by Sessha Batto
“I guess I’m just paranoid,” the assassin admitted. “I still have the feeling something's going to happen.”
No sooner had he spoken than they were intercepted. “Please follow us, Kobayashi no Shuhan-sama. The Kai no Shuhan wishes to see you immediately.”
“Could we clean up first?” Daisuke fretted. “I don’t want to meet Yuu looking like this.”
“My orders were to deliver you directly to him upon arrival,” the nin replied with a shrug. “He doesn’t really notice such things. I wouldn’t worry if I were you.”
“So why did every hair just stand up on my neck?” Souta whispered.
****
“Kami, it's good to see you, Shou.” The assassin moved to embrace his best friend. “I can’t believe you’re getting married.”
“I’ve missed you too,” Shouhei said with a grin. “I’m so glad you’re finally here. I want you to meet my fiancé. Yuu, this is my best friend Fukazawa Souta. Sou, meet my intended, Kai no Yuu.”
“It's wonderful to meet you,” the assassin replied. “You’re a lucky man Yuu. Shou's a sweetie.”
“Yes, I am lucky. He is very beautiful, is he not?”
“Inside and out,” Souta agreed, making Shouhei blush brightly.
“I’m sorry if I worried you. I wanted to make sure I gave you the news personally. Takahashi Yoshi was tortured and nearly killed by my brother twelve days ago. He has had fifteen surgeries so far, and another was scheduled for this afternoon. I imagine it's over by now. He will not be making a full recovery. Perhaps you should read the medical report.” Yuu handed a thick folder to the shocked Kobayashi no Shuhan. “It will explain everything more clearly.”
“I want to see him,” Daisuke demanded.
“He does not wish to see anyone,” Yuu demurred. “Just read the file, then you’ll understand.”
“I don’t care what he wants. He is a Kobayashi shinobi, he will speak with me.”
“As you wish. I have no desire for animosity between us, Sato-san. Please read the report first. You need to be prepared.”
Daisuke's face paled as he read the account of Yoshi's injuries, finally dropping the folder and rushing out onto the balcony to vomit over the edge. When he came back inside his face was set and normally warm chocolate eyes were hard as stone. “I cannot let this pass, Kai-sama. Brother or no, Kobayashi shuudan demands retribution for these crimes.”
“Takumi is in custody awaiting punishment. I asked that it wait until after the wedding.”
“I see,” Daisuke replied frostily. “Will you take me to the hospital now?”
Once they arrived he took a moment to compose himself before quietly opening the door, heart aching at the sight of the haggard interrogator slumped in a chair next to Yoshi's bed. The Kobayashi no Shuhan cleared his throat, getting the dozing man to look up. “How is he doing, Makoto?”
“The operation went very well. They didn’t remove his testicles. I’m sure he’ll be relieved when he finds out. Over all though, he's not doing anything to help himself, it's like he's given up.”
“I’m not deaf, you know,” Yoshi declared. “Don’t talk about me like I’m not here.”
“I thought you were asleep,” the interrogator hastened to explain. “I didn’t want to wake you.”
“I wish to speak with the Shuhan in private,” the shadow wolf declared. “Please leave us.” Makoto cast a worried look in Daisuke's direction before heading for the door.
He stopped with his hand on the knob. “I’ll be right outside.”
“I have a request, Shuhan-sama,” Yoshi said the instant the door shut.
“Certainly, Takahashi-san. I’ll do whatever is within my power,” Daisuke assured him.
“Take Makoto home with you. I can’t be what he needs, not anymore. You and Souta will make him happy. He’ll forget about me.”
“What about you? What do you need?”
“To get out of this hospital.” Yoshi replied mournfully. “I hate hospitals. Until then... just take Makoto away, please. It breaks my heart to look at him.”
“I can’t do that, Takahashi-san, not if he doesn’t want to go. Mayu is outside, by the way. She's dying to see you.”
“I can’t let anyone see me like this,” the elite retorted. “Look at me. It even makes me sick when I look at myself.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop her, but I’ll try. We had hoped you and Makoto would travel back with us after the wedding. You two are sorely missed.”
