Beyblade Fan Fiction ❯ Once A Thief ❯ Honour Among Thieves - Part IV ( Chapter 10 )

Kali notes:  Well, this will be the final little bit of Takao's story, and we finally move on with the rest of it! @__@ Took me long enough, huh? Enjoy!

 

Disclaimer:  No own! No sue!

 

Warnings:  Yaoi (unless you're on ffnet; then you get shounen-ai) - eventually, language, dramatic angst, and other adult content.  Don't like it, don't read it! This chapter: a little more angst…but not too much more. Finally moving past it all…and into the really good stuff. *winks*

 

Pairing:  TyKa; others include Tala/Hilary, mentioned Rei/Mariah

 

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Chapter 10: Honour Among Thieves - Part IV

 

Once Takao was settled into his seat again, Kai turned and gave Max a steady stare as he waited expectantly.

“What?” The blonde demanded, uncomfortable under that gaze.

“Move down one seat, please.”

Max blinked at him in astonishment, and everyone else in the room stared at Kai in surprise - except Takao and Tala. The wolf just looked on with a resigned, knowing expression on his face and Takao…well, he tried not to just burst out into a goofy grin, smothering a smile behind a hand as Max and his mother both complied and moved down the table allowing Kai to take up the chair beside the bluenette and fold his hands on the table top in front of him.

There was no one in the room who didn't understand what the action meant. Kai was taking Takao's side - for better or worse, no matter what. He was risking his career for Takao, whether anyone liked it or not, including Takao himself.

“Well. If you're all ready?” Director Dickenson glanced around the room in question then nodded. “Excellent. We'll pick up where Takao had left off.” He looked down the table at the bluenette. “You said you and Kenny had gotten to the dojo with the intention of cleaning up from the night before, and you'd just found the doors that had been sealed closed wide open…”

“Yes. And my father and brother were missing, as was our family sword.” Takao continued the story. “After I'd calmed down some, Kenny and I went through the house to see if anything else was missing. There wasn't. Kenny convinced me to wait until evening to call the police, in case Dad and Hiro had just stepped out to…go to the grocery store or something. But time passed and they never came back. So I phoned the police, and they came over to check things out immediately.

“There wasn't much that they could determine. The detective who came with a team of forensic investigators told Kenny and I that it appeared that sometime early that morning, either Dad and Hiro caught someone stealing the sword, and were taken, too, in order to prevent them from phoning the police or perhaps identifying the thief or thieves, or that it was a deliberate kidnapping and the sword was taken to cover it up.” Takao ran his fingers through his hair, sweeping it out of his eyes. “It turned out to b a third scenario, but the police didn't know that of course. Anyway, after the initial investigation, the detective told us that they would continue to search for clues and for information that could help them find my family and the sword. He was sorry there wasn't much they could do yet, and he told me to call him anytime at all if I should think of anything that might help or if I found out anything.”

“This detective,” Director Dickenson interrupted. “Do you remember his name?”

“Uhh…not off hand, sir.”

“ I have all the information and copies of the case-files in my briefcase, sir.” Kenny spoke up. “I will make copies of everything and give it to you, if you like.”

“Yes, thank you. That would be greatly appreciated. Please continue, Mr. Kinomiya.”

“The police left, and…I couldn't stay in the house. It just didn't feel right to me. So I went back to Kenny's place with him.” Takao glanced at his oldest friend and the brunette gave him an encouraging smile. “He insisted on it, actually. I don't know what I would have done without the Chief through any of this.” He coughed to clear his throat, as it had grown thick with his emotions and the words wanted to stick there and not come out. He'd been holding all of it in for so long now that he had difficulty taking about it. “Anyway, we heard nothing for a couple of days. The police hadn't found anything yet, and I was faced with the idea that I might have to begin calling people to tell them my father and brother had disappeared. People like the ones Dad and Hiro worked with at the university.

“But about three or four days later, I received a strange phone call. It sounded like a little kid, and he said he'd seen some strangers outside the dojo early one morning. He asked me to meet him so that he could tell me about it.” Takao sighed, shaking his head at himself. “I didn't question it, though I should have. Kenny wasn't hoe at the time. He'd continued to go to work and keep an eye on matters from there, as the law firm he works at is quite large and has any connections with the police, apparently.

