The Loss Of One To Gain Another

Tidbit: While I was on the bus coming back from town I was thinking (random stuff) and then my eyes landed on a strip club. I thought, hmm would I work there? Could I work there? I thought ‘no, I could never’ because even if it s a bit, I have some pride. So I said hmm how would someone with more pride than I fare…so I chose Byaku-boo as the main char XD

I know, I know, I took forever again sorry sorry sorry sorry. *shares love* cuz you guys keep me inspired with all the love and reviews so remember to review even if it’s only one word. Love ya ^_^! I’m on the next chapter as we speak! Un-betaed so my apologies again for any mistakes you find.





Makoto only allowed his shoulders to sag and rested his back against the wall outside of Kuchiki-san’s room, after he came out.

He’d been thinking long and hard about it. About the situation and about what he should do. About what he could do.

It was infuriating.

He had no power to do anything! He was weak. He couldn’t even protect what he wanted now that he had found something to.

This was the single conclusion he could come to that would produce some sort of result. Of course, just one person would benefit from it. What was that thing people said about letting something important go if one wanted it to come back?

Kuchiki-san must resent them, even if he didn’t say it.

With this, Kuchiki would be free and he, Makoto, would be… alone… again. He let out a bitter little laugh.

What the hell was he thinking? Even when Kuchiki-san was there he still was alone, wasn’t he? He was sure all the poor boy could think about was a way to get out. Not about the things he did – if he even noticed the little things Makoto did.

He asked Shinu –kun who did the cooking to teach him the finer points of tea brewing so that he could try to bring Kuchiki-san a different kind of tea every day. He made his meals specially, doing his best to make them a notch above what everyone else was having, something close to what he might have had if he was at his home, and maybe, in a way, also trying to compete with all the fancy treatment he was accustomed to. Makoto took it as a good sign that he never complained and ate all that was given. The extensive wardrobe he bought -- he would now have to either keep them or share them between the other boys. The little flowers he brought in from the back garden to give the room some life, the ones that bloomed and grew fragrant only at night to help him sleep…

Why?

Why?

Why?

Why was he doing this, when he had never before? It could not possibly be something as far-fetched as love. He hadn’t even known Kuchiki that long. He knew nothing about him, and besides, he didn’t believe in something so fantastical.

He believed in reality, imperfection and sad endings – in life.

That’s right, he was doing this because he saw himself in the young heir. He didn’t want him to end up the same way.

B-But it was harder to say than I’d thought it would be. His heart was still beating away to a fierce rhythm.

There were no sounds coming from Kuchiki’s room. Was he thinking? Happy to be finally leaving?

Leaving him…

Makoto shook his head and inhaled through his mouth. He was being foolish. There was nothing to be gained from thinking these things.

He had already made up his mind to help Kuchiki- san no matter what and that was that. He had no choice but to follow through on his word and once again, put on a strong front.

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


The evening faded quickly, probably the quickest in his memory.

Makoto attended a meeting with a client who came to see him about the purchase of a class three. When he learned that it wasn’t ‘Daimiki’ the man was interested in, but Hayato, he agreed without a lengthy discussion just to get rid of him.

Concentration would not come.

Shinu-kun brought the tea he requested – Chou’s favorite— later that night and Makoto made sure to dim the lights to just the right degree – low enough to vague his features but illuminate the split in his yukata. He wore his curls loose, giving them a bit of a tussle for extra measure. Chou often hinted that he preferred it that way.

A distraction was what he needed to be for the time being to allow Kuchiki- san the time required to make an escape. When the time was right, he would give the signal.

Chou was punctual as usual when he unceremoniously yanked open Makoto’s door later that night without knocking or announcing himself.

“Would it kill you to knock first?”

Chou smiled. “It might. Besides, why should I?”

“Common courtesy?” Makoto said sarcastically.

“Afraid I’ll see you naked? Nothing I haven’t seen bef-” His eyes, finally adjusting to the low light, took in Makoto’s room – clean and tidy for once, something spicy roaming the air. The unmistakably intimate ambiance covering everything.

“What all this?” he asked, sounding strangely breathless.

“Nothing…special,” Makoto lied, looking away through the open door leading to his garden and pushing a steaming cup of tea across the table towards Chou.

“Hmm.” Chou let himself in after several seconds, accepting the silent invitation without question. If he felt ill at ease by the scene he did not show it openly. Instead, he deeply inhaled the fruity smell wafting up from the cup and smiled sedately, again, casting his eyes around the room and lingering longer than was proper on Makoto exposed thigh, his eyes narrowing with something cold.

Makoto barely suppressed the urge to cover himself, his twitching hand folded into a fist and on his lap dared not.

