognize me it’s been so long.”
“I could always tell you from the rest No-kun…you and me are the only ones as pretty as mom.” She told him.
He gave her a shrewd look and Gen and Suichi chuckled. She looked to the side and saw Kaito. He gave her small wave.
“You met Galya?” she asked him looking him over and his face fell.
“You know her?” he asked her a little disturbed.
“Heh, who do you think I was gonna sick on Azami? She’s not a sympathetic woman, but she owes me a lot. Uh let me guess…she got her grandmother to tell you she was very ill, couldn’t leave the house and she was a lonely virgin right?” she asked.
His jaw dropped, “You could have warned me!”
“She’s been working that way for decades. But I’ll tell you she’s never killed any one who didn’t deserve it.” Was her reply.
He looked over himself and shook his head, “Look at me woman!”
“Oh come on none of your clients have left you beaten up like this? The worst you got is scared to death and anemia.” She replied as if he were being a baby about it.
He scowled, “You don’t have to be so mean about it.” He mumbled.
She sighed, “Sorry…” she flicked the IV vial on the pole, “Morphine makes me cranky.”
He looked at her and shook his head, “Forget about it. Like I have a right to complain.” He muttered laying back down.
She pulled the oxygen mask off of her face and yawned.
“So every one is free now?” she asked.
“Pretty much.” Replied Suichi.
“Good, now every one has to get real world jobs and real world places to live.” She said.
“No prob.” Said Shane who was cleaning his nails with a knife.
Toya chuckled, “Hell I’d love to bag groceries at this point.”
Kyo nodded, “And I got a job waiting for me here.”
“And I got my man.” Said Kaito slipping his hands behind his head.
Suichi sighed, “And I have no life skills and I’m a high school drop out.”
Rukia kind of laughed, “It doesn’t matter. You wouldn’t be able to keep a job even if you had a PhD.”
”Why?”
“Because my father is going to know you have me. Now that you’re free and with out giving him his money you’re gonna be right next to me on his hit list. And the rest of you are going to be watched in case you have contact with us.” She told them.
“Hey wonderful, I’m on the run from the mob again!” said Shane looking a little peeved.
“Yeah. But for a good reason this time. It’s a just cause Shane, come on.” She told him and he chuckled and shook his head.
“Only for you chick.” He said putting away his knife, “I’m going get my ass off the market so I can legally own it again. Give me a call if things go a-rye.”
He told them and went for the door.
“Hold up.” Said Suichi going over to him.
Shane looked up at him, “Yeah?”
“I saved your ass the most over the last few years so watch yourself, got me.” He told him.
Shane smiled and he nodded, “You got it.”
“And thanks.”
Shane shook his head and held out his arms. Suichi sighed, but Shane shook his hands and Suichi reluctantly gave him a hug. He let him go and he opened the door and looked back.
“I’m coming back for you Gen-chan.” He said and blew him a kiss.
Gen sighed while Ryonosuke was a little baffled. Shane gave him a small wave and he left.
“What the hell was that?” asked Ryonosuke.
“Eh, he’s just flirting with me. Despite the scorn I show him he continues to do it.” He replied.
His brother nudged him, “You into that stuff?”
“…not that it’s any business of yours, but yes.” He replied cheekily.
“He’s a yaoi writer.” Rukia told him and Gen glared at her.
Ryonosuke chuckled and patted his brother’s shoulder, “I had a feeling.”
Rukia chuckled and she broke into a coughing fit, she gasped and looked at her hand. It was covered with blood.
“Kyo!” shouted Suichi and he went over and he cursed.
He laid her gurney back and he pushed up her gown and felt around her abdomen.
“Fuck, she’s bleeding internally! Ryo page Dr. Sagara! She needs surgery!” he told him.
Ryonosuke nodded and he paged Hojo. Kyo dug pulled on a set of gloves as Rukia started to choke. Her monitor started beeping and her eyes were rolling back. He propped her head back and he grabbed a metal tool and stuck it down her throat. He then stuck a tube down her trachea and attached a bag and started pumping it.
“Yataro, come pump this. One every three seconds.” He told him and Yataro started pumping the bag, “Ryo get the anesthetic.”
