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Post by Sameya -- Artemis on Nov 28, 2005 2:38:52 GMT -5
Katsu followed them as they headed out of the room, his mind still buzzing with questions, the first and foremost, why Natsuki stopped Aaron. He couldn't think of anything they would need from Kei as long as everyone was safe and escaped.
He bit back a sigh. He could ask Natsuki later. That is, if he could bear to face him again.
*
Joseph was stunned. He stared after Adele, suddenly remembering that was his first kiss in years. If there was ever a time he felt as if his world had tilted off-balance, it was now.
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Akaru
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Post by Akaru on Nov 28, 2005 2:47:33 GMT -5
As the group reached the exit, Roni stepped forward to allow Katsu through with Natsuki. Adele leaned toward Aaron. "They make a cute couple, don't they?" She asked cheerfully. Aaron grunted nocommitally in response.
Roni pulled his car keys from his pocket and headed to his vehicle. Aaron started towards the Frenchman's Civic, then he stopped dead upon noticing his truck across the street. "Son of a..." he murmured in awe. Strolling up to the truck, he peered in the window. "What're you still doing here, doc?"
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Post by Sameya -- Artemis on Nov 28, 2005 4:12:08 GMT -5
"Do you honestly think I could leave before you all came out safely?" Drake said with a tired smile, dangling the truck keys on his fingers. "Want your truck back?"
Then he caught sight of Katsu cradling an unconscious young man in his arms. "Is he alright?" he asked.
"He seems to be okay for the most part, but...I think he needs a checkup just to be sure," Katsu replied.
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Post by Akaru on Nov 28, 2005 11:01:22 GMT -5
"Well, let's get to a hospital," Roni piped up. "Let's put Natsuki in the back of my car where he's got a bit more room. Adam, you're riding with me."
"How many times do I have to tell you it's Adele in public, Roni!"
Aaron snatched the keys from the wounded doctor, and slid into the driver's seat. "Let' s get outta here, folks. Doc, you can tell me what you know on the way."
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Post by Sameya -- Artemis on Nov 29, 2005 3:49:00 GMT -5
Katsu blinked at Adele. "You're...a guy?" he asked in surprise as he climbed into the back, laying Natsuki carefully on the seats, supporting his head with his hand.
Drake slid back into the passenger's side, mildly surprised at Aaron's request. "What I know? About Katsu, you mean?"
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Post by Akaru on Nov 29, 2005 11:23:28 GMT -5
Adele smiled gently. "I hide it well, don't I?" She said cheerfully, climbing into the passenger seat as Roni started the engine and started toward the hospital.
Aaron's old truck roared to life as he followed Roni's car. "About Kei, mostly. About what's going on here. What Katsu has to do with Kei, and what Natsuki has to do with everything."
He glanced briefly at Drake before continuing. "I had Adele dig up some information of this Himura character, including his criminal records. He's a rather violent guy, isn't he? He's got a rap sheet longer than mine-- no jail time recorded though. He had bail posted each time. And the murders he supposedly committed... apparently they've yet to pin any of those on him."
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Post by Sameya -- Artemis on Nov 29, 2005 13:03:15 GMT -5
ooc- this post is long and chunky and very wordy, so prepare your eyes. Prepare your mind for the cliches. Katsu nodded before looking out the window almost pensively, his fingers gently stroking Natsuki's hair. Drake smiled very slightly. "Himura Kei is the illegitimate grandson of Yunjo Takera, the president of a very powerful enterprise in Japan. Of course, like all powerful men, Yunjo has networks of a more underground nature, and Kei is his international connection. He is also closely allied with major yakuza and mafia groups around the world, and also has access to inside information in areas such as the Japanese government, and a few intelligence agencies. With all that power, he needs to relieve some of his burden and danger to someone he can trust. Most of his immediate family have died or been assassinated, except for Kei. However, being illegitimate means that Kei cannot inherit, but Yunjo dotes on him all the same. He has promised Kei 49% of his wealth and resources when he dies, on the condition that Kei also expands his power." "Unfortunately for the world, Kei is extremely intelligent, and he has already spread his network throughout the surrounding cities, and is already close to completing a sufficient network in Mitsurei. But the real stinker is that Kei has a very bad obsession with games. He met Katsu in college and seduced him. Katsu later discovered just how wacked Kei was when he stumbled upon Kei torturing a student to death. Katsu ran away from the college and flew to Japan, believing he could start anew, since he was Japanese." "Unfortunately, Japan was the last place he should want to run to, and it was possibly with sheer luck that Kei took a year to find him. That was when Katsu had already found a second lover. Kei kidnapped Katsu's lover, tortured him to death, and carved a message on the corpse. He sent it down the river, and made sure Katsu found it. Katsu fled again, but Kei found him soon enough. Kei then kidnapped Katsu's roommate at the time, starved and raped him for days. Katsu planned to kill Kei, regardless of the consequences, but he accidentally shot his roommate instead. Kei later tried to kill himself by slitting his wrists and trying to drown himself, but he was saved and sheltered by a young man who was a teacher in a small town. Since this town was more remote than others, Kei took around a year and a half to find him. By that time, the young man had fallen in love with Katsu, but Kei found them before they could begin to run. Unlike the others before, he tortured Katsu's lover in front of him, and made him watch as the young man bled to death." Drake paused to close his eyes for a moment, suddenly looking almost sad as he continued, "He couldn't remember what happened after, but I remember finding him unconscious next to the road early in the morning. I could tell at a glance he had been beaten, and took him to my clinic. When he woke up, he was screaming and crying from the recurring nightmares. He tried to kill himself many times when he was under my care. It was painful to watch. After some months, I helped him with therapy and hypnotism to help him forget the past, and gave him a place to stay and a new surname. Later on he fell in love with Natsuki, and you should know the story from there. And in answer to your other questions, Kei plans to do to Natsuki what he has done to Katsu's previous lovers. With Kei's influence, there is no way in hell that he could be doing jail time, or even really convicted."