“So anyway…the kid. I went to meet him at the pack down by the river, at the old sakura tree in the middle of the park.”

Kai smiled just a little. He remembered that tree. It had been one of his favorite places to go and be by himself to think. The old tree was also the place where his tentative friendships with not only Takao but also Max, Kenny, and Rei had began. For a tree, it was a most special one for so many reasons.

“What did the kid have to say?” Kai asked crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back in his seat. Takao frowned at the memory.

“Nothing. There was no kid. I found an envelope with my name written on it - nothing else - pinned to the tree trunk.” Takao closed his eyes, almost like he was in pain. “There was a picture inside, along wit ha plain white business card that had only a website address on it. The picture…” he swallowed hard and ran a trembling hand through his hair. “It was my father and brother, sitting side by side on a pair of metal chairs that they were obviously tied to, in a room that was completely non-descript and unrecognizable with no windows or doors that I could see from that angle. They were gagged, but not blindfolded, and…their eyes…I could see quite plainly that they were afraid.” The bluenette had to stop, his hands clenching helplessly into fists on the table in front of himself. Kai reached out and laid one of his own hands over Takao's fist, drawing his attention. Their eyes met and Takao turned his hand, so that their hands were palm to palm, and threaded his fingers through Kai's, gripping hard and absorbing the older man's strength greedily as it was offered.

“There wasn't anything in the picture to help identify where they were being kept, and there was no trace of anyone else visible, either. I took it back to Kenny's, intending to let him look at it and see if he could see anything that perhaps I couldn't, before we called the police to let them know. When Kenny got home, he couldn't find anything either in the photo, so he tried the website instead.”

Kenny held up a hand to interrupt. “I'll take this part. Takao, while quite bright in most areas no matter what any of us had ever thought before, is still not that proficient with computers and the internet. I'm the one who put in the address on my home PC.” He blushed a it, tapping his fingers a little nervously on the table. “And…ah…I admit I tried tracing the site, not always heeding…shall I say…the exact letter of the law?” His blush deepened. “Ahem. I was trying to help. Anyway…”

“Go on, Kenny. It won't be held against you.” Director Dickenson waved aside the questionable actions easily. “I can't say I wouldn't have done the same.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you.” Kenny replied in a slightly startled voice. He continued quickly, anxious to move past it. “The site was from a secured server that was programmed for one thing only - to host that website for a limited period of time - which was from the moment Takao opened the page until one hour after he'd done so.”

“How did you figure that out?” Tala wanted to know.

“The page said so - and a little finger-work was all it took to confirm it.” Kenny responded. “The webpage was as basic as you can get - anyone could have made it - and it was essentially a letter of instructions for Takao to follow if he wanted to get his family back.” He glanced at the bluenette suddenly. “Come to think of it, it had made no mention of the sword, and neither did any of the other communications.”

Takao's eyes widened. “Yeah. Now that you mention it…”

“Okay. So no sword but your family?” Tala frowned and leaned forward. “What were the instructions? What did it say?”

“I printed off the screen.” Kenny dug through his briefcase. “Let me find it…”

“In short terms, it told me that I had one hour upon reading the page to respond, via an email address that was given, and if I ever wanted to see my family again, I would not report any of this to the authorities. I was to pretend that nothing was going on, and keep quiet that I'd been contacted.” Takao picked up the story again. “Kenny tried working his magic on the webpage and the email address but both were completely untraceable. Actually, I should say it was useless to try. He kept mumbling about bouncing IP addresses and some other techno-mumbo-jumbo that I didn't get.”

“The email was an open, public, completely generalized and free email address - that first one was a Yahoo! Address. Takao and I - well, me, anyway - stayed up all night trying to track it down. No luck, though. And when I tried going back to the website, it was indeed gone - like it had never existed.”

“So you responded to the email address, and then what?” Director Dickenson inquired.

“There was no reply until late the next afternoon. This time it was the ransom demand.” Takao laughed humourlessly. “The demands were outrageous. I mean, the Book of the Dead? A manuscript that supposedly was commissioned by Charlemagne? How was I supposed to meet these demands? It was terribly unrealistic - or so I thought.”

