Disclaimer:

I do not own Gravitation or any of its characters. I just love them to no end and have a very twisted imagination. Please be aware that I am extremely poor so suing me will do you no good. Thanks.

Warning: Lemon Yaoi / Explicit Language / Angst / Rape / Violence / AU

Pairings: Yuki x Shuichi / Ryuichi + Tatsuha / Hiro + Ayaka / K +Sakano / Tohma + Mika

FYI: Inner thoughts -- [ Flashback ]

Author's Notes:

Hi everyone. Well, Chapter Five of Beautiful Stranger is here at last. I apologize for the long wait. Life in general and a very frustrating muse can really put a damper on things. I hope that this latest installment, full of angst and lemony goodness, will make up for the wait.

Thanks to all who have commented on my little Grav fic and demanded (^_~) for more. I'll do my best to get the next chappy out as soon as I can.

Well, that's it for now. Enjoy the fic and please remember to review!

Thanks,

Forsaken

Beautiful Stranger

Heat was pouring into him, burning him alive, awakening a passion that he had never before experienced and Shuichi could do nothing but will for it all to continue. Yuki's lips were devouring his own, the blonde's large hands molding and caressing his body, causing a myriad of sensations to spike through him. He knew that he shouldn't be doing this, knew that Yuki was probably not thinking clearly. But as Yuki lifted him up against the wall and began to grind their lower bodies together, Shuichi no longer cared. He lost all train of thought and wrapped his legs around the other man's waist, kissing Yuki back with a desperation that was nearly overwhelming.

He gasped, his body shivering, as Yuki's hand disappeared beneath his shirt. Callused fingers made their way up his quivering stomach to his chest, latching onto his already aching nipple and Shuichi cried out as the pink nub was pinched and pulled, teased to the point of pain. God, this feels so good. Desire pooled into him, causing him to harden painfully. He was becoming mindless, driven only by the need ---- the hunger now consuming him.

"Yuki," he whispered hoarsely, as Yuki's hot tongue trailed languidly along the column of his slender neck.

At the sound of his name, Yuki pulled away suddenly. Breathing heavily, Shuichi looked into Yuki's dazed eyes, his heart ramming into his chest, a coherent part of him praying that Yuki wouldn't stop what he had started. Relief along with an immense feeling of satisfaction washed over him a mere second later when Yuki's lips once again crashed onto his own. Their tongues mated, fought for dominance as they collided and melded with one another in a wild frenzy and Shuichi felt as if he were about to explode from the tension now coiling within him.

"I want you," Yuki whispered into his mouth breathlessly.

Oh, shit . . . He couldn't catch his breath long enough to even try to respond. Instead, he wrapped his arms around Yuki's neck, burying his fingers within the other man's golden mane and began to thrust his hips up and down against Yuki's rock hard erection.

They both moaned and the next thing Shuichi knew Yuki was moving them away from the hallway. His insides clenched in anticipation when he realized where Yuki was taking him. His room. We're going to his room. Oh, God. What the hell am I doing? What ---- Shuichi's mind shut down again, as Yuki's hand began to stroke him over the now tight jean material covering his raging erection.

The door to Yuki's bedroom banged open, crashing against the wall, as he and Yuki struggled to get through the doorway. Cold air washed over Shuichi back and he shivered, as his shirt was pulled up and over his head, breaking their heated kiss. Shuichi cried out as Yuki's lips trailed down his chest and closed around an erect nipple. Needles of exquisite pain ran through his lower body, hardening him even more as Yuki bit into his skin, rolling each pink nub in between his tongue and teeth.

"On the bed," Yuki rasped, just before he propelled them both to it.

Shuichi moaned, a feeling of utter elation filling him, as Yuki weight pressed him down into the surprisingly soft mattress. It was wonderful having Yuki's body covering his own, unlike anything he'd ever experienced in the past and Shuichi relished in the feeling now coursing through him. Memories, full of pain and hurt, threatened to push that feeling aside, but Shuichi forced it back down into the recesses of his mind, back into the shadows where they belonged. This was Yuki. He's not going to hurt me. He's not.