“Hideaki knows a surgeon that may be able to make further repairs. I'll head there when I can travel,” Yoshi mumbled. “In any event, I won’t be going back home.”
“That is unacceptable. You are a Kobayashi shinobi. I have need of your skills,” the Shuhan insisted.
“I am no longer fit for service,” the shadow wolf explained. “I was told the risks are too high to stay on active duty, even if I heal as well as predicted.”
“We need your mind, Yoshi,” the Shuhan assured him. “Not just your body.”
“Aaa. I’m very tired, Sato-san. I’m afraid we’ll have to continue this another time. Please consider my request. Makoto needs you.”
“No, he needs you.” Yoshi had already shut his eyes, and if he heard he did not respond.
The Shuhan slipped out into the hall, surprised to find Oonishi Hideaki and his companion Katsutoshi quietly speaking with Makoto. “He's on his way, Sasaki-san,” Hideaki said. “We should know something in a few days.”
“How is he doing?” the interrogator asked when he spotted Daisuke.
“He wants you to come stay with Souta and I permanently. He, on the other hand, isn’t planning on returning.”
“Hopefully the specialist I summoned will give him reason to change his mind,” Hideaki offered. “He is extremely skilled in dealing with this sort of injury.”
“Thank you, Oonishi-san,” Daisuke replied with a wan smile. “I appreciate your efforts on Takahashi-san's behalf.”
“Yoshi-san is very important to us,” Katsutoshi explained. “We will do anything we can for him.”
“Except grant his request for sanctuary,” Hideaki added. “I won’t let him hide himself from the world.”
“He has a beautiful smile,” Makoto added wistfully. “I hope I get another chance to see it.”
Mayu listened to their conversation with half her mind, the other half racing to find a way to help her friend. “I’m going in to see him now,” she declared, only to be stopped by a frantic interrogator.
“No, you can’t,” he insisted. “Yoshi doesn’t want anyone to see him like this.”
“We don’t always get what we want. He's acting like an idiot. I don’t care how injured he is, someone has to talk some sense into his stubborn ass.” That said the kunoichi brushed past the startled men and disappeared into the shadow wolf's room, leaving them staring after her in shock, waiting for the explosion they were sure would come.
****
“Why are you here, Mayu?” The shadow wolf kept the sheet pulled up to obscure his face from her inquisitive gaze.
“You’re acting like a fool. You have a wonderful man who wants to stay with you no matter what, and you’re trying to push him away. What the hell is wrong with you?”
“That should be obvious. Didn’t you read the medical reports?” Yoshi retorted.
“No, I didn’t,” Mayu explained. “It doesn’t matter what happened. What matters is that there are people who need you.”
“No one needs me,” the shadow wolf insisted. “Bad luck follows me wherever I go.”
“So you’re just giving up then? Why are men such idiots?” she asked the ceiling in despair.
“I’m not an idiot, I’m a genius.” Yoshi's eyes flew open when the kunoichi smacked him hard on the side of the head.
“Get over yourself and stop being such a drama queen,” Mayu declared. “You aren’t even out of the hospital, and you already have your tragic history all planned out. Good thing y
ou’re a heartless bastard. You’re so busy playing martyr you can’t even be bothered to see how much you’re hurting everyone around you, especially Makoto.”
“You don’t understand,” the elite replied. “I can’t be what he needs, not anymore. Sooner or later he's going to get hurt. I thought this would be easier.”
“You’re assuming a lot, Yoshi,” the kunoichi murmured. “You’re making this harder on everyone, including yourself. First of all, you are going to take your pain pills. Pain gives you a negative outlook on life.”
“But I don’t like being out of control.”
“If you think you’re in control now, you’re just fooling yourself,” Mayu replied with a sniff. “Your ki is all over the place. I’m going to get the doctor to give you some pain medication and you are going to rest. When you wake up I expect to see an attitude adjustment.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the shadow wolf retorted sarcastically. But when she returned with the doctor he didn’t fight the injection. As the kunoichi turned to leave, satisfied that he was cooperating, Yoshi grabbed her hand. “Thank you, Mayu.”