Chou’s eyes moved so calculative from his legs to his face that for a moment, Makoto thought he had been found out. That Chou saw right through him and what he had done – or was trying to do because he did not touch his tea.

Chou only smiled again though his eyes were cold as he spoke, trying to keep his tone level.

“Ma-chan, you asked to see me. Say something.”

They were simple words, yet they sent a shiver through Makoto.
True, he was the one who sent the invitation via one of the boys to Chou, making it clear that he had something of importance to discuss with him. In reality he had only planned up to the moment when Chou would come and that was it. There was nothing in particular he wanted to say to him and even though he was basically dangling himself like bait, he did not want to be caught. But this to save Kuchiki so…

He stood up, closing the space that the table made between him and Chou and knelt down before him so that their eyes were level and their knees brushed slightly.

“A-About, Kuchiki-san…”
Chou’s loud sigh was punctuated by a short laugh. “Isn’t it always?”

“He doesn’t deserve this-”

Chou held Makoto’s face with a small hand, a hungry gaze locked on his lips. “Maybe, maybe not. It doesn’t matter. Let’s not talk about him anymore. It’d be rude to waste this little party you’ve arranged.”

“Wha-”

His words were cut off by Chou’s mouth pressed on his, firm and demanding, leaving no room for arguments. He was swift, his tongue finding its way in Makoto’s mouth and trying to devour him.

He let out a muffled grunt, his back colliding with the ground as Chou straddled him. It only took two seconds for him to find himself sprawled out on the floor with his yukata pushed aside exposing his legs, one of Chou’s knees applying pressure to his groin while also preserving his modesty.

When he broke the kiss, Chou held back to examine Makoto’s face, running a finger across his lips and pinning down the hand that he had moved between them to restrict closeness. Makoto squirmed under the intense gaze. “Lovely as always… If only this wasn’t a diversion.”

Surprised, Makoto stiffened reflexively. Chou’s triumphant smile grew wider.

“Though they may not look it, the walls have ears, and eyes. They hold loyalty to no one and keep secrets for none. It wounded me greatly, to know that you would conspire against me with that.”

Makoto vaguely felt himself shaking but he knew he was. How did Chou know about a decision he’d planned only hours before?

The silence stretched on as Makoto tried to make his brain catch up. Startled, he couldn’t find a word to defend himself or rebut Chou’s accusation.

“I’m curious Ma-chan, why didn’t you offer him a deal, like you were when you were like him?” Chou asked, shifting his hips and rubbing himself on Makoto.

“I would never insult his pride!”

“Hmm. He might have been yours unconditionally though if you had,” he said deliberately, smirking and leaning in closer.

The look of condescension on his face made a part of Makoto angry, more so than his words. He hated that look and something inside made him want to erase it.

“But-”

“But?” Chou challenged.

“But, deep down, he would always resent me for it… and… he would never truly love me because of a decision forced on him for my benefit –”

smack!

Chou’s hand connected with his cheek in a loud slap.

The hurt on his face unmistakable, his body went lax in that moment and Makoto took advantage, throwing him off and touching the stinging spot on his face gingerly. He hadn’t meant to say those things and so fiercely at that. His face hurt and he knew that Chou was hurting more, but he did not want to apologize. He was angry at him! Angry that he was forcing this kind of lifestyle on people. Angry that he was now sitting there rigidly and looking utterly pitiful – not outwardly of course, but Makoto knew him long enough to know.

Angry that he had found out the escape plan before they even had a chance to execute it. Shit.

The noise from the outside felt like he was stepping out of a dream and back into reality when he rushed out to warn Kuchiki-san that the circumstances had changed. And after he’d built his hopes up too. But Chou knew and that was a liability. It would not be safe tonight.

He was so surprised that Chou didn’t follow him immediately that he almost fell over a table in the main room. Not a very dignified thing for a manager to do.

He knocked. In fact he knocked thrice in succession but to no avail. No answer.

“Kuchiki-san, I’m coming in,” he said while letting himself in. Moonlight painted the empty room a wistful shade of blue and Makoto felt his heart sink.

Kuchiki-san was gone. Did he already escape? How?

His futon was still warm. If he’d held him when he had the chance, would his body this warm too, he wondered.

Was he safe?

Makoto was certain that Chou was still in his room and Kuchiki had not too long left. Chou would not suspect that they would still execute their plan if he knew.

Why would Kuchiki-san leave without waiting for his signal? Was he in that much of a hurry to get away? Who wouldn’t be?

But as long as he was safe. That was all that mattered.

Makoto took a deep breath. And another.