“The kidnapper obviously thought otherwise, though.” Kai said quietly, squeezing Takao's hand. “Still, even knowing what you're capable of, Kinomiya, even I find the items you've…borrowed to be on the unreasonable side.”

“Yes.” Takao blew out a tired breath. “The ransom letter stated simply that the list of fifteen items included with it was the ransom to free my family unharmed. How I accomplished gathering them was up to me, but if I got caught or they even suspected I was under suspicion by the authorities for the thefts, I would never see Dad and Hiro alive again.” He pursed his lips as he tried to remember what else it had said. “Oh. I also had to keep in contact with the kidnapper through email addresses that would be provided each week, which would only exist for one week at a time before dying. I was to let them know whenever I had acquired an item, and what plans I had made for the next. Each time I would be provided with some proof that my family was still alive and unharmed.”

“There's a few things I don't understand about all this.” Tala shook his head. “First, why go through all that trouble? And why those items? Why not others?”

“I don't know, Agent Ivanov. If I did, I'd have a better idea of who was behind this and where to find my Dad and my brother.” Takao didn't flinch away from the redhead's penetrating ice-blue gaze.

“Hmm…well, one other thing I don't get is why you? Have you made any enemies that are capable of this debacle? Or your father or brother, perhaps? Maybe your grandfather?”

“I don't know! If you think I haven't thought long and hard about the possibilities, then you must think I'm cold and unfeeling, and that I'm stupid.” Temper flashed through storm blue eyes and Takao's hand tightened in Kai's. “Sure there have been plenty of people I didn't always get along with, all through my life, but none that I can think of that were ever this vengeful or even hated me enough for this!”

“Shh…Taka.” Kai attempted to soothe, rubbing the younger man's hand between his own. “It's a question that had to be asked. Tala didn't mean anything by it.”

Subsiding some, the bluenette scowled down the table at the wolf and said nothing.

“Now, now, boys.” The Director hastily intervened, wiping at his brow with a handkerchief. “Let's not lose our cool. We're all tired and our emotions are running high. Perhaps it is best if we leave off further questioning until tomorrow afternoon?” He suggested, inquiring of everyone's opinion with a look around the room. “Alright then. Let's pick up where we left off tomorrow at one o'clock. I will leave my Agents, here,” he indicated Tala and Kai. “…to see to any arrangements that need to be made and what not. I will be making phone calls tonight to get an investigation started into this new development - discreetly, Mr. Kinomiya.” Stanley Dickenson hastened to assure the bluenette when a look of panic immediately fell over him. “I promise you that our foe will not know the UNA is involved now. For tonight, return to your room and get some rest, please.”

“I'll try, sir.” Takao nodded, though not particularly reassured.

“Agent Hiwatari, may I speak with you in my office, please? Let Agent Ivanov escort Mr. Kinomiya back to his room.” The old man beckoned Kai to follow him and walked away, expecting Kai to be right behind him.

The crimson-eyed man sighed. “This shouldn't take long, Kinomiya.” He said as he stood, releasing Takao's hand. Leaning down, he spoke quietly into Takao's ear. “I'll be by later, Taka. Wait up for me?”

“Sure.” The bluenette felt his face heat up at the request and he murmured back, so the others couldn't hear. “You're not in trouble are you?”

Kai shook his head. “I don't know, but I don't think so.” He glanced at the clock on the wall, leaned in farther and gave Takao a swift, solid kiss before moving away. “I'd better get going.”

With a small noise of acknowledgement, a little dazed by the sudden affection, Takao watched him stride out with a silly little smile on his face.

“Takao.” A voice called, highly amused. “Earth to Takao…”

“Hmm?” He barely responded, quite happy to be day-dreaming.

“Kami-sama…he's worse than he was in high school!” Another voice exclaimed in exasperation. A hand waved in front of his face breaking the bluenette's dreamy focus. “Kinomiya Takao, wake up!”

“Huh? Oh.” Takao scratched his head sheepishly and blushed under his friend's knowing gazes. “Ah…sorry, Chief. What'd you say?”

Rolling his eyes, Kenny waved it away. “Nothing. Come on, pal. Let's go back to your room and get you settled, okay?”

“Oh yeah. Sure.” Takao stood and allowed the group to usher him to the elevator.

~*~*~*~*~

“You wanted to speak to me, sir?”