After a few minutes of groping and grinding, Shuichi felt Yuki's weight leave him and with eyes full of lust and need, he watched as Yuki moved back onto his knees. They stared at each other for what seemed to be an eternity before Yuki placed his hands over the opening of Shuichi's pants. Shuichi swallowed, as the sound of his zipper being lowered hummed through the air. His remaining clothing was stripped away from his body and Shuichi's heart began to race, excitement flooding his insides.

When Yuki's warm hand finally wrapped itself around his aching shaft, Shuichi couldn't stop a whimper from escaping his mouth. His hands fisted into the silken sheets beneath him, as Yuki's hand began to stroke him into a frenzy. God! He had never felt such pleasure, never had an idea that such ecstasy existed.

"Shuichi," he heard Yuki moan before the blonde swallowed his dripping member whole.

Shuichi cried out, his back arching off of the bed, as Yuki's head bobbed up and down, devouring him, shattering him. It took only a few strokes of Yuki's talented tongue and suction of his heated mouth to bring Shuichi to the brink of agonizing pleasure. Instinctively, his hips began to thrust into the warmth sheathing him, as Shuichi reached for the unknown. He could feel it now, feel that imaginary coil within him as it tightened more and more with every stroke, with every pull of the blonde's mouth. His hands found their way into Yuki's tresses of gold, silently begging for more, as the tension within him became unbearable. Shuichi opened his legs wider, his hips now frantically moving into Yuki's mouth, as a tingling sensation began to spread from his center toward his groin.

"Yuki," he panted desperately, a part of him afraid of what was happening to him, unsure of what his body wanted to obtain. A slick finger suddenly penetrated him in answer and the coil within Shuichi finally snapped. "Yuki!"

Lighting coursed through him in waves as everything inside of Shuichi burned with a fire beyond his conception. His hands released Yuki's hair only to bury themselves within his own reddish brown locks, pulling at them madly, as his orgasm consumed him. Yuki swallowed his release, the blonde's mouth suckling on him as if he were a delicacy not to be wasted and Shuichi felt tremors run along his spine, causing his limbs to quake and lose their strength. God, I never knew. Never . . . Yuki's lips were upon him once again and Shuichi opened his mouth in invitation, relishing in the taste of his own essence within the kiss.

Desperate now, knowing that there was more to be had, Shuichi pushed at his lover's shirt, the need to feel the hard muscle underneath almost primal. He gasped as Yuki growled and ripped the shirt off of himself in one swift pull. Shuichi's hands cherished the sleek muscles of Yuki's bare chest, caressing every inch of the man whom he had somehow come to care for. His hands went around to the expanse of Yuki's back and Shuichi moaned, feeling the powerful muscles shift beneath his hands. Lowering his questing fingers even more, he reached the only remaining article of clothing now separating their bodies. Allowing his desires to guide him, Shuichi reached into the waistband of Yuki's jeans to grab a hold of the blonde's tight ass. He shivered, as Yuki moaned into his ear in obvious approval. Yuki raised his hips in a silent command and Shuichi was more than happy to comply, helping the other man divest himself of the offending material keeping them apart.

Shuichi's eyes closed, sensations spiraling through him, as Yuki's fevered body lowered onto his own. Their erections met and molded against one another and Shuichi nearly died from the electrifying pleasure now sizzling between them. He felt Yuki move partly away from him and he shifted his eyes away from the ceiling he had been staring at in wonder to see the blonde reaching for the drawer of the night stand next to the bed. Shuichi sighed in relief as Yuki's hand retrieved a small tube from within the drawer. He hadn't been thinking about lubrication, about the pain a dry entry would have caused him. Then again, when was the last time he had been given the choice to use any? Nao . . . NO! Shuichi yelled at himself, closing his eyes in concentration. Don't think about 'him'. Not now. Not with Yuki. Don't ruin it with thoughts of 'him'. This is different. Special. . . .

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted as a lubricated finger entered him slowly. Shuichi's eyes opened wide as the invading digit brushed along his sweet spot, forcing a mewl of surprised pleasure from his lips. Another finger joined the first one, stretching him even further, pumping in and out of him in measured thrusts and Shuichi began to moan uncontrollably, liquid heat pouring into his lower belly, hardening shaft. He felt the barest threads of pain as a third finger penetrated him, but Shuichi didn't move away from the increasing pressure now pulsing around his entrance. He embraced it instead, pushing his body down to meet the source of his newfound pleasure.