He pulled on a pair of gloves and he filled a syringe. Kyo took it and injected it into her IV.
“Kyo don’t worry, honey. You’re in good hands.” He told her before her eyes closed and she lost consciousness.
Hojo soon came down with a push cart. They hooked her up to a respirator and drew the curtains. They all looked at each other, but remained silent.

The hour that passed was very unnerving. All they could hear was the beep of the monitor, and the respirator as the doctors behind the curtain spoke to each other quietly. Suichi was pacing and the others were sitting and fidgeting. Suichi finally sat down and rubbed his face. He looked up at Toya and saw the dog with his head resting on Toya’s knee.
“What’s with the dog?” he asked quietly.
Toya looked down at him and then back up, “He’s my new pet.”
Toya stroked his head and the dog sighed.
“…It’s not like any dog I’ve seen…I’d say he was a wolf, but he’s a weird color.” Said Suichi and Toya chuckled, “Where’d you get him?”
“It’s a long story.” He replied, “But uh…I do have something to talk to you about. But maybe later.”
The dog glanced up at Toya and then at Suichi. He lowered his ears and growled at him. Suichi frowned and Toya smacked him on the head and he cowered, but Suichi was almost certain the dog glared at him.
Fifteen minutes later Kyo pulled the curtain back. She was covered up and they were feeding her oxygen.
“Well?” asked Gen.
“She’ll be fine. She just needs rest now.” Sighed Kyo, “I’m going buy myself before our pimp comes looking for us.”
He left with Yataro trailing behind him. Hojo left wearily leaving Ryo to monitor her.
“What about you Toya?” asked Suichi and he shook his head.
“Oh no, I can’t walk that far right now.” He said clearly keeping his ass in that seat.
“Did that guy hurt you that bad?” asked Kaito.
“Yeah and I think he liked it.” He said bitterly and the dog lay down and put his head on his paws with his ears down.
Kaito sat up with a sigh and rubbed his shoulder.
“I think Rukia was right though. I don’t feel nearly as bad as I did before.” He said.

* * *

The next day…every one was free…sort of.
“Well Suichi you aren’t wanted at the brothel.” Said Shane as he came in that afternoon to visit.
Gen chuckled as he walked in, “But every hit man has your picture in their wallets. He finally put a hit out on Rukia and then one out on you. Rukia is worth about 100,000,000 yen right now you’re worth half.”
Suichi groaned, “Great, I’m sleeping in a morgue with an unconscious target and now I’m in the cross hairs.”
Kyo slipped in, in a white lab coat and he was dressed for a different profession for once. He stopped and spun around.
“Very nice Kyo.” Remarked Kaito from his bed, “Have a good first day back on the job?”
“Beautiful.” He replied, “Granted uncle Hojo gave me a test drive before he let me start grabbing charts, but I was on fire. I saw six patients in the last three hours and they all left with a diagnosis and a smile.”
Suichi chuckled, “Feels good to be back in another kind of game huh?”
“Oh God Suichi you have no idea. I missed this so much…” he told him with a sigh, “When you find something you love this much I know you’ll never get tired of it.”
He walked over to Rukia and slipped on a pair of gloves and then his glasses. He changed the dressing on her wounds and then checked her stitches.
“So where is Yataro? He been tailing you?” asked Shane sitting on one fo the tables.
He shook his head, “The chief resident told him to take a hike. He went off to sulk some where.” He told them as he took her vitals and then changed out her IVs.
He nodded and pulled off his gloves.
“When do you think she’ll wake up?” asked Gen.
He shrugged, “It’s hard to say. It could be today, or tomorrow. Her condition is improving a little, but she should wake up…this week at least.”
Gen snorted, “Some doctor.”
“Excuse me, but you can’t tell when some one comes out of a coma.” He shot back and went over to Kaito.
He checked out his wounds and his pulse.
“You’re all good Kaito. Sore I’m sure, but your blood pressure is where is should be and your pulse is strong. So I am discharging you.” He said with a grin, “I never get tired of that.”
“Hey any of you seen Toya around lately?” asked Suichi, “He left this morning and he said he’d be right back.”
They all shrugged or shook their heads.
“I’m sure he’s…” started Kaito, but Suichi lifted his hand and stopped him.
