Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Borderline ❯ The Message ( Chapter 15 )

Gomen.. gomen for the very-very late update and for the looong waiting. Is it 2 months or 3 months? Time sure fly. Fast. Either I'm getting rusty or I am rusty… Eheh! And another update will be I have no idea since I'm having a writer's block due to excessive corruption of yaoi mangas.

This chapter resulted from watching CSI marathon. I have no idea how Japan did their forensic or how they identify criminals. I knew US had CODIS so I used it here. So, don't flame me saying that I should do this research or that research. I didn't have the time to really… really dig into this or making research since I am not a professional writer and I' So, sorry to those who really knew how the Japanese forensic system works.

Ahh.. I'm sure every one will skip this part of me nagging ^___^ So, I present the actual Chapter 15.

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`For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me

And what I dreaded has happened to me

I am not at ease, nor am I quiet

I have no rest

For trouble comes….'

-Taken from Millennium `Dead Letters'

Chapter 15: A Message

It was raining heavily.

Too heavy for Asuka's liking. When she first arrived at the house after receiving a call from Yohji, the street was quiet with no trace of habitants. Now, the once quiet neighborhoods was ruined by the sirens from the patrol cars and the blinking crimson lights from the ambulance. Dogs were barking and neighbors - men and women had been gathering on the street, whispering with each other and speculating on the scene. It reminded her of the same situation when her unit had been dispatched to Fujimiya's house. Taking a deep breath, she ignored the excitement and entered the house.

The house was a mess. The sliding door was shattered, glass was scattered everywhere on the floor. The sofa was in a haphazard position and the display cupboard was broken, it contents were all over the living room. She yelled at one of the officers to switch the main power back on.

Once the power was back on, she saw someone sprawling on the floor, unconscious with his hand clutching the phone. She ran towards the motionless body and quickly checked for a sign of life. Asuka sighed in relief when she found a pulse and hollered for the paramedics.

Her eyes quickly scanned the house. As Yohji's partner, Asuka knew about Ran and the ongoing investigation about the lost boys who fit his profile. Somehow her partner had a hunch that those who killed the young man's parents had something to do with the lost boys. Asuka knew that Yohji had been trying very hard to crack this case, for but till today, they had not yet found anything concrete enough to make an arrest. And now… this had to happen and the Chief would not like it.

"They managed to abduct someone in this high tech suburb? I'm impressed."

Startled, Asuka turned around and stared at the person who was whistling in admiration as he scanned the interior of the house. It was Yuushi, also known as Knight in his department, her old college friend who was now the Head of Tokyo's Crime Scene Investigation.

"Yuushi?"

"Hai Asuka." He answered carelessly. "Working alone tonight? You didn't let any of your officers compromise the crime scene, did you?"

Asuka shook her head before shooting a glare at the young blond. "I know how to handle my men at a crime scene. No one except me and the paramedics entered this house. The house butler was hit hard on his head."

"Is he okay?"

"He'll live. The problem is, this young man is Yohji's case and he is not here." Asuka glanced at her wrist watch. "He's late. It isn't like him."

"Can't wait. I am going to process this house. The longer we wait, the more evidence we will lose. There's not much trace of evidence outside the house. The rain has done a good job in washing away most of the footprints."

Asuka sighed and gave an all right nod to Yuushi.

"You know the victim?" He asked.

"Fujimiya's son."

"The son of the murdered family? No suspect were arrested for that case till today right?"

"Yeah, and now this had to happen."

"I heard the son is quite a looker… but mentally imbalance I believe."

"Anyone would be mentally imbalanced, Yuushi, if they were to witness their own father nailed to the door, their mother cut, the house guests shot point blank and their daughter cooked in the oven! You were not there to process his house, attending some stupid Convention, but if you had, you would understand."

"It was not a stupid Convention. They were lecturing about bugs and I love bugs." Yuushi grinned before passing her, bending down and snapping the camera that was hanging around his neck before picking up something on the floor from behind one of the sofas.

