UnderWorld

by Beth( ladypluto79@hotmail.com )

part 9

The ride over to where Die's apartment was quiet and slightly tense.
Mostly on my part. What did Die do to Toshiya? Is Totchi even alive still? I
fretted quietly as we drove, my eyes darting slightly at the passing
buildings. Kaoru seemed a bit more..serious? quiet? today.
"Kaoru..?" I asked uneasily, letting my eyes rest on the driver of
the car.

He barely glanced over to me to ask, "What is it now Kyo?" and I
winced at the tone. Ouch, he didn't sound to pleased. I scrunched up in my
seat and stuck out my lower lip, it always worked when I was at home to make
everyone feel bad about being mean to me...well usually it did.

Kaoru saw it and I saw him fight with himself. I could just hear what
was going on in his head, 'Aw..he's pouting..no! must be stern! But...aw..'
and he finally caved to me and patted me on the head, ruffling my hair. I
peeked up at him and said, "Are you upset with me?"

He seemed to stall for a little before saying, "No..not at all. It's
something else.." The car lapsed in to silence once again. I just had this
feeling I wouldn't be able to worm anymore out of him and I sighed, resuming
looking out the window at the passing buildings.

The dark apartment complex rolled in to view. I didn't see any lights
on in the apartment I knew was Die's. Kaoru opened the glove compartment and
pulled out a small handgun. "Just in case." he simply said, putting his gun
in the belt of his pants getting out of the car.

Quietly we entered the complex, climbing the stairs to the apartment.
Hundreds of thoughts invaded my mind as we slowly headed upwards. What if we
are to late? I could've gotten Toshiya killed! I inhaled deeply as we stood
in front of the door of Die's apartment. Kaoru knocked gently at first,
listening and waiting. No one was answering and everything behind the door
was silent.
"Toshiya..?" Kaoru called out cautiously, still there was no answer.
An wave of fear rushed over me and I looked at Kaoru. He shrugged his
shoulders to my unasked question, still listening for any faint sounds
inside the apartment.

Kaoru reached into his pocket and pulled out a small lockpick,
getting to work quickly. The door swung open in no time and we walked in
slowly. Kaoru had his hand on his handgun, ready to shoot if needed. I
walked ahead and into the hall with him following behind. We checked in one
room...no Totchi...next room...no Totchi..the next room...no Totchi..

....There was one room at the end of the hall..the room I was held
captive in. The door was opened only a slight crack, it looked almost
foreboding and scary.
"...He's in there." I breathed out quietly, staring at the plain
wooden door.

I slowly opened the door and my whole body froze up at the sight I
saw. Kaoru pushed past me and went immediately to Toshiya's side. There he
was lying on the floor with more blood flowing out of him than I had ever
seen. He barely had his eyes open, his breathing harsh and wheezing. Blood
spilled slightly from his lips when he tried to talk.
"We've got to get him to the hospital..a doctor or anything!" I
yelled in panic, my eyes still locked on his shaking form, spasming with
pain ever so often. Kaoru scooped up the light boy in his arms.

"I know a doctor we can go to. We can't take him to the hospital or
we'll all be arrested." Kaoru said quietly and I nodded my head slightly. I
was reeling and my stomach was churning in fear and dread.

We were off in a flash, running down the stairway to the car. Toshiya
hanging limply in Kaoru's arms, vaguely aware of where he was. Kaoru slowly
placed him in the back seat and turned to me.
"Get back in there and try to keep him conscious" he said and I
climbed in wordlessly.

"Totchi?" I questioned to see how aware he was as I placed his head
on my lap. His eyes rolled up to look at me, I shivered slightly. He looked
like he was closing in on death fast and I wasn't ready to see him go.
"Come on Totchi. Stay with me now." I said, surprised at how calm I
sounded and I reached for his pale hand, clasping it in my own smaller one.

Kaoru was driving way beyond the speed limit and I sat, clutching the
wounded man's hand tightly. His eyes always stayed focused on me, never
leaving my face. Kaoru pulled up infront of a large home. He got out of the
car and opened the door to gather up Toshiya in his arms again.
"In here." he said and we walked into the home.

The inside of the house was built like a..elegant hospital, I guess.
It was practically empty except for the light behind two swinging doors.
"Terachi! We got a major bleeder!" Kaoru yelled and a portly little
man walked out from behind the doors.

"Well don't stand there Niikura! Get him in here and we'll fix him
up." Terachi replied casually like the fact Toshiya was dripping blood on
his carpet was no big deal. Kaoru headed for the doors then turned to look
at me.
"Stay right here and I'll be back soon as I can." he said as he
disappeared behind the doors along with Terachi.

I looked around the "waiting room" and sat down in one of the plush
chairs, staring at the clock. It was funny how I suddenly rediscovered a
faith in any god as I was praying to anybody to let Toshiya get through
this. There was some knawing guilt in me that it was all my fault. I tried
to shake it, but it just never left me.

That's when I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I turn my
head to see a boy looking at me from around the corner. He was
just..staring, observing me so to speak. He had to atleast be 15-16 years
old and just looked like a really cold, sullen faced kid.

I stared back at him for a few minutes and he suddenly broke eye
contact and walked in. He took a seat next to me, but still didn't say
anything at all. Okay..now the kid was creeping me out.
"Uh..hey kid." I said, trying to make some kind of conversation with
him.

He raised his gaze to mine and quietly said, ".........Hello." and I
had to feel atleast a little triumphant. I made the kid actually say
something, his whole body language screamed that he was uncomfortably shy
around anybody.
"What's your name, kid?" I asked him, relaxing slightly as I looked
at him. I was amused by the whole fact he looked red-faced and embarrassed
that I asked him just his name.

"...Terachi Shinya."
"So you're the doc's son or something?" I asked him and he nodded his
head a little. I sorta felt bad for the kid, he just seemed really painfully
shy. So I stopped asking him questions and went back to watching the doors.
Suddenly he tugged at my sleeve and said, "Did I make you mad? I'm sorry."

"Huh? No Shinya I'm not mad, why are you asking?" I questioned him
and he looked down again.
"You stopped talking..and..and I thought you were mad.." he spoke
softly then rushed on to tell me, "Not a lot of people talk with
me...and..."

I smiled slightly in pity, the poor kid was lonely. "Well what do you
want to talk about?" I asked a tint of amusement edging at the corners of my
voice. He looked still so damned serious again.
"What happened to the person you brought in?" Shinya asked me and I
tried to think up a way to put it in the most gentle words.

"He was hurt by his...roommate. His roommate got really mad at him
cause..well..he just did something wrong." I said almost patronizingly and
he suddenly rolled his eyes, his face flashing with more maturity.
"Don't talk down to me like that. Tell me what *really* happened."
Shinya demanded and I looked a little taken aback.

"You want to know what happened? His boyfriend sliced him up cause he
let me go cause his boyfriend was going to blow my brains out! We broke into
the house and found him laying in a pool of his own blood! You happy now
that you know?" I exclaim angrily and Shinya shrinks back slightly.

I sigh and try to gather my wits, opening my mouth to apologize but
the door swings open. Kaoru stands there and gestures to me. I stand up and
walk over, turning to look at Shinya but he is gone already.
"Toshiya woke up and is asking to speak to you.." Kaoru explained to
me as I walked through the swinging doors, still wondering about that kid
Shinya.

+++

to be continued

~email Beth ladypluto79@hotmail.com~

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