"God, Shuichi. I have to be inside you. Have to . . . now."

The fingers were suddenly removed, replaced by something larger and more powerful. Shuichi's eyes shot up to Yuki's face and he stared in fascination, violet eyes locked onto yellow-green ones, as Yuki entered him in one sure stroke. Shuichi cried out as Yuki filled him completely, touching something inside of him that he'd thought he'd never again feel . . . His heart. Tears sprang into his eyes, as Yuki moved inside of him and Shuichi reached up to bring Yuki's mouth onto his own, his feelings for this man now truer than ever.

In a dance older than time itself, their bodies moved against one another, joining in the most intimate of ways until Shuichi could no longer contain the passion raging inside of him. In a burst of light, Shuichi climaxed, his mouth opening in a cry of pure ecstacy, as his seed shot forth in a glistening arc between them.

His lover soon followed, his shout of fulfillment causing Shuichi's drained member to pulsate in reaction. Yuki fell on top of him and Shuichi sighed in contentment, feeling as though finally he'd found a safe haven within the man who had claimed him, possessed him . . . loved him.

Exhausted and sated, they both fell asleep in each others arms. Their problems, their pasts, everything was forgotten as they allowed the darkness of slumber to overtake them, to shield them unknowingly from the cries of the two souls that had found their mate at last.

Minutes, hours, days -- Yuki didn't know how much time had passed before his eyes finally decided to open. Darkness surrounded him and he realized that he had been asleep for some time. Wondering why he was in bed, he made to move when a weight on his shoulder stopped him. He looked down and his eyes widened as they fell upon Shuichi's sleeping form beside him.

Holy shit. It wasn't a dream. He's really here . . . We really . . . I . . . We . . . Holy shit! Yuki shoved a hand into his hair and closed his eyes, silently cursing himself for his stupidity. What did I do? Dammit! What did I do?

Desperate to get away from the source of his confusion, Yuki moved to get up from the bed but stopped the instant the slender arm draped over his waist tightened to keep him in place. Unable to find the will to move away from the possessive hold, Yuki relaxed back into the pillows and stared in wonder as Shuichi pressed his angelic face into his chest. Perplexed as to what to do next, he allowed his arm to remain pinned underneath the younger man's head and tried to will himself to relax.

Think, dammit . . . Shit, I need a cigarette. He looked at his night stand then at his dresser across from the bed and cursed when he realized that his only pack was sitting uselessly on his desk in his office. Fuck.

Yuki's gaze once again shifted to the slumbering man next to him, his mind in turmoil. How? How could he have allowed this to happen? He had been just about ready to strangle the boy when he'd opened the door to his office. Pissed off by the intrusion to his privacy and edgy because of his nightmare, he had been ready to send Shuichi packing, to get rid of the bothersome 'man' that had begun to trigger things inside of him that were best left forgotten. When he'd opened the door, however . . . Yuki tore his eyes away from Shuichi and looked up to stare at the white ceiling. I fucked up. But even as he berated himself for his lack of control, Yuki knew that he couldn't have stopped himself even if he'd tried. He had been too far gone, too swept away by the passion Shuichi had envoked inside of him.

He ran a frustrated hand through his golden hair, causing the sweat dampened locks to spike up in different directions and tried to calm his racing heart. The memory of opening the door, of seeing Shuichi's extraordinary eyes searching his own, concern plain to see on his beautiful face, was almost too much for him. Lust was spearing him through the gut and Yuki closed his eyes, desperate to staunch the feeling before it consumed his senses yet again.

Dammit, why didn't he just get up so that he could retreat into his office where he could think? Where he could gather his thoughts and figure out why the hell he'd allowed himself to make the biggest mistake he could've possibly made? Yuki sighed. Because I don't want to push him away.

Throwing caution to the wind, Yuki lowered his head until his mouth came in contact with the soft stands of Shuichi's hair. Closing his eyes, he breathed in the sweet scent that was Shuichi. Strawberries, he thought. He smells like strawberries. Unable to stop himself, he raised a hand and gently ran his fingers through the silken threads. After a few strokes, his hand paused but for a moment before it descended further.