“Ok since when! Has any one ever been fine when we have said…’I’m sure he’s fine’?” he asked and they looked at each other.
“Ok maybe some one should go looking for him.” said Shane.
They all looked at him and he frowned.
“…Why me?”
“Well the mob is after me, Kaito is still recovering and Kyo is working and I’m sure Gen doesn’t know him that well to care.” Replied Suichi.
“Hey, don’t down me like that.” Said Gen offensively.
Suichi grinned, “Then that means you’ll go with him?”
“I…” he narrowed his eyes at Suichi, “Ass hole.”
He stood and Suichi chuckled. Gen groaned and let his head fall back when Shane wrapped his arm around one of his.
“Come on Gen-chan we’ll find him real fast with the two of us.” He said in a cute voice.
Gen looked back at Suichi, “…Such an ass hole.”
They all chuckled and he pushed Shane off and they left the hospital to go look for Toya.
Gen shrugged on his over coat while Shane slipped on his jacket. Gen started walking with out Shane. He looked up and ran to catch up.
“Hold up Gen-chan!” he shouted as he came to his side, “How come you don’t like me?”
“Because you are extraordinarily annoying.” He replied flatly and Shane chuckled.
“I’m not that bad. The others like me and your sister…she’s almost like my little sister.” He said with a small smile.
“Yes and a grown man shouldn’t act like a big sister.” Gen shot back not looking at him.
Shane rolled his eyes, “Maybe you just need to lighten the fuck up Gen! If I wanted to act straight for other people I would have stayed in the closet and followed in my father’s foot steps.”
“I didn’t say act straight.” He said looking at him.
“Oh so what…I should act like you then?” he said and skipped a little, “Mr. Acts-Like-Some-One-Shoved-A-Brillow-Pad-Up-My-Ass?”
Gen glared at him, “I do not act like that. If I act up tight at all it because of you.”
“Look Kyo and Toya act way more girly than I do and you don’t care about them? You gotta know I’m just jerking ya when I flirt with you or you’re more stupid than ya look. So what is your problem with me really? Huh? Huh? Huh?” he asked putting his fists on his hips and leaning over to look at his face.
Gen stopped and turned to him and Shane folded his arms.
“Because! …” he started a vein throbbing on his forehead, “You do things like that! You aren’t just…girly…or annoying you act like a…a…friggen…!”
He couldn’t come up with it and Shane grinned and giggled behind his hand.
“Like one of your yaoi characters?” finished Shane for him.
Gen blinked as him and he calmed down. Shane shook his head and shoved his hands in his pockets.
“Yes.” He said in silent confusion looking Shane up and down.
Shane shrugged, “So…why is that so bad? If you can create a character like me from scratch there has to be a few like us in the real world. Chances are you’ve met at least one.”
Shane turned and started walking. Gen hesitated and he sighed and followed next to him.
“…No I haven’t…not before you…now I know why the other characters in my story are annoyed by him.” he muttered and Shane laughed.
Shane spun to the side and he grabbed Gen by the front of his coat and he pinned him to building. He shaded his eyes seductively and Gen blinked at him a little surprised.
“You know Gen…I can play more than just the annoying, cute one. I can be…the coy temptress as well.” He told him in a velvety voice much unlike his usual one.
Gen swallowed and glanced to the side as he stroked his knuckle against his jaw.
“Tell me Gensai…where do you get the inspiration for your sexy stories and your…brilliant articles.” He asked him in a low voice.
He swallowed, “I…I guess…from…watching other people…like you said.”
“Now…how can that be? You have…many characters like myself and I do believe we just met…though it seems longer.” He asked him and hooked his finger under his collar.
“I…I…uh…”
Shane chuckled and he stepped back and grinned. Gensai sighed feeling a little hot.
“Is it a big secret or do you just not know?” asked Shane folding his hands behind his back leaning forward.
Gensai was just at a loss for words. Shane giggled and took his hand and pulled him to started walking again. They were silent for a while.
“…” Gen looked to the side at Shane, “Why did you do that?”
“Well I have characters too Gensai. Maybe I act the way I do just for you. Or maybe…the coy temptress is me.” He told him and he stepped head and turned around walking backwards, “Oh course…I could also be…an intellectual romantic…trying to be subtle so as not to arouse your suspicion to my true intentions.” He finished in a thick Italian accent.
