Stephen's Point Of View
The drive back to the mansion was anything but calm. What should have felt like a victory soon devolved into utter devastation when Mizuyuki fell asleep.
Ten minutes into his slumber his fever escalated to an unnatural degree. He began to toss and turn and cry in Stephen's arms, all the while crying for it to stop.
Stephen cradled Mizuyuki close in his arms, whispering that everything was okay in his ear trying to calm him down.
"Please... just let me go...Daimian..."
The last of Stephen's patience snapped at the mention of his father's name on Mizuyuki's lips, making it all too clear what he was currently reliving.
"Wake up, Mizuyuki!" He said a little too forcefully.
Mizuyuki's eyes snapped open in an instant and he shrank away from Stephen, looking at him with unfocused eyes.
"Stephen...?" He asked on a shaky breath.
"Yes, you're okay now. It was just a bad dream."
"This... isn't a... dream? You really... came for me...?" He asked tears forming in his eyes.
Stephen's heart broke at the cautious and skeptical look in Mizuyuki's eyes.
"Yes. Myah, Todd, Sebastián, and I came to get you... it's all going to be okay now." He replied kissing his lips gently.
He felt the tension leave Mizuyuki's body at once. Mizuyuki leaned his head onto Stephen's chest and started to shake.
"I-I'm cold... and I d-don't feel very well... withdrawals? Ugh... so many drugs... everything hurts..."
"I know... I'm so sorry... I wasn't fast enough..."
"But you... saved me... they were... going to... take me away... on a... p-plane... but you... you came for me... just in... time..."
"Only because you sent that message. You were so strong and so brave. I'm so proud of you Mizuu..." He said rubbing his face against his.
"Ugh... sorry... I think I'm... even more... b-broken now... please... d-don't call me... Mizu... anymore... t-that asshole... your father... used it as... p-punishment... because you two... l-look so similar... ugh... uncanny..."
Stephen clenched his jaw tightly. All his life he had heard how much he looked like his father, except his hair and eyes everything was almost the same. Knowing his father used that to his advantage to punish Mizuyuki made him want to go back and kill him where he stood.
"I'm so sorry Mizuyuki... I really don't know what to say except that I'm sorry."
"It's not... your fault... haah... we can't choose... our parents..."
Stephen hugged Mizuyuki tightly and he let out a harsh groan. Stephen looked down in surprise, already forgetting that he said everything hurt, and mentally kicking himself over it.
"Wounds heal... and bruises fade... just go easy on me... okay?"
"Mizuyuki, I'll do everything you ask me to. Just say the word. I'll take care of you forever." He said kissing him repeatedly.
◆◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◆◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◆
Sebastián's Point Of View
Sebastián was fuming with anger, knowing that his father played a hand in Mizuyuki's suffering had made his anger insatiable. He needed an outlet for it and soon.
Todd noticed the white-knuckled grip he had on the wheel when Mizuyuki had been crying out in his sleep, and Sebastián noticed Todd's grip on his pistol tighten slightly.
Everyone in the car except Yuki wanted to return to the hotel and paint it in blood and entrails.
For five days he had been subjected to their fathers whims and he was already having nightmares about it. It was enough to make anyone murderous. He looked in the rear view mirror and briefly locked eyes with Stephen. He was doing a good job holding back his grief and anger, better than Sebastián was.
They drove in silence while Stephen tried his best to reassure Mizuyuki that everything was okay. They finally reached the street of the mansion.
"Hey, we're pulling up now." He said looking up into the mirror again.
He pulled up and everyone but Stephen got out. He and Mizuyuki shared a moment alone in the car while Todd met him at the back end of the car.
"I wanna go back right now..." Todd said not taking his hand off his gun.
"Yea I know what you mean... I know he told me not to worry but... I just can't do it. It's worse because he's my father so I just can't see the reasoning. I can't justify it."
"Myah didn't kill them. She did however take in account everything done to him... she uh... she intends to return the favor with her and her uncles at the helm... I still can't be satisfied... even knowing all that... five days man... of all the times even with his uncle it was never this bad... it pisses me off."
"Yeesh, Myah is so damn frightening... I want to know so I can lament, but I feel like I'd snap and go kill him. Death is too good for them."
Todd looked at him, his face awash in tormented guilt. He looked as if he was torn between killing their fathers and killing himself.
"You know, I was so busy trying to get revenge for him about the Sujin incident that I never stopped to think about another enemy. He needed me and I was too busy with my own hatred to even think about him. Knowing I was right there and didn't see him in time is eating me up inside."