"Well, look what I found. I believe the boy was wearing this before it was ripped off of him." Yuushi took the piece of pajama, inspecting it with his hands. "Somebody is sure taking their time playing with him. They knew he would be alone. They must have been observing this house for quite some time. Did you know how he assailants managed to break the house's security?"

"They cut off the power and the wire that connects directly to the police station was cut as well."

"These people are professionals. It's like they're making a statement."

Asuka watched the blond curiously. "'No matter what gadget you use to secure this boy. We succeed in taking him.'" He paused. "'When you are not around of course.'" He added.

"Let's bag and tag this and keep searching. Maybe we can find something useful to help us in finding this boy… If it's not too late for him, that is."

Asuka nodded.

"This going to be a l-o-o-o-o-o-o-g night. Where is the owner of this house anyway?"

"Yohji told me he went out to his family lodge not far from here. I tried his cell phone but it kept sending me to voice mail."

"I suggest you try to call him again, because whoever took the boy has left him a souvenir." Yuushi showed her an envelope he found on top of the stairs. "I should bag this but I think it has specific instructions."

Quickly putting her gloves on, Asuka took the envelope, peeking into the content. A few snapshots dropped on to her palm with a note on a small piece of paper. On it was written "Hope you treasure the photos, Crawford-san".

Asuka took out her phone and dialed Crawford's number again. "It rings" She said suddenly.

"Good." Yuushi told her. "You tell him the bad news while I'll go and check upstairs."

Asuka nodded waiting for the phone to be answered. "Crawford- san?" She waited for a second before continuing. "This is Murase. Yohji's partner. I'm afraid that I have a bad news to tell you."

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"Kudou!"

"What?"

"I can't control the car any longer. We have to jump!"

"It's too fast. We'll never make it…"

"Either we try or we fry."

"Yohji nodded and unbuckled his seatbelt when his lover did."

"Okay… Ready?"

Yohji nodded again confidently. Hell! He was a detective for crying out loud. Brushing with death was part of his career… but not when his lover was involved.

"On three, okay?"

"Wait! On three you mean… After you said three or anytime between one and two?"

"Just jump when I yell three!" Schuldig snapped.

"Okay!'

"One… Two… Three!!!"

Both of them jumped out of the car. Schuldig rolled over 50 meters, scrapping his arm as it hit a rock. He sat up and saw his lover not far away from him. They both looked up together as the car crashed against a tree and exploded, lightening the night with its balls of fire.

Yohji crawled over and knelt beside his lover. "You're okay?" He asked worriedly. Schuldig did not answer him straightaway, instead he stood up, his face white with rage. "YOU FUCKING BASTARDS!!!" He screamed and let out stream of curses.

"Calm down, Schu."

"Don't 'calm down Schu' me, Kudou. Bastards… I'll find them. I'll kill them."

Yohji merely kept quiet at his lover's outburst. After a moment, he asked, "Is your cell phone still with you?"

Schudig nodded angrily and searched in his pockets and threw it at his lover.

"We need new transport." He explained and dialed.

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"Crawford speaking."

He felt his chest tighten as he heard the voice. He had a bad feeling about this phone call. Asuka usually did not call him under normal circumstances. True enough, seconds later, he [had] dropped the cell phone. He could faintly hear the woman's voice calling him.

It took him a moment compose his calm and he picked up the phone, tightening his grip and struggling to maintain a calm voice. "When?"

He nodded, his hands balled into a fist. "I'm at a family lodge, not far."

"Uh-huh. I'll be there in an hour."

He quickly dressed, turning to the sleeping brunet in his bed. He needed to wake the boy up, he couldn't just leave him here..

"Ken, wake up, we need to go home now." He shook the boy.

"Nnnnnn…. Braad? Why?" The sleepy voice answered him.

"Something has happened at home. Just pull the robe on and meet me at the car." Crawford told him and hurriedly exited the house.