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Post by Akaru on Dec 1, 2005 2:20:25 GMT -5
ooc- you think Kei's story is cliched? Wait until you hear Natsuki's. Aaron listened to the doctor's story and remained silent as he finished, hardened eyes focused on the road. Pulling into the hospital parking lot, he checked to make sure Roni's car was still behind him. Then he came to a stop, rounding the vehicle to open the door and offer the doctor a hand. Roni pulled in behind Aaron. Adele hardly ceased her chatter as he opened the rear door and pulled Natsuki up, allowing Katsu to exit the car. Natsuki stirred before snuggling towards the next source of warmth. Roni stepped over towards Aaron. "Aaron, you get Drake to the ER immediately. Katsu, you're coming with me. We're heading there too. Adele, take Natsuki to general med and stay with him until he comes to, got it?"
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Post by Sameya -- Artemis on Dec 1, 2005 7:28:37 GMT -5
Katsu opened his mouth to protest being separated from Natsuki, but quickly shut it as he looked down at the pavement, voicing no objection.
Drake stepped down from the truck with Aaron's help, smiling apologetically. "Thank you," he said, bowing only slightly as his muscles were stiff from bruises and various wounds.
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Post by Akaru on Dec 2, 2005 2:32:45 GMT -5
"No problem, doc. You might be takin' care of my wounds some day." Aaron said as he wrapped an arm around the doctor to keep him steady.
Roni led Katsu towards the ER entrance as Adele carried Natsuki towards the main doors. "I know you would rather stay with Natsuki," Roni said once they were inside. "But I think after that experience, having someone of a more.... feminine nature with him when he awakens would be best."
Roni bit his lip a moment, glancing at Katsu out of the corner of his eye as they waited for a nurse. "This is... not the first time Natsuki has been attacked, you know." Roni said quietly.
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Post by Sameya -- Artemis on Dec 2, 2005 6:56:07 GMT -5
"That's a pleasant thought," Drake said almost jokingly. "No one drops by to say hello anymore."
"I...understand..." Katsu said, before listening to Roni's second sentence, and looked up in shock. "W-what? What happened to him?"
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Post by Akaru on Dec 2, 2005 21:16:33 GMT -5
Roni found a seat for Katsu and turned away. It was a moment before he spoke again. "It was a long time ago, before I met him. I understand he was thirteen at the time, so it was when he was still living in Sheffield. From what I was told, he--"
Roni cut off abruptly as a nurse approached them. "The doctor will be with you momentarily, Mr. Umebuki. Please come this way."
Roni motioned for Katsu to follow the young woman. "We'll talk more later," he murmured.
~ ~ ~*~ ~ ~
Natsuki stirred softly before his eyes slid open. He stared blankly a moment as his thoughta reorganized himself. He had knocked Kei out, and then....
He blinked rapidly before sitting straight up in the pristine white bed "Hm? W-where am I?" He muttered.
Adele noted that Natsuki had woken up, and trotted over to sit beside the boy. "It's okay, 'Tsuki. We're in the hospital. Everyone is fine."
"The hospital?" Natsuki asked worriedly. "Did....did they... do... has anyone...."
Adele tilted her head. "The doctors, you mean? No, they haven't done anything. We're still waiting for one of the general practitioners. A nurse let us use this room until you woke up."
Natsuki nodded gently, taking all the new information in. "Where is Katsu?" he asked, more calmly now.
"He's in the ER. He seemed fine to me, but Roni wanted him checked out anyway."
"I see..." Natsuki bit his lip. "And....Aaron? Is he mad at me?"
"Mad? No, I wouldn't say he's mad. I would say you scared him sh**less, though." Adele said jokingly.
Natsuki stared at the crisp white sheet. "I put everyone in danger, didn't I." It was more a statement than a question.
And Adele couldn't think of a thing to say.
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Post by Sameya -- Artemis on Dec 3, 2005 2:55:10 GMT -5
Katsu would have groaned if it wasn't rude; it was the worst moment for the nurse to have shown up, but he held himself back and followed the nurse into another room. The doctor looked up, and gestured for Katsu to take a seat on a chair.
"Let's take a look at you," said the doctor amiably, putting Katsu through basic tests, testing his breathing and his joints. "You're very pale; I assume you haven't eaten since yesterday. But aside from that, you seem to be fine. But to be safe, I'll take a blood sample from you and see if there's anything wrong internally. You'll probably get the results within this week."
