From Blue Sky - Chapter 11/15
Feb. 27th, 2017 08:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
h_itoshiTitle: From Blue Sky
Status: 11/15
Fandom: Hey! Say! JUMP
Pairing: None. Main characters are Yabu, Hikaru, Yamada and Chinen.
Overall rating: PG-15 for minor character death and depictions of violence
Warnings: AU. I made Chinen 11 years old which is what the plot revolves around.
Wordcount: 3899
Summary: "He's a cute boy, isn't he?" Takaki says, his voice dangerously low as his eyes follow the young boy, probably around ten years old, walking next to his classy mother and seemingly trying to nag her into something. "I think he'd be even cuter lying at my feet with his throat sliced."
Notes: This is inspired by the Mayonaka no Shadow boy PV and a movie which I won't admit to ripping the plot from until someone calls me on it. I love the atmosphere of the PV and wanted to write something similar to it, and I've had this plot lying around for years, so I thought it was finally time. I'm planning on posting twice a week if you want to stick around~
It's only a couple minutes until four when Yabu joins them, and both Hikaru and Chinen are visibly getting more jumpy as the minutes tick by.
It's easy to see on Chinen's expression the exact second Yabu walks through the door, his big eyes widening and the relief spreading on his face, but Yamada doesn't turn around, instead waits for Yabu to come sit down.
“There you are!” Hikaru says lightly, but the relief is an obvious undertone in his voice, and Chinen doesn't hesitate to wrap his arms around Yabu as soon as he's seated. Yabu smiles faintly, the only clue that he's relieved to be here too.
“Here I am.” Yabu agrees, patting Chinen's head gently. Chinen slowly lets go, not looking nearly as awkward as when he did that to Yamada half an hour ago.
“Don't lose us like that.” Hikaru scolds jokingly, but it makes Yabu look up at Yamada with a serious expression, and Yamada knows the question before it comes and he can't answer it.
“... Why did you do that?” Yabu asks, genuinely wondering, and if Yamada's honest, he wonders too.
He doesn't know why he did that. He just perceived the situation of Yabu being recognized and about to be caught, and he saw his chance to prevent it. It wasn't difficult when there were only two guards, he just had to wait a few seconds to give Yabu a head start and then disappear in the crowd.
It wasn't until afterwards that he realized he shouldn't have done that. That it had been a perfect opportunity to get rid of Yabu, leaving him with just Hikaru and Chinen, which would be piece of cake compared to this. He wouldn't even have to hurt Hikaru to get rid of him, just leave him somewhere and tell him to wait and then never come back for him.
And he'd be alone with Chinen, free to bring him straight to Takaki without any further obstacles. And he can't figure out how the hell he could miss a chance like that now that he's so close. He's better than this.
So he has no idea how to answer, and ends up just shrugging awkwardly.
“Aww, Yama-chan.” Hikaru grins like he knows a secret, and Yamada makes a face at the tone. “It's okay to say that you like us you know.”
“Yeah, you keep dreaming about that.” Yamada mutters, but he feels really uneasy and like he needs air. “We should get going, we've already been here too long.”
Yabu looks at him for a long moment, as if trying to assess him, and Yamada makes sure his facial expression doesn't reveal anything.
“I'll just go change clothes.” Yabu finally says, rising, and Chinen mumbles that he's going to the bathroom too.
Which leaves Yamada with Hikaru.
“It's nice that you're finally getting along.” Hikaru comments, and Yamada turns to frown at him, wondering what cheesy shit he's going to say this time. Hikaru looks back at him for a moment, before smiling softly, but he doesn't say anything else, and Yamada gets an annoying flashback of how his mother looked at him the first time he was in love but wouldn't admit it.
“I need to smoke.” He says, because he does, then rises and heads towards the smoking section without waiting for an answer.
A cigarette helps calming his nerves a little, but he still feels awkwardly tense, like something is wrong. But he tries to push it aside when Yabu and Chinen return from the bathroom, Yabu in much more casual clothes, and they start heading back to the train station.
“There were no guards when I arrived.” Yabu says, and there doesn't seem to be now either as they get onto the platform.
Yamada keeps counting the stops, telling himself it's because they're getting closer to their goal now. He told them that they should stay off the central trains, instead change between the outer lines to get closer, and even Yabu agreed on it, which makes this feel like it's almost too easy.