Ken joined him few minutes later and before he could shut the door or even fastening his seat belt. Crawford hit the pedal.

"What happened? Why are you driving so fast?"

"Someone broke in to the house and those BASTARDS took Ran." Ken fell quiet and looked out the window as Crawford drove through the night.

The older man could not help but envision Ran in a strange bedroom, being stripped from his shirt, chained… crying and pleading. His mind was storming with nightmares and he began to press the gas pedal harder. Not bothering to look at the speedometer, his mind was still swirling with the image of Ran being chained up. Asuka's words kept playing in his mind like a record player.

Someone broke in to your house….

They took Fujimiya with them.

No. Not him. And Farfello…

He was entering the city and the traffic was heavy. He did not slow down, now was not the time to be courteous.

He hit a junction. The red lights and the cars in front of him were getting slower.

Fuck! Get out of my way!

Crawford swerved the car onto the sidewalk. One hand kept honking and the other was on the wheel. He ignored the screams of the angry pedestrians and the flipping from the other drivers and concentrated on driving back to the main road.

A car tried to overtake him.

He honked. Move! Idiots!

Ken was surprisingly quiet, he knew the boy was scared at the way he was acting but he didn't care. The only thing that mattered to him now was Ran.

The one hour drive turned out to be a thirty minutes journey. Once he reached the suburb area he was living in, Patrol Cars, the Tokyo CSI van, media cars and people were still filling the streets. He parked his car carelessly at the side of the road. "Stay in the car." He ordered Ken.

Ignoring the rain, he pushed his way through the cars and the people and walked hurriedly towards his house.

The few people from the media that recognized him began to rush at him and flashes from their cameras annoyed the hell out of him.

"Sir, who do you think did this?"

"Mr. Crawford, why do you think they broke into your house?"

"Is it true that you kept the young man who is the main witness of the murder that happened a month ago?"

"Who is it that they…"

Who. Why. What. When. Where. The hell with them. Crawford thought. "Out of my way!"

One of the uniformed policemen that were stationed outside the gate of his house recognized him and hurriedly rushed forward, desperately trying to disperse the media and guide Crawford into the house.

"Officer… who's the person in charge….?"

The officer turned around, locking gazes with the reporter who was asking. "The officer in charge will give a statement once we finished our job here." He told the woman before turning back, lifting the yellow tape that divided the lot and let Crawford through.

Crawford took a deep breath before he entered the house and the first person he saw was Asuka.

"Where's Farfello?" He asked, trying to catch his breath and calm himself down.

"He was hit pretty hard on his head, the paramedics sent him to the hospital for X- rays. I called the hospital a while ago. He's condition is stable."

The older man let out a relieved sigh, his eyes scanning his own shattered house and realized that something was missing. "Schu, where is he? Is he hurt?"

"Hurt?" Asuka look at him as if puzzled. "Schuldig came with Yohji to the Station this afternoon and went back to their apartment."

"No… I remembered telling Schu to stay here and look after Ran."

"No… he was not. I asked both of them this afternoon and they told me that Ran was safe at home. Apparently, they were wrong."

"Where are they now?"

Asuka couldn't help but cringe when she heard Crawford's voice and she unconsciously took a further step away from the older man. "They were supposed to be here ninety minutes ago."

"What's happening in here?" They heard a voice coming from the door.

"Ken? I told you to stay in the car."

"But…"

"Stay in the car" Crawford ordered.

Ken stared at him in disbelief but Crawford continued to stare back at him. Like Asuka did before, Ken took several steps back from those angry eyes. There was no warmth in the mocha brown depths. They were dark, cold and full with fury. It was frightening.

"Why don't I get one of the officers to send him back to his college?" Asuka suggested.

Crawford nodded. "Can you arrange for someone to protect him until this case is over?"

"Sure."

"Then, do it."

Ken wanted to say something but when he looked again at the older man's face, he turned around as one of the officer walked towards him, escorting him to the nearest Patrol Car.

He really wanted to scream at the older man.