"Thank you doctor," Katsu said politely as he raised his arm, not even flinching as the doctor efficiently swabbed his arm with anaesthetic and withdrew blood from him with an empty sterilized syringe. Katsu held a cotton ball to the tiny hole left by the needle in his arm. He gave the doctor his postal address and stood up to leave. He stepped back out into the corridor and retraced his steps to look for Roni.
***
Joseph could feel the cramp build in his arms as he finally undid the knot of the ribbon binding him to the table. He rested for a moment before pulling his arms towards the front, beginning to untie the rope around his ankles. He stood up, moving towards the coffee table, hooking his fingers as far as he could into a small slot and pulling out a small, flexible metal pin, patiently picking the lock as smoothly as he could, a small 'click' preceding the metal rings on his wrists sliding open, giving him free movement.
His first task was to arm himself and protect Kei, in case the intruders had left a few bombs or traps to help them escape. He quickly logged into a remote access computer in the corner of the room, looking at each of the surveillance cameras to make a guard count and to spot any collapsed or blocked escape routes in case they were needed. Almost all guards were down, the handful of remaining guards attempting to help their comrades.
It seemed as if the premises or Kei were not in any immediate danger yet, so he left the computer and began to awaken his employer. "Kei-sama. Kei-sama. Kei-sama!"
Kei stirred, his body instinctively pushing itself upright as Kei's mind caught up, looking not at all surprised at the empty room. "They got away?" he asked.
"Yes. Would you like me to contact someone and track them down for you?"
"No, no need. They'll be back," Kei said dismissively, rising to his feet. "They didn't get the antidote, did they?"
"No, I hid it carefully as you instructed."
"Good. Right now, Joseph, I need you to replace all the guards immediately, and prepare for when they return."
"As you wish," Joseph said, watching as Kei sat down on his swiveling chair at the desk, planning as he looked out the window thoughtfully. The game was not going as he imagined. But that made it all the more interesting.
Joseph was about to leave the room when he glanced at the ribbon on the floor. He paused, bent down to pick it up and tucked it into his jacket pocket.
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Post by Akaru on Dec 3, 2005 5:19:40 GMT -5
As Roni waited for Katsu to return, Aaron emerged from the room where Drake was being treated. "Hey, in here a moment. I gotta talk to ya, Roni." With a glance towards the door to Katsu's room, Roni stepped into Drake's and shut the door.
"What is it, Aaron?"
"We need to talk about what we're going to do next, about Kei and all. And I thought the doc should be a part of this." Aaron then retold Roni everything Dr. Naosaki had told him.
"That's so terrible," Roni said once he was finished. "That poor guy." His gaze stayed on the tiled floor as he thought. "This is a sticky situation, though. Especially Kei's influence....who knows who we have to look out for. Natsuki's family name is probably the best shot we have at battling that."
"Natsuki's mother, Eliza Westin, was the primary benefactress of a very old and elite family in England. He's one of the few remaining true descendents of Elizabethan english nobility." Aaron explained for the doctor.
"My main concern is Natsuki himself. For some reason he's protecting Kei, and I don't get it." Aaron then said, puzzled. "I don't see what Natsuki would want to save his neck for, unless Kei has some sort of threat against him."
"I don't know," Roni said. "It was peculiar. Though we both know that Natsuki's capacity for forgiveness is immense. Awe-inspiring, at times." He said pointedly.
"Yeah," Aaron muttered. "All I know is that I'm getting Natsuki home."
"Of course. We'll take him back to the Nursery as soon as the doctors have--"
"No," Aaron cut in abruptly. "I mean home. As soon as we're out of here, I'm getting plane tickets." He passed a hand through his hair in an aggravated gesture. "That kiddo just about gave me a heart attack with this stunt he pulled today. He's involved in more serious business than he understands, and I can't take having him in danger like that." He glanced up, focusing intense eyes on Roni. "I'm taking Natsuki back to England."
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Post by Sameya -- Artemis on Dec 3, 2005 8:34:53 GMT -5
Katsu made his way back to where he remembered Roni waiting and noticed with surprise that he had gone. He looked around, wondering where he was, and decided that Roni might be at the bathroom or something...nevertheless, he made his way towards where Drake's room was, thinking to ask the doctor how he was feeling, when he heard voices inside.
He could hear Aaron's voice cut in. "...I mean home. As soon as we're out of here, I'm getting plane tickets...that kiddo just about gave me a heart attack with this stunt he pulled today. He's involved in more serious business than he understands, and I can't take having him in danger like that."
Katsu's heart began to thud painfully. "..I'm taking Natsuki back to England." Natsuki...the turmoil in his head rose like the pounding of his heart. His first thought was to collapse, but he didn't, instead, trying to reason with himself. He brought Natsuki danger...danger that he could have avoided if they had never met. But reason couldn't stop the horrible, echoing thought of life without Natsuki.
He backed from the door. He needed to get a grip on himself.
On the other side of the door, Drake sat silently on the hospital bed. "Is Natsuki really going to just up and leave that easily?" he asked.
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