Ever so slowly, Yuki's fingers traced the fine contours of Shuichi's face and he could feel his heart begin to pound against his chest at the feel of the delicate skin beneath his fingertips. So soft. Transfixed, Yuki held his breath as his thumb brushed against the supple lips that had all but driven him mad with desire a short time ago. Back and forth his thumb moved over Shuichi's parted mouth, driving yet another stab of pleasure right into his groin. Yuki shuddered and closed his eyes, trying to regain a measure of control, as his once flaccid member began to harden. Shit! he cursed suddenly, pulling his hand away as if burned. He pushed his head back into the pillow to wallow in his own misery. What the fuck am I doing?

"Yuki?"

Everything inside of Yuki froze at the sound of his softly spoken name. He didn't know what to do or how to act. He was lost, and . . . terrified.

"Yuki . . . Are you okay?"

There were those words again. The same words that had driven him into this mess in the first place.

Anger swelled up inside of him all of a sudden and Yuki pulled his arm away, pushing Shuichi away from him. "No, dammit!" he snarled, his frustration over what was happening to him evident in his harsh tone. It was as if his choices, his control had been taken from him and he couldn't stand it.

Shuichi gasped at the sudden outburst and jumped off of the bed. Yuki sat up, ready to proclaim his disgust over what had happened, to deny having felt anything but the satisfaction of having assuaged his sexual needs. But when his yellow-green orbs fell upon the now shivering form in the far corner of the room near the window, Yuki's words died away and his world came to an abrupt halt.

"Don't hurt me," Shuichi begged in a panicked whisper, his knees drawn up to his chest, his arms wrapped tightly around them, as he rocked back and forth. "Please don't hurt me. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

Yuki's eyes widened in anguished horror, as the light emanating from the window cascaded over Shuichi's naked body, revealing a multitude of long scars that ran along Shuichi's back. Oh, my God. What the fuck happened to him? What . . . Stop asking questions and go to him, you idiot, his mind chided, prompting Yuki to approach his frightened lover. Lover? Yuki lowered himself onto his knees in front of Shuichi. Yeah . . . Lover.

Not wanting to scare Shuichi more than he already had with his stupidity and temper, Yuki reached out with his hand slowly and placed it on Shuichi's cheek.

Shuichi flinched, his violet gaze snapping onto Yuki's. "I'm sorry. Please don't hurt me," the brunette begged once again, the fear in his voice tugging at Yuki's thawing heart.

"It's okay," Yuki whispered, his voice surprisingly gentle, as he tried to calm the wildness within the younger man's amethyst eyes. "I'm not going to hurt you."

Slowly and with the utmost care, Yuki pried Shuichi's arms away from his knees, speaking softly to him as he did so. He reached around Shuichi's slender waist and gently urged Shuichi's body forward until the brunette was safely within his arms and on his lap. Tremors wracked the smaller frame pressed against him, as he stood and walked back to the bed. He sat down and reached out to his left to pull at the covers. Keeping an arm wrapped tightly around Shuichi, Yuki wrapped the silken sheet around them both, a part of him unwilling to allow the thin barrier to come between them.

Yuki didn't know how long he sat there, holding Shuichi close to him, waiting for the trembling body within his arms to become still and he didn't even care. All that mattered to him now was Shuichi. His hands brushed across the skin of Shuichi's back and he closed his eyes in pain at the feel of the welts marring the otherwise smooth skin. How had this happened? Who could've been so heartless, so vicious as to inflict such pain on someone as undeserving as Shuichi? On any human being for that matter? Yuki's eyes hardened at the thought of the faceless monster who had dared to cause Shuichi such pain. I'll find you, you sonofabitch and I'll make you pay for what you did to him. I fucking swear it.

Shuichi sniffled and lifted his head off of Yuki's shoulder. Red-rimmed violet eyes looked up at him with a mixture of embarrassment and lingering fear.

"Sorry," Shuichi whispered hoarsely. "I . . . I didn't mean to overreact that way. You reminded me of ---- I'm sorry."

Yuki shook his head. "Don't apologize. I scared the shit out of you and I'm the one that's sorry," Yuki stated somewhat reluctantly. The introverted side of him was protesting loudly to the admittance, but it was being overridden by the part of him that was desperate to banish the fear from Shuichi's eyes.