Gen looked a little shocked at the sudden change. The he turned around and started to walk with a kind of swagger and he bumped into some guy, “Hey watch where ya goin! I’m walkin’ here!” he yelled as the guy flipped him off and he looked at Gen raising an eye brow, “Or maybe I’m really the kind of man I grew up around in Brooklyn.”
“…What the hell are you just fucking with my head!?” he yelled seriously confused.
He grinned and walked normally and put his hands in his pocket, “You know I could act normal like people think I should. But…why choose one when there are so many different masks to me?” he asked simply looking at Gen, “So you’re what…twenty four and you’re telling me to act like a grown man?”
“…How old are you?” he asked with a frown.
Shane sighed, “Twenty seven.”
“Oh yeah right in what, dog years?” he asked and Shane giggled.
“Nope I’ll be twenty eight in September.” He replied, “Ok…now…if I were Toya, where would I be?”
“Oh do you have a Toya mask too?” asked Gen irritably and Shane gave him a shrewd look.
Gen finally chuckled and Shane grinned.
“Ok, I’ll go check the condo and the brothel. You go check out The Lotus Café and Tokajin’s down town. Those are his favorite hang outs.” Shane told him and he nodded as they split up.
Gensai shook his head as he turned down the street. He saw the bus and he ran over and caught it before it left.
“The guy is insane I know it.” He muttered to himself as he had a seat near the front.
“Who’s insane?”
He looked to the side to be starring at a news paper. He tried to look over the top.
“Hashibara-san?” he asked as he pushed the paper down and sure enough it was Kenji.
“Long time no see Junior.” He said as he folded the paper.
Gen chuckled, “Talk about…you still working off your debt?”
“Oh I’ll be doing your father’s dirty work until I’m old and gray.” He replied, “Still drawing?”
He nodded, “Manga artist.” He replied.
Kenji glanced around.
“…Azami came back empty handed and bleeding. Gensai was not happy.” He muttered.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” Replied Gen.
Kenji nodded, “I understand you don’t have to answer…but you could know…they’re watching the condo again and they will nab the next one that goes there for…extensive questioning.”
Gensai’s heart stopped and he stood and yanked on the bell cord. The bus soon stopped and he got off and bolted. He pulled out his phone and dialed his sister’s phone praying on of the guys had it.
“…Come on…come on…” he prayed as he stopped for traffic.
“Hello?” he heard Suichi’s voice.
“Suichi! Listen, this is bad! They’re watching the condo again, they’re gonna grab the next guy who gets there and Shane just went to look for Toya! They’re gonna question him…and when the mob questions people…”
“Fuck…ok, I’m gonna try and call him, you head over there as fast as you can!” he told him.
“Ok give me his number real quick!”
He typed his number into his phone and bolted again as the light turned red. He hailed a cab and jumped in.
“Down town, Hiten street! Step on it, it’s an emergency!” he ordered the driver and he took off.
He tried to call himself, but his phone was turned off. He cursed and held on as the driver took a sharp turned. He got to the end of the street and Gensai threw some money in the front seat and he tore out of the car and headed for the complex. He stopped and looked around. He heard a trash can fall over in the ally. He swallowed and he drew a gun from his bag and cocked it back. He walked slowly to the side of the building with his back pressed to the brick. He took a deep breath and threw himself around the side.
The nose of a gun met his face as his met Shane’s. They both sighed and dropped their guns.
“Oh thank God…” said Gen with relief.
He frowned and looked past him and saw three dead agents lying on each other.
“…damn.”
Shane looked at him, “Why are you here?”
“I ran into Hashibara-san on the bus. He told me there was an ambush waiting for the next guy to come back. Come on, let’s get out of here. If they had Toya they wouldn’t have tried to grab you.” He told him and they headed off of the street.
Shane put his hand on his arm with a grimace and Gen looked to the side.
“Are you ok?” Gen asked.
He nodded, “One of them nicked me good, it’s just a flesh wound though.” He replied.
They stopped by a drug store and Gen bought a fist aid kit and they sat on the bench outside of it while Gen took a look at the cut on his arm.