When they get off the train, Yamada's heart is beating hard and everything feels a little surreal. He knows these streets so well he could navigate them in complete darkness, but still the tension in his body just gets worse as they turn the first corner and he wants to smoke another cigarette or five.
Hikaru is talking about how interesting this part of town looks, and Chinen looks around and points at specialized shops or high buildings and other things he for some reason finds worth mentioning. Even Yabu seems a little distracted, but probably mostly because Yamada had suggested they get off here and walk to another station that has another train line, and there are definitely no signs suggesting that this route will lead them to a station. It makes Yamada wonder how long it's going to take before Yabu calls him on it, but he already knows there's no turning back now. They were seen at the station, he knows, and Takaki must already know they're coming. Just another ten minutes walk.
“Oh, sorry.” He hears Hikaru apologize behind him, his usual light tone, but there's no reply, and Yamada reflexively turns to look.
It feels like his heart stops for a second.
There's a man who clearly bumped into Hikaru, who raises a hand in apology and then keeps walking past with a hurried pace. He's wearing jeans and a dark leather jacket, hands in his pockets and brown hair lazily styled, looking like he could be anyone from this area. But his big eyes meet Yamada's for a moment before he walks past, offering a tiny smirk that you wouldn't see if you weren't looking straight at him.
It's Nakayama Yuma and even though Yamada should feel relieved to see one of Takaki's closest men, he suddenly feels like throwing up.
Yuma walks past them, and it's so fucking typical of him to boldly walk into someone he plans on killing within an hour just to get a look at them before. All that lacks is for him to whistle as he walks away, Yamada thinks, and the idea disgusts him.
The realization hits him like a physical punch as he watches Yuma disappear further away before him, the realization that he doesn't want to let Yuma kill Hikaru. He doesn't want to let anyone do it.
~*~
Hikaru almost walks into Yamada when he suddenly stops before him in the middle of the pavement.
“I think we should go to the bathroom.” Yamada says, but doesn't wait for an answer before he simply turns and walks through the door of what looks like a small shopping centre. Hikaru glances at Yabu to comment that didn't they just go to the bathroom, but Yabu's face has suddenly gone so grave that Hikaru doesn't even open his mouth.
“I don't need to go to the bathroom?” Chinen says, looking up at Hikaru, clearly confused.
“Well, if Yama-chan wants company we should come along.” Hikaru tells him, since Yabu's already followed Yamada inside, then urges Chinen to come too.
Yamada follows the bathroom signs, holding the door open for them when he finds it. It's a small bathroom, only has three stalls that are all currently unoccupied, and it doesn't smell too good if Hikaru's completely honest.
But as soon as they've entered, Yamada deadbolts the door and leans against it, not looking at any of them.
“I was going to ask if you felt sick, but... I guess that's not the case?” Hikaru finally asks, thinking that someone needs to break the silence before it suffocates them. Still, Yamada does look a little sick. He's been pale and jumpy since they left the café, but he's worse now, eyes flitting from place to place like he can't focus on anything and his breathing isn't where it should be. Hikaru starts trying to remember what to do when someone faints. “Are you okay?”
“No.” Yamada says simply, looking at the floor in front of him but he doesn't seem to see it.
“What's going on?” Yabu demands, his voice hard and suspicious, and Hikaru feels Chinen carefully take a hold of his hand. He glances down at Chinen, seeing his nervous eyes flick from Yabu to Yamada, and he squeezes the small hand in his like he can promise everything will be okay that way.
“I'm sorry.” Yamada says, and he sounds sorry, more emotion in his voice than Hikaru thinks he's heard this far, but then takes a deep breath and his words are clear and frank even as he keeps staring blindly at the floor. “I'm leading you to Takaki because he wants Chinen to die as revenge on Chinen's father.”
There's a moment of silence, and Hikaru feels the small hand in his go slack.
He kind of expects it, but still he jumps when Yabu springs forward and pins Yamada against the door with a slam, but Yamada doesn't put up a fight this time.
“You're what?!” Yabu growls.
Hikaru swallows, not sure what he feels. He can only relate the feeling he has to the one of someone dying, a helpless sadness that he can't do anything about. He looks down at Chinen, who's staring at Yamada and Yabu with wide glossy eyes like he can't believe what's happening, and Hikaru easily decides that the best he can do now is take care of Chinen until Yamada and Yabu figure out what to do. And so he takes a step back to be able to lean against the sink, pulling Chinen with him and wraps arms around him in protection.