"What happened between us . . . It was a shock to me. I didn't plan for it to happen and. . . . " Yuki's voice trailed away, his brow furrowing. He was botching this up big time. Sighing inwardly, he looked down into Shuichi's eyes, reading the sorrow and doubt now within them and cursed his inability to open himself up, to express his inner thoughts without hesitation.

"It's alright. You don't have to ----"

Placing a finger over Shuichi's lips, Yuki stopped the brunette from continuing to speak. What the hell am I doing? He took a deep breath, as he pushed aside his pride and lowered the shield he always held over himself.

"Understand something," he said in a low tone, his finger now slowly skimming Shuichi's closed mouth. "I've been alone, on my own for a very long time now. It's what I wanted, what I needed and your presence . . . It's changed things for me." Yuki paused, trying to gather his thoughts, not wanting to put the proverbial foot in his mouth again; this was the most he'd spoken in what seemed to be forever, making him feel uncomfortable and unsure. "I'm attracted to you," he blurted, and felt heat rise up to his cheeks. Ah, fuck. "And I'm having a hard time coming to terms with that fact. Things between us have changed now and I don't know how I feel about that." He looked at Shuichi, his light eyes trying to convey what he could not express with words.

Shuichi tilted his head a bit, as they stared at one another. "I don't either. I'm not used to. . . ."

"Used to what?" Yuki asked, gazing upon Shuichi's now flushed face.

"I'm not used to enjoying, you know . . . sex."

"I see." Storing that little fact away for another time, Yuki thought back to what Shuichi had said before. "Who did I remind you of?" he asked suddenly, curious yet afraid to know the answer.

Shuichi looked away from Yuki's piercing gaze and whispered, "No one."

Yuki reached out with his hand and grasped Shuichi's chin, urging the brunette to look at him. "What are you hiding, Shuichi? Who are you running from?" he asked, somehow knowing that the young man beginning to tremble in his arms needed his help. "Who gave you those scars on your back?"

Shuichi tensed at the mention of the scars and he moved to get off of Yuki's lap. Not willing to relinquish his hold, Yuki's arms tightened around the violet-eyed man, stopping Shuichi's retreat.

"Let me go," Shuichi implored, as he tried to break free from Yuki's embrace.

"No," Yuki replied firmly, his arms steel bands around Shuichi's waist. "Talk to me, Shuichi. Let me help you."

"No one can help me," Shuichi said, his voice an agonized whisper.

"I can and I will," Yuki spoke into Shuichi's ear. "But only if you tell me what I need to know."

After a few tense moments, Shuichi finally spoke. "When I was sixteen, my family died in a house fire. I had snuck out of the house and got back home too late to save them."

Yuki frowned at Shuichi's almost self-accusing tone. Does he blame himself for their deaths? Idiot.

"I was placed in foster care," Shuichi continued, "But I didn't want to be there, so I ran away. I was on the streets for about a month, stealing food whenever I could get it, living like an animal, until this guy approached me, offering me a place to stay where I could work for my food and shelter. I grabbed the chance, of course. " Shuichi chuckled bitterly. "I was so stupid. I had no idea what I was getting myself into."

"What happened?"

"The guy, Toru, introduced me to his boss and . . . he liked me enough to let me stay." Shuichi sighed. "Since I was pretty good at stealing by then, he put me to work on the streets with Toru and a few others. It was alright at first, having to steal to earn my keep, but I quickly learned that my . . . boss' generosity had to be paid back in full measure. If we didn't meet our daily 'quota' or if we displeased him in any way we . . . we were punished."

Anger shot through Yuki. "The scars on your back were a form of punishment?"

Shuichi nodded. "I was disrespectful to him and I angered him. It was my fault for being so stupid."

Yuki took a deep breath, willing his anger to subside. He loosened his hold around Shuichi and turned the brunette around so that their eyes could meet. "What's his name, Shuichi?"

Shuichi shook his head, fear once again whirling with the violet depths of his eyes. "I can't tell you that, Yuki. I've told you too much as it is. Please, I don't want you getting involved in my mess."

"Well, I already am. The instant you laid eyes on me I became involved."