“You made good time.” Commented Shane and Gen looked up, “You were…worried about me?”
“Yes, fine, I was worried. Don’t make a big deal about it.” He told him irritably and Shane chuckled.
He pulled out his phone and turned it on.
“Huh…Suichi called me like five times, but who’s…567-396?” he mused to himself.
Gen cleared his throat, “That’s uh…me.”
“How’d you get my number?” he asked him.
“Suichi gave it to me ok?”
“Don’t have a cow, I was just asking.” Replied Shane with a small grin.
Gen taped off the bandage around his arm and Shane pulled down his sleeve and slipped on his jacket.
“We still have to find Toya before he goes back over there.” He sighed standing.
“Well what do you suggest?” asked Gen, “You can’t go back over there.”
“Well the guys at the condo are dead so I’m gonna go watch the brothel. You go back and check those places I told you to check before.” Said Shane eyeing him.
“Hey, I thought you were in trouble.” Replied Gen defensively.
Shane patted his shoulder, “Relax Gen-chan, I’m a big boy I can take care of myself. I’m not going in, I’m just watching it.”
“…Fine, but keep your phone on this time.”
“Roger.”

Gen mumbled angrily to himself as he finally got to the street with the café on it. Shane gave him a whole new reason to be pissed at him by now so he didn’t need the old one. He sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets as he went into the warm café. It smelled like coffee on the inside and couples and friends were sitting at the tables, talking as they warmed up. He kind of shivered as the warmth rushed over him. He could use a cup of coffee.
He went to the desk and he decided to ask about Toya while ordering.
“Can I help you?” asked the girl at the counter.
“Yeah, tall coffee. Black.” He told her fishing out some money.
“Will that be all?” she asked.
“Actually I was wondering if you could help me with something.” He told her and he put a tip on the counter.
She chuckled and put her finger on the 2000 yen bill.
“Well?”
“A guy who usually comes in here. Toya, silver hair he been… around here today?” he asked.
She smiled, “Yes as a matter of fact. He came in here this morning for breakfast about…three and a half hours ago.”
He nodded and let go of the money and she picked it up, “Did you see or hear about where he went?”
“Oh well Toya is very routine in the morning. After he comes here he usually goes to Tokajin’s.” she told him.
Shane was right, he thought to himself a little impressed, but he thought aloud.
“What is Tokajin’s?”
She fixed his coffee with a small grin, “Tokajin’s is a bar lounge. He goes there to sing for a little extra money.”
“Sing?”
She nodded, “He dresses in drag and sings the blues normally. He looks completely female in a dress.”
He took his coffee and he thanked her and left. He drank his black coffee as he went down the street. It started snowing as stopped to wait and cross the street. When the traffic finally stopped he walked to the corner next to the news stand and he slipped into the small bar. He took a look around and he was instantly hit with the mellow vibe. Everything in here was very soft and neutral, but had certain beauty about it. A smoky haze hung over a few tables as the people occupying them drank while a man on stage played a saxophone to a sad bass and drum rhythm.
He went over to the bar as the barkeep was being cliché and cleaning an already sparkling glass like he didn’t have a care in the world. Gen walked over and he sat at the bar. The barkeep glanced up and he set down the glass and the rag.
“What can I get you?” he asked him in a low voice.
“I’m looking for some one. He sings here, his name is Toya.” Gen told him directly.
“Toya huh? Yeah he comes in here almost every day. Usually leave around eleven thirty. He comes back in the evening sometimes though.” He told Gen.
He nodded, “Would you happen to know where he went after this?”
“…why do you want to know?” he asked suspiciously.
“Because he might be in trouble and I need to find him before something bad happens.” Was Gen’s reply.
The barkeep leaned over and he looked Gen in the eyes. Gen was started to see the startling aqua in his eyes. The barkeep chuckled and nodded.
“Ok I believe you. Toya usually goes to the news stand and then…goes about his business like we all know what it is. But he told me lately he was out of that business. So I’m not sure where he went after this.” Replied the barkeep honestly.
Gen sighed and he nodded, “Thanks.”
He stood and headed for the door.
“Hey kid!”
He turned and looked back at the barkeep.
“If Toya is in some sort of trouble you come back and tell us.”