“I'm telling you for a reason, calm down!” Yamada growls back, making a half-hearted attempt to break free.
“Oh, thanks, if I know them it's already too late to be of any help.” Yabu tells him, voice an uncomfortable cold that Hikaru doesn't like and this isn't helping anyone.
He clears his throat to make sure his voice is steady. “Yabu-chan.”
Yabu turns his head to look at him, seeming a little surprised but he doesn't loosen his grip on Yamada.
“I think you should let go of him.” Hikaru says calmly, meeting Yabu's eyes because he's not afraid of him even when he's like this. He's not afraid of either of them.
“Yes. This is scary.” Chinen suddenly speaks up, and it's most likely his small voice that makes Yabu sigh and back away from Yamada.
“I don't think you realize what he's saying.” Yabu says, clearly trying to calm himself down while glaring at Yamada. “He's sold us to them already, if this is where his friends hang around they've seen us long ago. We can't get away now.”
“You can, I have an idea.” Yamada says, and it seems like he's starting to come back to himself, some colour returning to his cheeks.
“And why would we listen to you?” Yabu says fiercely, and Hikaru bites his lip. “You've clearly lied to us up until now.”
“Because I don't want you to die.” Yamada says, and his voice is sincere, holding Yabu's eyes for a long moment before glancing at Hikaru and Chinen, and Hikaru believes him. “And because there's not much choice, is there?”
“Those are not the best premises to trust someone.” Yabu says coldly. “We know nothing about you besides that you're not who you gave yourself out to be.”
Yamada sighs, sounding almost desperate. “My first name's Ryosuke? I work for Diabolos and Takaki sent me to retrieve the boy. I'm one of his best shooters and he trusts me to that extent. It was never part of the plan to get stuck with you, and I was so frustrated with it at first but now I... I think I can help you get away, but I need you to listen for it to work.”
There's a silence following his words, and Hikaru watches Yabu's resolute face for a moment, figuring he has to do something about this.
“I'll listen.” He says calmly, then lets a small smile on his lips. “Besides, Ryosuke suits you.”
Yabu turns to look at him, his eyes showing dejection but Hikaru still thinks his decision is the right one.
Then there's a small voice speaking, and they all turn to look at Chinen. “... I'm scared.”
Hikaru hugs him a little tighter, and Yamada gets a flash of a pain over his features before it's gone again.
“I'm sorry.” He says, looking straight at Chinen, and he sounds like it comes from his heart. “I'm really sorry.”
Yabu watches him for a few moments, then sighs, sounding defeated when he speaks. “We'll listen. Then decide.”
~*~
Yabu can't believe himself. Can't believe how he could be so incredibly stupid. Even though he kept repeating that Yamada wasn't to be trusted, that he was obviously trouble with all his knowledge and attitude and freaking guns, he apparently decided to trust him anyway. Apparently figured that sure, let the gang member decide the route in Tokyo without double checking him. Apparently decided to just leave their safety in Yamada's hands even though he had already had a hunch about Yamada's motives.
All because he saved him once.
But if he's really honest with himself, he had already started to trust Yamada. Had already started to see how he didn't push Chinen away like he was a gross insect anymore, had seen him care about Hikaru's well-being. And when Yamada saved him from the guards at the train station, he'd just... Accepted it, even though he knows perfectly well that he should have done the opposite. Should have questioned Yamada's reasoning further, should have wondered what the point was in saving him. Except that he still can't see it. Wouldn't everything have been easier if he wasn't here?
That's the only thing that keeps him from just taking Yamada down right now and run with Chinen and Hikaru, even though he knows somewhere at the back of his mind that they'd be caught anyway. But even as he now tries to convince himself that Yamada never cared for any of them, he can't shake the uneasy feeling that Yamada saved him because he wanted to.
And it makes him hate himself, because he knows he can do better than this, can shut off his feelings for anyone in a second and kill them in cold blood if necessary. Except that his mind won't cooperate. He feels things, and even though he wants to blame Chinen for it he knows it's not all that. He's just not capable of it anymore.
Most of his emotional shielding still works, but he can't shut out when Chinen watches him with worried eyes or Hikaru cautiously says his name. And when he looks at Yamada's set face as he explains his plan with a low voice and quick words, he feels somewhere deep inside that he doesn't want Yamada to die either.