Director Dickenson nodded, gesturing for Kai to sit as he took his own seat behind his desk. “I'm sure I'm not completely off when I assume that you've decided to believe Kinomiya's story, even without proof?”

Kai schooled his features to go carefully neutral. “My instincts tell me he's being completely truthful, Director, so yes. I believe him. I also believe in him. He has shown a resilience that I'm not sure I could ever claim in myself. I respect that. He wants to take responsibility for his actions. I respect that, also.” The dual-haired agent met his boss' gaze without flinching as he spoke. “If this is going to affect the case or if you believe I have lost any objectivity to proceed with the investigation, then pull me from the case. I wouldn't blame you for it - in fact, I'd probably do the same thing. But I will warn you that I will still help Takao as best I can, in any way I can, no matter what you decide to do, so…”

“Stop, Kai! Please.” The Director held up a hand and chuckled, his eyes sparkling with great amusement. “There is no need to get worked up. I have no intention of pulling you from the case.”

Kai snapped his mouth shut, blinking in confusion. “I…sir?”

“Kai, I have known you since you were a little boy, and I've known your family for a very long time. Ever since you rose up in the ranks of the UNA to this office, I have followed your work and watched your progress with pride as if you were my own grandson. I trust your instincts, and I trust in your level-headed, logical, and careful consideration of any and all factors of a situation.

“On the same note, I have my own thoughts and instincts about your young friend. I know his family, also, and have worked with both Takao's father and brother before. Knowing what I do now, I would like nothing more than to assist in bringing them back safe and sound.”

“What are your intentions then, sir?” Kai wondered, unable to hide his amazement. He had been prepared to be suspended from duty and to stand up for Takao if he had to, not to be told he was still on the case and that his boss wanted to help, too.

“Takao offered me a deal. I intend to take it.” the old man folded his hands in front of himself. “We will work out the details in the next few days, but I think it would be best if Takao was released tomorrow after we've finished getting his statement - under the strict supervision of the UNA, of course.”

Kai's mouth kicked up at one corner wryly. “Of course.”

“Well, then.” Stanley nodded. “That's settled for the moment. On a more personal note, have you and Takao worked out your…issues?” He inquired, suppressing a grin when Kai flushed red.

“We're working on it.” was all Kai could manage to say, embarrassed.

“Good. Good.” Not wanting to make the younger man any more uncomfortable than he already was, the Director didn't pry further. “I must say I'm relieved and happy to see you finally in a content and less darkened mood than you have been in the last few years you have been searching for him.”

“Thank you, sir.” Kai got up and nodded briefly in farewell, deciding that now was an excellent time to escape before he ended up completely humiliated in front of his boss. He paused at the door and glanced back when the old man spoke once more.

“Love is a powerful emotion. It is the one thing that can drive a person to either extreme of happiness or sadness in the blink of an eye. But it is a rare and precious thing to have someone to share that experience with through thick and thin, over whatever span of time one is given in life. Hang onto it, Kai. Fight for it, and refuse to let it go.”

Opening the door, Kai stared ahead of himself as he quietly left, a small smile gracing his face as he considered those words.

No. He thought. I will never let go of that which is most precious to me. Taka, my love, I hope you're willing to keep me and give me another chance.

Kai made his way down to the medical floor. His cell phone rang in the elevator and he answered with a roll of his eyes when he saw Tala's number.

“What, Ivanov? I'm on my way down to the medical floor.”

“Just thought I'd let you know, oh bitchy one, that I'm taking your group of friends here to a safe house. Our better half is in his room getting ready for bed, and we're leaving, so I'll see you tomorrow. Go home and sleep, Kai. Maybe it will improve your disposition - though I highly doubt it.” With that, Tala hung up on his partner, a habit that was beginning to get on Kai's nerves.

With a muttered Russian curse under his breath, Kai stepped off the elevator and walked down the hall to his lover's room. Now that he had an idea where his boss' thoughts on the situation lay, there was no reason to continue acting as neutral as he had been with Takao.

He had no intention of going home that night.

Placing his palm on the security pad by the door, he pushed it open when the lock clicked and went inside. The bathroom door was closed and Takao wasn't in the room so Kai knocked on the bathroom door to announce his presence.

“Who is it?”