"I had no choice," Shuichi replied, his face twisted in guilt. "Toru picked you out for me. I had to obey or . . . God, Yuki. Just stay out of it, okay?" Shuichi's voice was rising, panic lacing his every word. "I'm sorry that I caused you so much trouble. I shouldn't have stayed to begin with. I'll leave as soon as ---- " Shuichi's frantic plea was cut off, as Yuki's lips came crashing down upon them.

After a few lust filled moments, Yuki pulled away and stared into Shuichi's passion glazed eyes. "You're not going anywhere. You crossed my path Shuichi Shindou and turned my life upside down. You're going to pay for that." Yuki's light eyes sparkled as an idea began to form in his mind.

Shuichi's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Yuki's lips curved into an absolutely wicked grin. "Since you took it upon yourself to become a pain in my ass, I'm going to make sure that I'm compensated for the aggravation you've put me through."

"How?" Shuichi asked suspiciously.

"I'll put you to work for me."

"Work for you?"

Yuki nodded. "Suguru needs an assistant in the shop. You'll do . . . for now anyway." At Shuichi's questioning gaze, Yuki added, "Suguru's an eighteen year old know-it-all with a knack for electronics. I use from time to time for . . . surveillance purposes."

Shuichi grinned, the small smile causing Yuki's insides to clench. "You mean he's your spy."

Yuki shrugged nonchalantly. The kid's sharp. It was yet another thing to add to the growing list of things he'd underestimated the slender man for. "It doesn't matter what he is. What matters is that you'll be helping him out."

"Yuki, I appreciate what you're doing, but I can't accept this," Shuichi said, his eyes full of trepidation. "Don't you see? Na . . . My boss is probably already looking for me. He won't stop searching for me until he finds me. And he will, Yuki. He will." Shuichi took hold of Yuki's hand, his eyes pools of amethyst, were boring into Yuki's, silently begging him to understand and take heed of his warning. "I don't want to be here when he does find me. He'll hurt you and the others that live here. Please, Yuki. Just let me go."

"No."

"Please!" Shuichi begged. "He's a monster, Yuki. He'll hurt . . . He'll 'kill' anyone that gets in the way of what's his. And I 'am' his . . . in every way."

Those last whispered words hung in the air between them, echoing loudly within Yuki's mind, their meaning loud and clear. That bastard! Not only had Shuichi's 'employer' abused him physically, but he'd forced himself upon Shuichi as well; Yuki knew by the desolate and shameful look on Shuichi's face that it had not been consensual.

He took a calming breath before he spoke; his voice was determined and fierce. "I'm only going to say this once, Shuichi." Yellow-green eyes bored into somber violet ones. "You may have been 'his', as you say, when you were out on the streets without anyone to look out for you, but not anymore. You have a home now, with the others that live here . . . with me. And trust me when I say that we can more than take care of ourselves and you."

"You mean because the others are ex-cons?"

Yuki's eyes narrowed. "Tatsuha has a big mouth."

Shuichi nodded with a small grin, his eyes briefly losing the shadows that had been marring their beauty. "Yeah, but don't be angry with him. He just wanted to reassure me that you were a decent guy despite your cranky attitude."

Yuki raised a golden eyebrow at that last remark, but he chose to ignore it. "He still shouldn't have said anything. The others don't like talking about their pasts, especially with strangers. It's their business to reveal such information to whom they wish. Tatsuha has got to remember to respect that fact." Yuki's lips curved, his eyes alight with anticipation. "I'll have to kick his ass to get the point across to him the next time I see him."

"You really love him don't you?" Shuichi asked him softly.

Yuki sombered, looking away from Shuichi's curious eyes, not wanting the brunette to see how much the question bothered him.

He couldn't deny that he did care for his brother, or that he cared for his sister and father as well. But he didn't like pondering upon his feelings for his family ---- for anyone in fact. Reflecting upon his feelings usually led him down a spiraling path full of hurt and misery and so he avoided it at all costs. It was an instinct so self-ingrained that even now, after all he'd shared with Shuichi, he was unable to open up to his . . . lover. Yuki smirked inwardly. To accept Shuichi as his lover would be an act of utter stupidity on his part. But now that he'd gotten a taste of the violet-eyed man, Yuki knew that he was addicted to him, that he could in no way even pretend not to be attracted to him, or to want him in his bed. Yuki frowned at Shuichi. Why do I complicate my life?