“You’re welcome.” She bent to plant a kiss on his forehead before sweeping out of the room. Leaving Yoshi to drift off into a blissfully pain-free sleep, a bemused grin still plastered on his face.
“He's sleeping,” Mayu told the worried group clustered outside the door. “We had a nice talk. He promised to be more cooperative.”
“Did you cast an illusion on him?” Makoto asked.
“No, silly,” the kunoichi laughed. “I just knocked some sense into that thick skull of his. Honestly, men can be such babies.”
Everyone else winced, and several men involuntarily grabbed their crotch, all eyes turning to Tatsuya in sympathy. “I’m glad I don’t like women,” Souta muttered.
“What is wrong with you?” she glowered, glaring at the assembled group until a thick folder was shoved into her hand.
“Maybe you should read the medical reports,” Daisuke suggested. “Then you’ll have a better idea of what Yoshi's facing.”
“Not yet.” She handed the folder back. “I’d rather wait until he's healed. That way I can help him stay positive.”
“And if there's nothing to be positive about?” Makoto wondered.
“He's alive, isn’t he?” Mayu retorted. “That's reason enough. Tell him I’ll come visit tomorrow.”
****
The healer Hideaki had summoned arrived early the next morning, and by noon Yoshi was once again in surgery. Throughout the wait the interrogator sat slumped in an uncomfortable chair, barely responding when spoken to, eyes locked on the door separating him from his future as day turned to night and the stars joined him in his vigil. When the medic finally emerged he leapt to his feet to tower over the haggard man.
“I’ve finished repairing the internal damage,” the exhausted healer explained. “The external repairs will take longer.”
“What does that mean exactly?” the interrogator asked, afraid to hear that Yoshi was injured in a way that was beyond the specialist's skill.
“The catheter and colostomy bag have been removed. The tissue is healed and the nerves and ki pathways have been rejoined, although they aren’t functioning yet. I’m afraid that takes time and patience. Tomorrow I’ll start work on the external injuries. I’m confident that I will be able to repair the damage, but I can’t guarantee a return of sensation, nor do I know whether or not the patient will be able to experience arousal. Unfortunately that is as much mental as physical and after an attack like this... In any event, that is not my area of expertise. He should, however, be able to leave the hospital in about ten days.”
“Seriously?” Makoto swung the tiny medic in a circle, unaware of the tears streaming down his face. “Thank you, anything you need, anything I can ever do. I can’t possibly repay you for this.”
“I’ll see you in the morning,” the doctor affirmed. “Get some sleep.”
The interrogator slipped into the room and settled into his usual chair, squeezing a pale hand affectionately as he whispered to the unconscious elite. “You did so well, 'shi-san. No more bags, and in ten days the doctor says you’ll be good as new.”
Yoshi woke just before dawn, delighted to find he was in considerably less pain, and even happier to find the detestable waste collection bags were gone. Maybe Mayu was right. I won’t make any decisions until I’ve finished healing.
“Sweetheart, you’re awake.” Makoto grabbed some ice water and propped the elite up so he could drink. “Everything went wonderfully yesterday. Later today the doctor is going to start on your external injuries. He's confident he’ll be able to repair all the damage.”
“How long?” Yoshi asked. “Did he give you any idea?”
“Home in ten days. Isn’t that wonderful? We’re heading home as soon as I impose Takumi's punishment.”
“No,” Yoshi declared. “No punishment.”
“But he almost killed you,” the interrogator argued. “That can’t go unpunished.”
“Of course it can. Takumi sees me as a threat to his brother. If you thought a foreign nin was a threat what would you do?”
“It's not the same thing,” Makoto decided. “He almost killed you.”
“And how many of your ‘guests’ leave under their own power?” the elite asked.
“That's different.”
“No, it isn’t,” Yoshi said. “Once I’m gone there will be no more threat to Yuu-sama and Takumi will no longer be a danger.”
“And if he decides to go after Shouhei?”