“Me, Taka. Take your time, love. I'll be out here when you're done.” Kai responded, taking off his jacket and shoes, draping the jacket over the back of a chair. He proceeded to undress down to his boxers and the black tank-top he wore under his shirt, then took up a comfortable, thoroughly relaxed position on the bed, sitting up with his back and shoulders propped up by the pillows against the headboard. He heard a hair dryer turn on and smiled to himself, relaxing in contentment. Kai knew Takao would take a few minutes, since he had all that hair to dry. So he remained as he was, enjoying the peace and quiet he hadn't been able to find for several days and nights now.

Eventually he heard the hair dryer stop and a few minutes later, the bathroom door opened and the light went off. Takao appeared, and as he turned the corner and spotted Kai on the bed, he stopped in his tracks and stared in shock. He certainly hadn't been expecting to find the dual-haired man in his underclothes and on the bed, after all.

Kai, on the other hand, was studying the bluenette idly with warm, hooded crimson eyes. Takao's midnight blue hair, which had been thick and fairly long ten years ago, was now thicker and a little longer than Kai remembered it to be. It made him want to run his fingers through it. He'd always linked Takao's mass of hair. And then there was the soft, sleepy, rumpled look the younger man had achieved with his baggy cotton pyjamas that were a size or two too large for him (as they hung off of him and didn't appear to be something he normally would wear to bed), the tiredness around blue-grey eyes, and the hair. In all, Takao had this adorable cuddliness going on that made even Kai want to hold him, and - dare he admit it - huggle the bluenette like a teddy-bear.

Of course he wouldn't dare admit any such thing, and instead raised an eyebrow and laced his fingers behind his head in a totally relaxed repose before speaking. “What? Are you just going to stand there staring at me, Taka?”

“Huh?” Takao blinked in confusion, taking an unsure step toward the bed. “Oh! No…but, Kai…”

“What's wrong?”

“Nothing! I just…take it you're staying? The night?” He didn't dare to hope, didn't want to risk it and suffer the letdown and consequent heartache. Takao didn't think he could take it, even though he knew Kai still cared about him a little.

Still, there was hope in his voice, almost a plea, and Kai heard it. With a small frown, the crimson-eyed agent sat up a little in concern.

“Yeah…unless you really don't want me to…” Kai reluctantly replied. “I mean, if you're not comfortable with it, I can just…” he sat up and swung a leg off the bed as if to get up.

“No! Stay!” Takao cried, eyes widening in panic with the thought that Kai was going to leave. “Please stay, Kai!” He hurried across the short distance of the room and leapt up onto the bed, throwing himself (practically) over Kai and cuddling into him, clutching at his upper arms fearfully. “Don't leave…”

“Hey,” Kai took his hands out from behind his head and curled his arms around Takao securely, hugging him to his chest tightly. “I'm not going anywhere, love. I just meant if you weren't comfortable with sleeping with me again so soon, that's all. Taka?”

Takao sniffled and buried his face in Kai's shoulder. A tiny smile kicked up the corner of his mouth. “Sorry. I just…panicked. I know you're not leaving again.” He raised his head and offered the hesitant smile. “And there's no way I'm letting you out of this bed now, so forget it.” The smile held and turned into a mischievous grin when Kai chuckled and ran his fingers through the bluenette's hair, brushing it out of his fathomless blue eyes affectionately.

“Is that so. Well, since I'm not going anywhere, what were you intending to do with me?” Kai teased, a fierce glint igniting in his crimson gaze as it met Takao's.

“Hmm…let me think about that…” Takao pretended to ponder the situation seriously, and just when Kai was about to suggest something, a playful growl rumbling through the dual-haired man's chest, Takao flashed a grin and slid his arms under Kai to hug him. He snuggled in, wiggling into the most comfortable position he could find, and let out a deep sigh of contentment. “I'm going to sleep, just like this.” He murmured, closing his eyes.

Kai rolled his eyes and reached up to flick the light-switch off, plunging the room into darkness. “I'm not a teddy-bear, Kinomiya.” He grumbled, half-heartedly, without any real heat to his words.

“No. But you're warm, and comfortable, and you smell good.” The bluenette replied, his voice muffled somewhat by Kai's shirt. “Deal with it.”