How could he treat him like this, like nothing happened? Didn't they just sleep together? And the pain, he could still feel it. Crawford was acting like this because someone took Ran away from his house.

Again, because of that runt.

Good Riddance.

I hope Crawford never find him.

Asuka merely watched the younger man leave before she handed a pair of gloves to the American. "I want you to wear this before taking what they left for you." She passed him the envelope once Crawford was done putting the gloves on his hands.

"What is this?"

"Pictures.. " She swallowed again. "Pictures of Ran…. I guess they wanted you to see…." She jumped a little when her cell phone let out a sharp ring and answered the call.

"Yohji! Where the hell are you?" She yelled.

"What?" A pause.

"Are you and Schu okay?.. Uh-huh.. Crawford is here… Yeah… 5 minutes ago. Uh-huh… They sent Knight, he and his team are processing the house now… Where are you?... Right… Got it… I'll send a pick up… Okay…"

Asuka turned the phone off, making another call and dispatching another unit to make a pick up before facing the older man whose face had turned white with rage. She could see why; it was a snapshot of Ran struggling when the man who had his back to the camera was ripping his shirt off.

Before she could open her mouth her phone rang again.

Glancing at Crawford who had his back towards her, she could see that the older man was holding his breath. She flipped the phone open, answering the call.

"What?" Her voiced sounded tight and surprised.

"Where? Uhhuh, I know where the park is. What do you mean I know a person named Crawford?"

That caught Crawford's attention as he turned towards the female detective; moving towards her and stood mere inches away in an intimidating manner.

"You sure? What does the victim look like? Uhuh… Fine. We will be there. Make sure nobody move the body until the CSI team arrived." Pocketing the phone, she tilted her head to meet the American's hard gaze.

"What is it?" Crawford asked with his steely voice.

"A unit found a body in the park." Asuka swallowed. "A redhead. It matched Fujimiya's description."

Crawford hands began to shake as he clutched the pictures in his hands.

"Why do you look so pale?"

Both Crawford and Asuka turned at the voice. Yuushi was ascending the stairs holding something in his hands and it was wriggling and hissing. When he came closer to them, Crawford could see that he was holding Persia.

"You and your team are needed again. A homicide in the park."

"That was fast…"

"A unit found a body that matches…"

"Don't say that!" Crawford snapped angrily at Asuka. "You don't know if it's him. Don't just assume it is him."

Asuka, who understood how Crawford felt at the moment, quickly shut her mouth; instead she turned towards both men and said "We need to go. I was told that your name was written on the dead body with a message." Her eyes were on Crawford as she spoke, then her gaze fell on Yuushi. You and your team will have your hands full tonight.

"Fine. But I need to get this what's under this kitten's nails before we go."

"Huh?" Asuka looked at him, raising her eyebrow questioningly.

"This, my friend, is our witness."

"Eh?"

"Our little friend here has clawed someone. And if miracle sides with us and the magic of our DNA lab, we will find out who the scum who did this is and probably the scum that is responsible for dumping the body in the park. Let's pray, it is not the boy."

Crawford nodded as he watched Yuushi call one of his team members to help him scraping the traces of blood or skin tissue under Persia's claws. Persia began hissing wildly and Crawford stepped forward.

"Let me hold him." He volunteered.

Yuushi nodded. "Be careful not touch his front leg," he told the older man as he passed the kitten. Persia began to mewl softly at the older man and bobbed his head up and down; growling and pawing when Yuushi tried to reach for his leg.

"There… there… little kitty. We are not going to hurt you. Instead you will help us find your owner." Yuushi said as he slowly approached the nervous kitten. Crawford rubbed Persia's head gently and he began to purr.

"You're good." Yuushi complimented as he lift the kitten's legs and began to scrape the claws with a cotton buds.

"Done!" He turned to one of his men. "Bring this to the lab and get them to run the DNA test. Check the result with CODIS. I want this all to be done, yesterday!" He ordered.