Shuichi chuckled at Yuki's silence. "I know. Shut up, right?"

Yuki placed a hand over Shuichi's cheek and leaned in close just a breath away from Shuichi's lips, his eyes holding a predatory gleam. "Yeah, shut up," he whispered and closed the minuscule distance between them.

Their worries would wait until the light of day, Yuki's mind concluded, as he lost himself to the heat now rising up within him and allowed himself to be carried away into the depths of mindless passion once again.

"What did he say?" Ma asked, motioning toward the elderly street vendor Tachi had just finished speaking to.

"It's amazing what information the flash of the good old badge will get you," Tachi responded, grinning at his blonde companion. "The old fart said he saw the kid a few days ago running away from a tall blonde man. Apparently, the kid tried to swipe the guy's wallet and got caught. Shindou split and the guy ran after him."

"So what do we do now?" asked Ken, as he came to stand next to Ma, his shades riding low over his nose despite the darkened sky.

"We talk to a few more people and see if anyone else saw what the old man did."

"But even if we find out for a fact that Shindou was running away from someone, how the hell are we supposed to figure out what happened after that?" asked Ma.

"We'll follow the leads and piece the puzzle together." Tachi smirked. "We're cops, aren't we?"

Enjoying the exasperated looks the other two men were giving him, Tachi turned and began to walk toward yet another street merchant, his eyes those of a hunter searching for its prey. I'm on your trail, Shindou. I'll find you soon enough.

An insistent knocking awoke Yuki from a sound sleep. What the fuck? He looked over to the clock on the wall and saw red. One o'clock?! Someone's going to die.

Carefully, not wanted to disturb his slumbering lover, Yuki rose from the bed and picked up his discarded jeans. Once decent, he walked out of his bedroom and trekked over to the front door. Looking through the peephole, he cursed when Hiro's visage came to view. Goddammit.

Yuki opened the door angrily and faced the redhead with a death wish. "What the fuck do you want, Nakano? And it better be good or I'm going to wipe the floor with you right here and now."

Hiro looked at him, his blue eyes serious and determined. "I want you to take a look at this."

Yuki looked down at the file being handed to him and immediately shifted into work mode. Understanding that 'Hiroshi' was here on business, Yuki took the offered file and walked away from the door. With Hiro following close behind, Yuki entered his office, turned on the light and sat down at his desk.

After skimming it's contents, Yuki looked up to meet Hiroshi's eyes. "What's with the sudden interest in Shuichi?"

"Ayaka was worried."

Yuki grunted, knowing how persuasive Hiro's girlfriend could be at times. "So you ran a check on Shuichi."

Hiro nodded. "After meeting him earlier today, I felt like something just didn't jive. Looking into Shuichi's background answered a few questions, but new ones arose in their place."

Yuki was about to ask Hiro why he'd taken it upon himself to meet Shuichi, when the redhead placed another file on his desk, distracting him. What now? Yuki opened the file and began to skim through it. Surprise washed over him when he read the name of the profile he was reading. Naoko Murao. That's. . . . "Funny," he murmured, as he continued to peruse the file.

"What?"

"Ryuichi wanted me to have you or Ayaka check into this guy," Yuki looked away briefly from the folder and stared up into Hiro's eyes. "He had a hunch." He shifted his gaze back to the file, but not before he saw Hiro's hands fist at his sides. "Why the sudden interest in Murao?"

"Shuichi," Hiro responded.

Yuki's eyes narrowed, as he looked at the printed image Hiro had provided of Murao. "Enlighten me, Nakano. What does Murao have to do with Shuichi?" Could it be?

"Shuichi is somehow associated with Murao."

"How so?" Yuki asked, his tone calm and quiet. It was hard though, keeping his temper in check, even as a storm of anger and hate was beginning to form inside of him.

"According to the police records I 'happened' to come across, the area Shuichi was working in when you ran into him is a part of Murao's territory."

Yuki frowned, shifting his gaze back onto Hiro. "How did you know. . . ." An image of a certain black haired youth came to mind suddenly. That sneaky little bastard. "Suguru," he said, answering his own unfinished question.

Hiro nodded in confirmation.

Yuki sighed. "What else?"