Kai smirked and didn't say anything else, instead simply freeing a leg from under Takao and hooking it around one of the bluenette's legs like an anchor.

After a few minutes, Takao's voice rose up softly in the silence, surrounding a little hesitant.

“Kai?”

“Hn?”

“I…no. Never mind.” Takao pulled out one hand from under Kai and laid it over his heart, feeling the strong, steady heartbeat pound against his palms. It was soothing - calming him and his thoughts like nothing else. Kai, however, had had his curiosity peaked, and he wanted to know what his lover wanted to ask.

“Oh no you don't. What is it, Taka?” he inquired gently, stroking his hair with one hand. “Whatever's bothering you, it's best to get it out.”

“It's okay. Honest. I was going to ask if whatever the Director had to talk to you about was what got you to be here…with me. But it doesn't matter. I'm just happy you're here, and that's good enough.”

“I'd already decided I was going to be here before then, Takao.” Kai informed him wryly. He felt the bluenette shift, his other arm slipping out from under Kai, and his body raising up a little as Takao propped himself up so he could look up at Kai from where he lay, chin resting on his folded hands over Kai's chest. The older man stroked a hand of his own up and down Takao's spine, enjoying the way the fabric of his night-shirt slid over the younger man's skin smoothly. “Director Dickenson just wanted to make sure I was still willing to work on the case, that's all.”

“Really?” Takao tilted his head suspiciously. “But if you're still on the case, Kai, then why are you risking your career by being here with me? Shouldn't we be…”

Kai laid a finger over Takao's lips, cutting him off. “You don't really think a little thing like that would stop me, do you? Besides,” he smiled as Takao kissed that finger reaching up to grasp his hand and lazily continue planting kisses here and there all over it. “I believe I said something about giving you back lost time - or something like that.”

Takao made a soft sound and let go of Kai's hand in favour of leaning down and kissing Kai on the mouth. At first the older man was a bit startled, but it didn't take long before he was relaxing into the bed and returning the gentle, slow kiss leisurely. Here was something he'd missed greatly - just being with the bluenette, holding him, kissing him…the quiet moments were as memorable as the exciting, action-filled ones to Kai. There had been many evenings, after their study sessions or the weekends when it was raining outside and there was nothing else to do that they'd spent in Takao's room or in Takao's living room on the couch, wrapped in each others' arms and snuggled together. Sometimes they made out, sometimes they just talked, and sometimes they did nothing at all but be.

As hundreds of such memories flashed through the back of his mind, the dual-haired man drove his fingers through the bluenette's hair to curl around the back o Takao's head and knead rhythmically. He could feel moisture stinging his eyes behind the lids, as his eyes were closed, and he abruptly broke away from the familiarity of Takao's mouth, breathing hard and shuddering with emotion.

Sensing the sudden desperation and wondering at the abrupt change, Takao opened his eyes, blinking in confusion, and looked down at his lover in concern. “Kai? What's wrong, itoshii?” His eyes widened when a small sob escaped the older man under him. “Kai?!”

“Taka…” Kai opened his eyes and they glistened in the low light of the moon shining through the tiny barred windows. He had to swallow back the tears as he met the younger man's worried gaze.

“What is it? Did I hurt you? Did I do something wrong?” Takao began checking him over frantically when Kai didn't answer. Giving a choked laugh, Kai caught his hands and drew them to his chest, holding them there.

“I'm okay, Taka, I'm just fine.” He reached up and stroked Takao's cheek. “I just…I've missed you love.” Kai explained in a thick voice, brushing his hair out of smoky blue eyes. “I can never say how much I have missed you.”

Takao melted. He smiled and dipped his head to kiss Kai once more tenderly. Then he wiggled down so that he could cuddle up comfortably with his head resting on Kai's chest again.

“So have I, Kai. I've imagined this for so long now…remembered it. And…even if we don't get the chance to be like this for long, I…”

“Shh…” Kai hushed him, wrapping his arms around the bluenette tightly. “We won't think of that. We'll just take things one day at a time, alright?”

Sighing, Takao nodded and closed his eyes.

“Alright.”

****************

Kali's Notes: Well! That took a toll on my poor wrists. I'm going to have to watch it or I'm going to develop carpal tunnel. X__x Yeesh. Painful. Please R/R!!!!