His team member nodded and hurriedly pocketed the swabs in a small brown envelope before disappearing from his Captain's sight.

"Now, we will go to another crime scene. I'll leave two of my men here to process the house further. And Asuka, you need to call the Unit that was dispatching your partner and redirect them to our new crime scene."

"Roger that. Let's go."

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Ran woke up feeling cold, so he curled himself up into a ball. He must have kicked the blankets off and eyes fluttering open, his hands searched for the bedspread when he realized that he was not wearing anything. He wondered how long he had been sleeping. No, forced to sleep.

Mind still haze and groggy from the drugs that was injected in him, he was trying to think where he was. When he remembered the face that greeted him, his body shuddered involuntarily. He was no longer in the safe haven of Crawford's house but in the hands of a madman who was determined to use his body as a sacrificial lamb to satisfy his lust.

He didn't understand why he had been chosen.

He wanted to… he didn't know what he wanted.

He wanted to run but he knew he couldn't escape from this man.

He wanted to shout, to scream but he knew nobody would hear him.

He wanted o cry, but that somehow he could hear Ken's voice. Mocking him, saying that he was a crybaby, nothing but a burden.

So he did what he thought was best, he made himself believe that he was in control. He was not weak, he would not cry and he, by all means, was not a burden to Crawford.

He became angry.

He was angry at Ken for thinking that he was such a weakling.

He felt angry at the people who had ruined Crawford house.

And most of all he felt angry for unable to defend himself.

The sound of the knob being turned woke his senses; Ran quickly pulled at the blanket to cover his naked body. His back was protesting at the sudden movement and he let out a soft cry. He glared at the door, trying to muster all the courage he could. He was not going to cry like a baby again. He would face the man who had forcedly taken him from the house and fight his way out of here. Besides...

Crawford would definitely come and save him. He had promised that nothing would happen to him.

The man entered the room and stood in front of him. Ran cringed when the man's hungry gaze rose to his eyes. No matter how strong he tried to be, the sight of the man destroyed all his courage.

"Up so soon?" The man asked him with a satisfied smile. "My precious?"

Ran turned his face away but spun around again when he heard movements and let out a surprised gasp when the man's hands were reaching for the blanket.

He tried to hold the blanket but the man had such strength that he easily ripped it in half before pulling him forward. His chest was fully bared for the man's pleasured view. He felt his body shaking and cursed inwardly. He didn't want the man to have full satisfaction seeing how helpless he was at the moment.

"Don't touch me!" He cried when he felt the man try to caress his cheeks and raised his hand and punched the man straight in the face.

"Getting wild aren't you?" The man made a small clicking sound with his tongue, rubbing his face where the boy had hit him. "You shouldn't have done that."

With a swift move, the man lunged forward and fell on top of him, gripping his wrists. "You better behave or I might make you… how I should phrase it…" The man paused, taking his time to find the right word "… more obedient."

Ran was terrified. He didn't dare to move, he was breathing hard and he could hear his own heart beating. The man's weight was suffocating.

"Now, that's more like it."

The man could feel his captive trying to edge away when his hand reached for the face, caressing it gently. He took the younger man's hand into his; he could feel the boy shaking. The man laughed merrily and took out a small tape recorder from his breast pocket. "I have something for you to listen to." Once the Play button was pressed, Ran heard Ken's voice moaning.

Ran's head shot up when he heard another voice. He knew that voice, he loved that voice. It was Crawford's voice. Then he heard Ken let out a sharp cry and Crawford's breath was getting heavy like he was in hard labor. Then back to Ken's voice panting out Crawford's name.

Ran forcefully broke his hand away from the man's grip and covered both of his ears; shaking his head left and right repeatedly.

The man grinned suggestively, whispering at him. "Soon it would be your voice moaning and panting."

"No…"

"Your Crawford seemed to fuck that soccer boy real hard. Don't worry, I'll give you twice the satisfaction than he had given to his little soccer toy. I'll make you scream my name," he laughed loudly.