"The facts indicate that Shuichi's been on the streets for about six years now. You know just as much as I do, Yuki, that there's no way that he could've survived this long on his own. He has to belong to someone."

Yuki almost winced at Hiroshi's phrasing, but he knew it was accurate. It was the way of the world on the streets. You either became someone's possession or you simply died. Cruel and unjust, the dark side of life gave little options to those unfortunate enough to find themselves at its mercy ---- which brought Yuki back to the matter at hand, to the name of the man who up until now had been but a frustrating mystery to him.

"It was you," Yuki whispered under his breath, his eyes burning a hole into the now hated photo of the man who'd abused Shuichi, putting it to memory.

"Yuki?"

Reminded of Hiroshi's presence, Yuki turned his attention back onto the redhead standing before him. "You're right," he admitted, realizing that honesty was his only recourse at the moment. "Shuichi told me that he works for someone. Someone he refused to name. And he's scared shitless of the guy." Yuki paused, his hands balling into fists on either side of the open file he'd finished reading. "And from the scars on his back, I don't blame him."

Anger bloomed across Hiro's handsome face. "Scars?"

Yuki nodded. "Caused by a whip from the look of them."

Hiro hissed in fury. "Sonofabitch! That fucking bastard!" Hiro turned away from Yuki and stalked over to the only window in the room, his wiry body trembling with anger.

Yuki watched him intently, keeping quiet until Hiro was able to get a better hold over his emotions. He'd had a feeling as to why Hiro was so focused on Shuichi and now, after seeing Hiro's outburst, Yuki's suspicions were confirmed. Shuichi's life was almost a mirror replica of Hiro's past and being reminded of it, seeing the parallels between them, was affecting the redhead strongly.

"He's in danger, Yuki. Murao isn't going to just let him go," Hiro stated, after he'd collected himself. He turned back around to face Yuki, his blue eyes still flashing with the remnants of his anger. "Shuichi doesn't stand a chance against this guy. Not on his own. We have to protect him."

Yuki leaned back into his chair, his face devoid of all emotion, his mind already plotting what needed to be done. "I'll need you to run a more extensive search of Murao. I want to know about his dealings -- illegal and legit, about his associates, his employees, about those he's even remotely in contact with."

Hiro visibly began to relax at the orders being thrown at him and Yuki had to admit that he was relieved ---- which to his dismay proved one thing: That although he refused to show it, to admit it even to himself, the ex-cons he'd chosen to take in, to help start a new life had become his surrogate family. A family that had for whatever reason chosen him to be at its head, a family in which he had unconsciously decided to protect, a family that he had somehow come to care for. Yuki barely stopped himself from rolling his eyes at the realization. Great, just fucking great.

"Use Ayaka if you have to," Yuki continued, pushing aside his confusion about the people in his life for the time being. There were more important matters to attend to at the moment. "I want everything on this prick, Nakano. Got me?"

Hiro nodded. "Yeah, I got it. It won't be a problem. You'll have what you need by tomorrow."

"I also want Suguru to step up on security and . . ." Yuki paused. "I want Winchester to keep an eye on Shuichi."

"K?" Hiro asked with a wince, using the nickname everyone used for American.

"Yes," Yuki answered, trying to hold back a grin. He understood Hiro's obvious reluctance. Winchester could be quite a handful at times. Sorry, Hiro. I've got no choice this time, he thought with a silent snicker.

"Whatever you say, Yuki," Hiro said dejectedly. "I'll report back to you sometime tomorrow."

"Alright, and . . ." Say it, his mind urged him, as Hiro moved to leave the room. Oh, for the love of ---- ". . . thanks . . . Hiro."

Surprise flickered in Hiro's blue eyes briefly, before the redhead nodded in acceptance and left the room.

Yuki heard the front door close and allowed the tension that had been gripping him to loosen its hold. "Dammit," he whispered, bringing a hand up to his throbbing temple. Another fucking headache. Just what I needed.

Pushing the pain aside, Yuki's eyes latched onto the files on his desk. Slowly, he opened the file on Murao and looked into the dark eyes of the man who had become his enemy through Fate's intervention.

You'll never get your hands on him again. Yellow-green eyes darkened, becoming deadly and feral. Never again.

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