The entire bar went silent even the band players. They all looked up at Gensai at once and he was instantly struck with a surreal vibe that was masked before by the mellow atmosphere. All of them…their eyes. He swallowed and nodded before he turned and left. He pulled out his phone as he walked and called Shane.
“Hello?”
“Hey, every place you sent me saw him, but his trail stops at Tokajin’s.” he told Shane.
He heard him sigh, “I’m not getting much action down here. There are still some agents, but I paid some one going in and they told me Toya got his contract at nine this morning and left…Gen either he’s wandering around some where…or they already got him.” Shane told him sounding worried.
“Ok don’t panic, uh…I’ll coast down town and look for him you take up town. We’ll go back to the hospital at eight if we don’t find him.”
“Ok, call me if you hear something.”
“Ditto.” Gen replied.
He hung up and he hailed a cab again.

* * *

Shane and Gensai showed up in the morgue. Kyo was off so he was down there. He finally looked tired, but still happy. They all looked up at them.
“He’s…we couldn’t find him.” said Shane forlornly, “He…went to the brothel and actually left it first…they saw him at all of his old hang outs, but…”
He sighed and sat down running his fingers through his hair.
“We couldn’t find any more leads on him after Tokajin’s.” finished Gensai.
“…Azami has him…I know it.” They heard from the corner.
Rukia was up and Kyo stood when he saw the tube on her hand and the machine unplugged.
“You can’t just yank a tube out of your throat! You could have damaged…” he started ranting at her.
“Shut up for a minute Kyo.” She shot up at him and he scowled at her.
“You really think Azami has him?” asked Suichi.
She coughed and nodded elevating her bed so she could sit up.
“But why would she want him so bad?” asked Kaito.
Rukia took a deep breath, “Every one is in this now so we might as well tell you. Toya was a sex pet before he went to the brothel. Azami trained him and he actually ran out and got caught by Gensai. The thing is Azami is very, very serious about what she does and she won’t tolerate losing a pet especially Toya… She’s the anti-seer like I said and Toya is…like the prince of the seer community.”
“…Huh?” was Shane’s quick witted answer.
Rukia snorted, “Seers spawn from a completely different race of people. And I don’t mean like black, white, Asian kind of race…I mean an immortal race. Those who are pure blooded usually have different names behind their human identity.”
Suichi frowned and he looked at his mother who was lounging in the corner filing her nails.
“…Yeah, yeah I’m not human.” She finally said looking up at him.
“What the hell ma!? Something you should have told me!” he told her indignantly.
“The less you knew as a child the better Suichi.” She replied sitting up.
“Is Suichi even really my name?” he asked her folding his arms.
She snorted, “Duh, your father was a mortal man so you’re half blood…but my real name is Moira Adante.”
“…pretty.” Said Suichi sarcastically.
“Yeah, yeah. If Azami has Toya then all hell is gonna break loose. Toya has been missing from the royal family since he was five and he is the next heir to the throne. Azami will do much worse than make him a pet now that she is aware of who exactly he is.” She told him and Rukia nodded.
“We have to find him as soon as possible…but…he may not even be in Japan any more.” Said Rukia tiredly.
Suichi rubbed his face and sat down. There was a knock on the door and they looked at each other. Suichi got up and he looked out, there was some kid carrying a big bag on his shoulder.
“What…” started Suichi, but the kid just put down the bag and gave him an envelope.
“Look some weird hooker in a bunch of leather gave me some money to bring this here. I don’t know what it is and I don’t want to know.”
The kid walked off with out another word. Suichi looked at the bag and he lifted it. It was very heavy and he brought it in. He set it on the autopsy table and they all looked over.
“Should I…” he muttered.
He looked up and they all urged him to open it. He swallowed and slid the zipper open and his face fell. The copper colored dog that was usually with Toya was in the bag all bloodied.
Kaito covered his mouth going pale.
“…Oh God…” muttered Suichi and he turned over the envelope and he opened it and pulled out a letter.
“…I told you if you chose neither…Toya would be the one to pay. You can keep his mutt, I have my own pet now…” he read and he slowly looked up, “Love…Azami Totowa.”