"Yea we have to be there for him now more than ever. What worries me is, if this is how we feel then what about Stephen? He took every precaution and he was essentially stolen right out of his hands, by his father. That bastard did horrible things to Stephen growing up... then Yuki just got caught in the crossfire of his father's jealousy and hatred." Sebastián said running his hands through his hair.
Stephen and Mizuyuki got out of the car, Mizuyuki still in Stephen's arms eyes puffy from crying too much. He put on a brave face and smiled, but it never reached his eyes.
Sebastián's chest hurt knowing the pain behind that smile. It had only been brief but Sebastián had bore witness to the welts and bruises that marred his body, coupled with the withdrawals and being carried, Sebastián had a glimpse at the hell he had endured.
They walked up the stairs to the doors, and they opened up on their own. Sebastián couldn't believe what he was seeing. William was standing there with a welcoming smile plastered on his face. He heard Yuki gasp loudly and Sebastián snapped.
He grabbed William by the throat and put all his anger into his grip. He pulled the man closer and sneered in his face.
"Like a cockroach that doesn't know when to die. Why the fuck are you in this house again?"
"Please... spare me... I had... no choice!"
Sebastián felt a hand on his shoulder and turned around. It was Mizuyuki, his face made Sebastián release William immediately, and Stephen had a murderous look in his eyes as he said, "Hold Mizuyuki for me." Then he gently proffered Mizuyuki to him.
Sebastián gently took him, making sure to cause as little pain as possible in the transfer. Mizuyuki was shaking terribly, he didn't look like it at first glance, but Mizuyuki looked deathly pale and nauseous.
Sebastián took a step back and Stephen walked into the house with William and closed the door in their faces.
Whatever Stephen was doing in there, he didn't want Mizuyuki to see it. Sebastián took a deep breath then exhaled slowly. He felt a shaky hand on his chest and looked down. Gone was the brave smile from before, now replaced with a look of pure fear.
"I-I don't think... I can do... this..."
"What's wrong Yuki? What can't you do?" Todd asked rubbing Mizuyuki's cheek.
"You know... for the last... five days... all I wanted... was to be back... in Stephen's room... but being here now... seeing Asshole Alfred... I can't go in... I don't want too..." He said breathing hard, slipping into a panic attack.
"Do you want to be around Stephen?" Sebastián asked for clarity.
It wasn't a stretch to say him and his father looked akin to identical twins in a twisted way. So Sebastián could understand the distress Mizuyuki might feel. However, to his surprise Mizuyuki looked even more terrified to not be around Stephen.
"I don't think... I'll make it... the next couple of days... not seeing him... it's the only thing... that confirms... I'm not in some... horrible nightmare."
"Then, would you like to go to your new apartment with Stephen?"
"Will you guys go too?" Mizuyuki asked surprising all present.
"You want us to go too?" Sebastián asked bemused.
"Not just... for me but... Stephen is probably... going to need... you guys... I'll be totally... useless... it's not lost on me... how broken... I am... he can't... hold us both... together..."
Sebastián felt oddly comforted by those words. He could still be useful to both Stephen and Mizuyuki. Just then, the door opened. To everyone's surprise he didn't have a speck of blood on him. He looked at everyone quizzically, it was clear they had all just been having a conversation.
"What's wrong?" Stephen asked walking up to the group, worry creasing his brow.
"Mizuyuki wants to go to his new apartment with us instead, all of us." Sebastián replied.
Stephen lit up in an instant. Sebastián became a little concerned about the complete 180 he had just done.
"Sure let's go. Todd you drive. Bas give him the keys."
Stephen took Mizuyuki back from Sebastián, and Sebastián gave Todd the keys then got into the passenger seat.
Stephen got in with Mizuyuki and positioned him again in his lap. Then Todd pulled out and got onto the main road again. No one discussed what happened to William, not in front of Mizuyuki.
"I'm sorry Stephen... I really wanted to go in... but I was too scared..." Mizuyuki said on a whimper.
"It's fine... I'm satisfied anywhere if you are there." Stephen replied giving him a brief kiss.
"I'm really sleepy... but I don't... want to sleep... and I'm cold..."
Sebastián took off his jacket and handed it to Stephen.
"I know warmth isn't the problem... but take this too." He said.
"Thank you, Sebastián..." Mizuyuki said taking the jacket and getting underneath it.
"You know Yuki, we never got to talk about it but... your new apartment is less than ten minutes away from Stephen's estate. Myah wanted to make sure you wouldn't have to commute too far to get to Stephen if you ended up... and I'm quoting her here, 'Getting swept off your feet by the Psycho Demon Sadist'..." Todd said coughing into his fist.
"Sorry Mizuyuki but... damn it I really hate that woman!" Stephen said, his cheeks turning pink from embarrassment.