He still doesn't like this plan. There are so many things that could go wrong, so many times they could all just get killed in the blink of an eye, but he doesn't interrupt Yamada talking.
Hikaru looks more focused than Yabu's ever seen him as he listens carefully, and even though Chinen's clinging to Hikaru's arm, his wide worried eyes making him look much younger than he is, he's listening intently as well.
And Yabu knows that this is their only option. If they've already walked right into the lion's den, there's no way to just run away.
He knows Diabolos. Knows what type of people they are, has even killed a couple of them in the past, and he knows who Takaki is. But he never knew where their territory was or how their organization worked, since they were always far away and Jin didn't pay them much attention, said they weren't much to worry about.
But even if he knew those things, that wouldn't help him now when he's already in their backyard. They've probably been monitored since they left the train station, if not before that.
Yabu also knows that the possibility of them getting out of this alive is very small. Walking straight into Takaki's arms with one child and one man who can't shoot or fight is doomed to fail. It all depends on himself and Yamada, and he doesn't want to let their lives depend on Yamada again. But there's no choice.
He figures that if there's anything he can do now, it's to try and keep Chinen's and Hikaru's hopes up that there's a possibility that they can survive this, otherwise there will be no point in even trying.
Yamada falls silent after his quick but detailed explanation, and Yabu lets the silence set for a moment before speaking. “... I don't like this.”
“I know you don't.” Yamada says, voice still as low and hurried. “But do you think it could be done?”
Yabu sighs, feeling uneasy in a strange way because it's like Yamada thinks the same things he does, that if Yabu doesn't encourage this, they might as well die here.
“... I don't think there's another option.” Yabu finally settles, honestly, figuring that a lie now would be exposed in a second.
“Then... We'll do it?” Hikaru asks, sounding so serious Yabu turns to look at him where he's holding Chinen in a comforting embrace, gently rocking him back and forth, and looks between Yabu and Yamada as if urging them to make a decision.
“Yes.” Yabu agrees after another moment of arguing in his mind, and Hikaru nods like that's settled then.
Chinen's eyes are wide in fear and his cheeks are pale, but he still looks somehow determined and Yabu's heart does things he doesn't want it to do.
Yamada nods too, then steps forward to stop in front of Chinen, leaning down to crouch before him. “Will you go with me? Is that okay?”
The question sounds so genuine Yabu clenches his jaw, trying to keep thinking about that Yamada sold them out and he will take Chinen with him even if Chinen says no, but it's difficult.
Chinen doesn't react at first, but then slowly nods, and Yamada looks at him for a moment before reaching into his jacket. Yabu tenses but doesn't move.
Yamada's hand emerges with a slim pocket knife, and even though Yabu has to actively keep from saying anything, he realizes that it might be a good idea as Yamada holds it out for Chinen.
“If something happens you can use this, okay?” He says, voice calm but leaving no room for argument, and Chinen hesitantly lets go of Hikaru to accept the small weapon. “Don't cut yourself.”
Chinen looks at it for a long moment, and it looks so big in his hands as he finally tries unfolding it and looks at the blade. He shouldn't have a knife like that, Yabu sees how the static light of the rooms reflects in the edge and he can tell how sharp it is. But at the same time he wouldn't want Chinen to be completely defenceless if the worst would occur and he'd be left all alone.
Yabu's so busy watching Chinen examine the knife with wide eyes that he doesn't notice Yamada doing anything until he stands up and holds a gun out for Yabu.
“You take this.” He says, and Yabu turns to look at him instead. He glances at the gun, noticing that it's the different model than the one he used while showing Hikaru and Chinen how to shoot, but wordlessly reaches out to accept it. Ironically enough it's a very clear peace gift, since Yamada would be stupid to give Yabu a gun if he didn't fully trust him not to shoot Yamada himself with it.
And Yabu knows that if he has to shoot Yamada, he will. But he doesn't want to.
“And here.” Yamada finally says, this time to Hikaru, who looks surprised to receive anything at all, and Yabu frowns as he looks at the object in Yamada's hand. It's a key.
“Oh. Thank you?” Hikaru tilts his head and takes the key, looking at it like he can't entirely figure out what to do with it.
“It's my apartment key.” Yamada says, and that surprises even Yabu. “You can meet me there later. They don't know where it is and it'll take them a while to figure it out.”