They all kind of sat down hard, Suichi looked down at the dog that whined and opened his eyes. Suichi lifted him out of the bag and set him on the table. The dog growled and rolled over. He dug his claws into the table and slowly stood. Suichi stepped back as the dog began to…change shape? It’s muscle contorted and reshaped as his body grew and reshaped. His fur receded and he slowly turned into a huge man. Darius was knelt on the table and he fell over again panting.
“…That…was weird.” Said Shane blinking at the man.
“He’s a shape shifter.” Said Rukia a little bemused despite her superior understanding, “It’s a type of seer, but wow…”
“You know where Toya is?” asked Suichi leaning over him.
His eyes shot up towards him and he grabbed Suichi by the front of the shirt and yanked him down to his face.
“Why did you let him leave!? What kind of seer are you!?” he snarled in his face.
“Hey back off! I didn’t see this coming!” shouted back Suichi.
They saw the sparks fly between their eyes and Kumiko walked over and pushed Suichi back.
“He doesn’t have developed powers yet. He barely just found out he had them.” Kumiko told Darius.
Darius snorted and shook his head, “Figures…the man he trusted with his life is worthless.” He muttered.
“Buddy if you weren’t half dead I’d knock you one.” Said Suichi scathingly.
Darius chuckled and he stood with his hand on his side, but he then stood straight. The man’s eyes came to about Suichi’s mouth so he had to look up, but he wasn’t at all intimidated.
“Buddy? Look I ain’t your buddy old man. But for some reason Toya seems to think you can help him. I don’t know why he’d think some weak half-breed mutt like you would be able to help him.” she shot back at him.
Kumiko shoved Darius back onto the table and he blinked at her.
“Don’t you even think of calling my son a half-breed again …especially when you’re the mutt here Fido.” She sneered and at him and he glared at her.
“Look bitch…” he started and she punched him in the nose.
He fell to his knees grabbing his face.
“…wow.” Said Suichi a little unhinged.
“You got something else to say?” she asked him shrugging off her jacket and he raised his hand.
“Fine I’ll shit up!” he told her defensively and he stood and shook his head.
He sighed and he dug a folded note form his pocket.
“Look before we were separated he told me to give this to you. And no I didn’t read it before you ask.” He told him as he handed it to Suichi.
Suichi took it and the front read ‘For Suichi’s eyes only.’
He stepped back as he unfolded it and it read:
‘Dear Suichi,
If you’re reading this then I’m no longer with you. I saw this coming before I left the hospital and so I wrote this for Darius to give to you. And just so you know I had a reason for doing this. Azami can find me where ever I am and I wasn’t going to let her find Rukia as she was. Don’t fear for my life, Azami won’t kill, but it’s only a matter of time before death will be a better choice than living. I don’t know where she took me, but it’s some where in Asia. If you need to find some information just do what I’m about to tell you, don’t ask questions and don’t spend time thinking about it. Ask hookers, strippers or bar keepers. You’ll understand later, trust me.
And to you Suichi…I love you a lot, but in light of this situation…and one I accidentally stumbled into with Darius, you need to forget about me in the biblical sense. Besides I know it will take you a while to find me. Be careful and take care of every one especially Rukia. And you might as well know exactly who I am so…
Love,
Prince Atari Cerrul Romai Akin Adarias III A.K.A. Toya
P.S. Please take Darius with you and try not to kill him.’

Suichi folded up the note and he sat down. He had no idea what to feel right now out of the vat of emotions waiting for him. He wanted to feel horribly sad and worried that Toya was probably being tortured by the princess of darkness. He wanted to be guilty for not being able to protect him when it was obvious he shouldn’t have gone out alone. And most of all…he wanted to kill Darius for stealing his one chance at a lover. But out of all of the things he could feel he chose determination and he stood.
“They took him to Asia…that’s where we’re going.”

To be continued…

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RosettaMoon: Oh guys those few reviews I got last time really made me excited. I'm a woman easily pleased. To those who reviewed, thank you. You'll get more of the story to those of you who didn't...the story is free! For the love of God it's not like it's ten cents a review like you have to pay for texting! The least you can do for my free ideas is give me some feed back. Again thanks for those who sent me some kind words and to the rest of you...why don't you grow a pair and tell me what's on your mind?