"Hmm… do you like to know what I did to your parents? You don't remember it do you?"

Ran shook his head.

"Let me refresh your memories. On that night, your father called me saying that he wanted a second opinion. He had another doctor from Kyoto who was visiting with his little family to your house. I won't let anyone to take you away from me. Not even your family. So… when you ran away…." The man gripped his chin and turned his head upward to meet his eyes.

"I told them to nail your father's hand to the door. Cut your mother's throat and cook that damn doctor's baby."

Ran's heart leaped at the man's confession and he closed his eyes wishing that everything was a lie when a sudden vision from the past hit him. The look of the girl he saw in the guest bedroom. The face that was decorated by an innocent smile turned into a sinister sneer when she pressed the trigger. This time he remembered the face clearly.

It was his sister.

"No…" he gasped.

"You only have yourself to blame. If only you didn't run off like that, they might be alive." The older man leant closer, still holding the boy's chin in a tight grip, and with a soft voice, he murmured. "And, if you try to run again, I will kill Crawford; have his body hang in this room while I fuck you."

He could still hear Ken's voice moaning Crawford's name, the sound of their kisses and their pleasured sighing. It was inevitable. He jerked when he felt the man's free hand on his chest, circling his fingers lower, down to his navel, beneath the skimpy blanket that was covering his private parts and flinched when the man begin touching and stroking him.

He began to panic when the man's fingers slid underneath his underwear while making a strange noise. His body began to shake as the hands slithered on his private part.

The man kept caressing him with his eyes shutting and Ran could see that his mouth watering like he was some kind of bliss. He really wanted to kick him, slapped his hands away but instead he froze. Inside, he was screaming for the man to stop stroking him. He didn't want it like this. He didn't want this man to touch him. And certainly he didn't want to be raped by someone who had murdered his parents.

He was about to throw up at that thought when the door was knocked on repeatedly

"Dad?"

"What?'

"I need to inform you of something."

"About?"

"The present that you left in the park for that guy…"

"What about it?"

"They found it."

"Good… Anything else?"

"Umm… someone is waiting for you outside about next week's arrangement."

The elder man growled, annoyed that his moment with the boy was cut short. After a moment, the man released him and rose to his feet.

"See you soon." He gave the boy a lecherous smile before slipping out the door. When the man left, Ran hugged himself tighter.

Was Crawford like this man too? Just wanted his body? Maybe… maybe because he didn't give what the older man had wanted that night... That's why he did it with Ken.

He was confused, he was hurt and now he was frightened. At that instance, he felt that his last chance of hope was gone.

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Note of thanks:

Mini for the beta and comments. Thank you so much for putting up with this story though it is a slow ride^^

groundling( ) I don't know whether you should cry or laugh hehehe but I did try to update… riiiiight???

MDX6( ) Nyaa.. sorry to dash the hope last time and I hope this is not.

A reader( ) An update.. at last…

MIRENE no REEYNEER Thanks for loving this story. *hugs*

Indentured Thanks for the comment. English is not my first language and I admit one of my damn weaknesses is grammar hehehehe

seth Sefarina   I love Crawford Ran too. But then again, this pairing is not as popular or likable like Yohji/Aya which makes me always hunger to get new fic of this pairing. Thanks for the review.

Kato chan Waaa… so sorry for the long waiting for this crappy chapter. Bleh!! I hope you still reading it hehehe

Koji-chan How are you?? Hope you doing fine and I hope this chapter make you `smile' hehehehehe

Red-Planet31 I know you want Brad and Aya to be happy but my muse does not allow it. Blame them!!

RuByMoOn17 Err... I dont think this chapter would give you the more Brad and Ran as you wish but I sincerely hope you like it.

neko-nya I finally... finally updated hehehehe ... *runs and hide*

LoneCayt I am trying not to crush Ken's heart much anyway^^ May be he will get Crawford... may be Ran might die in the end? Who knows... ^^

For others who read this. Thank you^^