“I’m sure Takumi will think long and hard before attacking the husband of the Kai no Shuhan,” the shadow wolf decided. “And if not, well, I’m sure Yuu will have no problem defending Shou.”
“So you’re planning on suffering in vain, is that it?” Makoto asked, puzzled by his logic.
“It won’t be the first time,” Yoshi replied. “This is better for everyone.”
“Everyone but you. You deserve retribution.”
“Retribution is highly overrated. All I want is peace.” The shadow wolf slumped against the pillows and shut his eyes.
“It's time for your medication,” the interrogator realized. “Let me get the nurse.”
“Promise me first. No retaliation.”
“I promise,” the torture master grumbled, “Now can I get the nurse?”
“Thank you. You won’t regret it.”
“I think I already am. Be right back.” Makoto headed off in search of the nurse, leaving Yoshi to ponder all the changes this day had brought.
****
Genki opened the thick folder the doctor handed him, unsure if he really wanted to see its contents, but feeling he had no choice. He carefully studied the file photos of the damage, from the initial injury through the various states of repair, face paling dramatically the further he progressed.
“I wish to speak with your brother, Shuhan-sama,” the Sage requested formally. “About the injuries to my nephew.”
“Of course, Genki-sama. The guards will show you to his cell.”
“Are you sure that's a good idea?” Shouhei asked his fiancé. “Takumi almost killed Takahashi-san, after all.”
“Yoshi made Sasaki-san swear not to punish my brother, and he managed to extract the same promise from almost everyone who knows him. I can’t do it myself for fear of reprisal. The only one he's refused to see is Genki-sama,” the Shuhan explained. “So I thought he should be filled in on Takahashi-san's condition before he can be roped into any ill-advised promises.”
****
“Who’re you?” Takumi clenched his fists in defiance when the legendary entered his cell.
“I am Genki, Sage of Wolf Mountain. I’m here to question you about the attack on Takahashi Yoshi.”
“That whore corrupted my brother,” Takumi hissed. “He had to be stopped.”
“That whore, as you like to refer to him, is my nephew,” the Sage retorted. “He's a brilliant shinobi and
an asset to any nation lucky enough to have him.”
“He's a dirty old man who turned my baby brother into a pervert. No one in their right mind could possibly consider that an asset.”
“Your brother sought Yoshi out, not the other way around. It seems to me the Shuhan knew exactly what he wanted and my nephew was the one getting corrupted,” Genki decided.
“That's not true,” Takumi protested. “Yuu said he brought Takahashi here to teach him about pleasure.”
“Sex and pleasure are not necessarily the same thing,” the Sage explained. “It sounds like your brother needed to learn the difference.”
“Not with a man,” Takumi snapped. “Father would kill him.”
“How did your father die?”
“Yuu murdered him in his sleep,” Takumi whispered. “He always hated our father. He's always hated everyone.”
“You loved your father, didn’t you?” Genki asked. “You learned at his side?”
“Of course, Father was a great man,” Takumi declared. “His shinobi cowered before him.”
“Your father was a bully and a pervert. He abused Yoshi repeatedly when he was just a teenager, but you already knew that, didn’t you? You recognized him as soon as they arrived. Did you watch your father rape Yuu, too? Is that what this is all about, you’re jealous because you want your brother all to yourself?”
“I would never—” the younger man sputtered. “I like women, thank you very much.”
“You sure seemed to enjoy playing with another man's dick, for a supposedly straight man, that is.” the sage sneered, “I think you’re just afraid to admit you like it.”
“You perverted piece of shit. I’ll make you pay for that.”
“Oh, really. How were you planning on accomplishing that, exactly?” Genki asked. “It seems to me that I’m calling the shots here.”
“I have powerful friends,” Takumi warned. “You'd better keep one eye open.”
“I guess I’ll have to make sure you don’t have a chance to talk to them then,” Genki shot back coldly, all traces of his usual, affable, persona gone. “I may not have been much of an uncle, but I’ll be damned if I’ll give you another chance to hurt Yoshi.” The sage traced a complicated series of kanji on the ground, muttering an incantation under his breath.