“Aww, Ryosuke.” Hikaru says, sounding touched but Yabu can't figure out whether it's fake or real or both. “I don't know where it is either.”
“I'm obviously going to tell you, stupid.” Yamada rolls his eyes and Hikaru smiles. “Is there a pen?”
Yabu digs out a ballpoint pen and starts looking for paper, but Yamada's already told Hikaru to roll up his sleeve and starts writing on the inside of his forearm.
“You won't lose this.” He explains as he pulls Hikaru's sleeve back down when he's finished, and Yabu has to admit it might have been a good idea. “Don't lose the key either.”
“No sir.” Hikaru agrees, reaching up to unlock a thin silver necklace with a charm of a sun that Yabu never noticed he was wearing, then slips the key onto it and puts it back on, key safely hidden by his shirt and scarf.
There's a silence after that, and Yabu takes a deep breath to try and charge himself up for this. But then Hikaru speaks again.
“So... This is the last we see of each other for now?” He asks, and Yabu hears the undertone of knowing, that it might not just be for now, and he once again thinks that he underestimated Hikaru.
“Yeah.” Yamada agrees, sounding tense, and Hikaru sighs almost dejectedly.
“Then I need to hug you all just in case.” He says, and before Yamada has time to react Hikaru's stepped forward to wrap arms tightly around him. Yamada looks like he might protest, but then relaxes and lets Hikaru hug him.
Yabu expects to be next, but he's still surprised by the warmth and closeness of Hikaru's embrace, and it just makes him even more anxious to get them out of this all in one piece. Yabu glances over Hikaru's shoulder to see Yamada leaning down to hug Chinen, and it makes his heart do that uncomfortable thing again, like it can't decide whether to hurt or swell just to end up doing both and it's painful.
When Hikaru backs away, Chinen comes over to Yabu, and Yabu embraces him as tightly as he would his own son, having already settled that if Chinen doesn't make it, there's no point for him to make it either. He can't lose another child.
Chinen is the one to loosen his grip, and Yabu has to swallow as he stands up, exchanging a glance with Yamada as they all steel themselves to get out there again. They both know they're not going to hug.
~*~
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2017-02-27 08:59 pm (UTC)I like how they are trusting each other now. Yamada giving them weapons (+ key) and then the hugging... How many days have they been together now? 2? 3? They changed so much :)
Yabu at the end.... T_T
I can't wait for the end of the week and a new chapter XD
no subject
Date: 2017-02-28 07:34 pm (UTC)Haha yeah, stuff's going down now xD
no subject
Date: 2017-02-28 12:26 am (UTC)So much happened in this chapter and I'm absolutely flabbergasted and I'm also sad at the same time
Like I knew they were getting to the point where they were going to get closer and closer to Takaki's place and Yamada would have to choose his alliance at some point. I just didn't think that it would happen....I was in denial I'm sorry
But I'm glad that they did decide to trust Yamada and I love that he went and rattled off a bunch of facts about himself including his name. I think it was a sign of good faith, especially giving Yabu his gun
ALSO HIKARU LEAVING ISNT A HOOD THING. I NEED TO KNOW YAMADA'S PLAN. I GET ITS ALL DRAMA BUT THIS ISNT FAIIIIIIIIIIIIR. BRING THEM BACK
ALSO I SWEAR THEY ALL BETTER COME OUT ALIVE IN THIS. I NEED MY FOUR BABIES ALIVE AT THE END IF IT ALL
(also now that I think about it I have a feeling that sun around Hikaru's neck is probably important. I can't wait to see if it is or not)
no subject
Date: 2017-02-28 07:32 pm (UTC)... I shall now apologize in advance for next chapter's cliffhanger. Sorry.
BUT it's all over soon and you will know all the answers? :D
no subject
Date: 2017-03-01 02:22 am (UTC).......i don't like the sound of this cliffhanger oh no
somehow i'll survive and i'll probably scream a lot.
AND THAT IS SUPER TRUE. all of the questions will be answered then :D
no subject
Date: 2017-02-28 01:50 am (UTC)Omg ... I love this fic so much. I'm not good at commenting. But I can tell you that I really enjoy reading this, I can see the image of the story clearly in my head. It is like a movie is playing in my head while reading. This is so great!
no subject
Date: 2017-02-28 07:27 pm (UTC)