"Hahaha! I don't think... I've ever seen... you blush before... Stephen." Mizuyuki said laughing through short intakes of breath.
The sound of him laughing made everyone stop, and stare in wide eyed shock. Even Todd had slammed on the brakes and turned to look at him. The laugh was so pure and so happy, it was like the sunshine breaking after a tsunami. Mizuyuki stopped and also turned red in the face.
"Stephen do it again! Make him laugh again!" Sebastián said.
"I agree, I haven't heard him laugh in quite some time." Todd added.
Stephen was getting more red by the second, and Mizuyuki was hiding his face now with all eyes on him.
Sebastián and Todd shared a look, laughed, and then Todd began to drive again. They reached the new apartment in no time, the air in the car much lighter than before.
Todd and Sebastián went up first to double check for safety precautions, while Stephen and Mizuyuki stayed back. When Sebastián gave the all clear, Stephen took Mizuyuki out and headed for the apartment.
"Todd... have you seen... the inside yet?" Mizuyuki asked.
"No I haven't. I was... away, while the guys set up things here. I was just given the address and keys, just in case." He said unlocking the door.
They all walked in and tried to get familiar with the new space, but Mizuyuki didn't care what it looked like as long as there was space for everybody. There were two bedrooms and a loft, so there would be enough space.
◆◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◆◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◆
Mizuyuki's Point Of View
"I... Can I take... a bath...?" Mizuyuki asked, looking up at Stephen.
"Yes, of course. Do you want to walk there?" He asked.
I shook my head, there was no way I could walk anywhere. I put on a brave face for everyone but, the reality was that the pain was becoming so great, it was hard to breathe.
"Sebastián, Mizuyuki wants to bathe. Will you call Gloria? We will need her before the night is over." Stephen said.
"Yes, of course. I'm on it. Todd, I'm gonna need the address for this place."
Stephen took me through the hall and to the bathroom. He ran the water in the tub while sitting on the toilet. The bathroom was nowhere near as large as Stephen's but, Stephen looked comfortable nonetheless.
Stephen slowly unwrapped the blanket around me and mumbled a curse.
"I'm so sorry Mizuyuki, I'm so so sorry. I will be sorry forever. I'm not sure what to do. It's so frustrating." He said, kissing my neck and back.
It was done out of love, but it still hurt like hell, so I couldn't help but flinch and suck in a sharp breath through my teeth, at the pain.
He discarded the blanket completely, seemingly not trying to look at me anymore, and helped me try to stand.
"Please don't put my feet on the ground!" I quickly exclaimed.
Stephen stopped mid tilt, then stood up straight with me in his arms, while I breathed a sigh of relief.
Stephen, aware there had to be a problem with my feet, took my left foot in his palm and cursed again. Daimian had whipped my feet every night, to ensure I didn't escape while they slept. They only chained me up if they were leaving the hotel.
Once the drugs wore off, the pain in my feet was felt first. Stephen gently sat me in the tub and left the bathroom. I splashed water on my face, before sliding under the water completely. I wanted to feel cleaner on the outside at least.
Everything hurt and throbbed, I had a massive headache, and really bad chest pain, but the water was almost scalding and it felt so soothing to all the aches and pains. My hair obscured my vision, and wavered in front of my eyes, like Sea Kelp in the ocean. I wished I could sleep under the water, but I was slowly running out of air already. I slowly released bits of air from my lungs to buy me more time.
Suddenly there was a muffled sound, and then I was yanked out of the water. My hair dropped down on my face and clung there, as I sputtered trying to figure out what was going on. When I moved my hair out of my eyes, I saw a panicked Stephen. Behind him was an even more panicked Todd and Sebastián, breathing hard as if they had run to the bathroom.
Realization dawned on me, they had thought I had tried to drown myself, or worse fell asleep and slid in.
"I'm okay guys... I just really needed... to be under the water. I could just... feel them... all over me... it was driving me... insane. Five days, at best... they wiped me down... with warm towels... let me have this."
Sebastián, Todd, and especially Stephen all wore pained expressions. They seemed to understand what I was telling them, and Stephen lowered me back into the water.
"I didn't mean to scare you guys. I just... my arms hurt to lift, and my body feels heavy so... submerging was my only option."
Todd and Sebastián nodded in understanding and left, while Stephen sat beside the tub looking sick. I plopped my wet hand on his head and leaned towards him.
"It's not your fault. Please don't make that face. I'll get through it somehow. You won't leave me, right?"
"No. Never." He replied, pressing his forehead against mine.
"Then I'll manage somehow. Now wash my hair and get me out of here. I want you to brush my hair." I said with a meaningful chuckle.