And another.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Thankfully, Chou was not in his room when Makoto had returned early this morning. He’d wanted to be alone in battling a fierce migraine. He hadn’t consumed any alcohol, hadn’t eaten anything that would make him sick – that he knew of – and yet his head vibrated with pain at the slightest movement or sound. If possible, he wanted to be left alone for the day also, to get some rest, but Chou storming in his room when dawn broke made it impossible.

Because lying down made him feel nauseous, Makoto sat at his desk, hunched over, eyes closed and massaging his temple with a gentle thumb.

Chou was cold. He ignored him as he seated himself on the floor by the window. Makoto wasn’t sure how to react to this. He had all the space he needed without Chou on his back but… he really should apologize for what he said last night.

His features no longer contained any hurt. Except for being unnaturally quiet, one wouldn’t be able to sense the difference.

“Chou…”

Chou’s jaw set, stiff and unrelenting and he eyed him sideways without turning his head.

“That expression doesn’t suit you at all. You look constipated not threatening.” Makoto smiled and Chou eased a little. “I-I’m sorry.”

Chou opened his mouth to say something when Makoto’s door was pulled open so hard it rattled. Fucking hell another no- knocker, he fumed.

Turning his head agonizingly slow so that he wouldn’t puke, the men were already halfway across his room. Not acknowledging him. “Oi.”

Flanked by two of the biggest men imaginable, strutted Oshirou Akio like he owned the damn place, his cane clicking the wood with every step he took.

“Wait outside,” he instructed the horribly over-sized people and they were so obedient! They went without missing a beat! Where could be find bodyguards like those?

“Chou- san.” Akio smiled in greeting. A small one. Makoto had the feeling it was all he could manage. Men like him didn’t smile, they smirked or sneered or killed a person for suggesting it.

Chou bowed his head. “Aki-san, it’s been too long.” That fake smile of Chou’s was a dangerous thing.

Makoto hadn’t forgotten about Akio. Secretly he’d been glad when the man was scarce after his encounter with Kuchiki-san.

“What’s wrong with him?” Akio asked with a lazy flick of his head, referring to Makoto like some pet lying in a pile of piss.

Chou barely looked Makoto’s way. “The sickness of youth.”

He and Akio both smirked in some kind of secret understanding. Makoto didn’t reply. He wasn’t being addressed directly but being talked about as if he wasn’t there.

“So,what brings you by, business or pleasure?” Chou purred.

“It’s a thin line.”

“I thought you weren’t in the practice of purchasing company.”

“I’ve never had an interest before.”

“You do now?”

Makoto felt the fear rake through him. He didn’t like where this was going. Kuchiki was the only new addition and the only supposed interest Akio could be referring to. But he was gone wasn’t he?

His chest hurt.

Yes, Kuchiki was gone so there was nothing to worry about. He’d definitely escaped last night. Definitely. Definitely.

“I’ve found… a possible challenge that could suitably entertain me.”

“Oh? And that would be…?”

“Daimiki,” he replied in a low grumble.

Chou’s face was blank.

“Quite the wise investment, Chou. You’ve always had a good eye.”

“I consider it quite the honor to be praised by you Aki-san. Daimiki –san is a rare find so as you know, I can’t very well give him away.”

“Of course. Fifteen thousand. After a few conditions are met.”

Makoto knew that Chou wanted to smile and if possible throw in a happy dance or two when he covered the lower half of his face with his sleeve – a habit he had to hide his approval when it was uncontainable.

“Go ahead,” he urged.

“Daimiki is to belong to me and only to me. No one else is to touch him.”

“You’re familiar with the rules Aki-san. That’s not possible. His level doesn’t permit it.”

“What would it take.”

“For him to have specific clients, he’d have to be a class three. He’s only a two right now.”

“Then make him a three but he’s to be mine alone,” Akio threatened.

“And then? I’ve had a lot of requests for him. What I am to say to those who would also pay for him? That’s not a very good business move you want me to make.”

“I’ll give you whatever they’re willing to pay for him. As a start, an extra twenty-five thousand.”

Chou smiled. “And your other condition?”

“I have full rights to do whatever I want to him.”

“No!”

Makoto covered his mouth too late. It was already out, but it didn’t matter as neither of them even acknowledged he’d spoken. He didn’t care. He couldn’t let Akio have Kuchiki, anyone but him.

“Done.”

“Chou-chan!” Makoto shouted, unable to believe what the man just did.

“He’s clean?” Akio continued.

Chou nodded.

“And untouched?”

“You’ll be the first. No one else has had him as yet.”

Even though his flushed face might not have been a pretty or menacing picture, Makoto stood up abruptly, slamming his hand down on his desk, finally catching their attentions.

What was Chou trying to do? Kuchiki was gone. And Makoto would be a fool to consider any idea with the fact that Chou was oblivious to it. Was he planning on fooling Akio into paying him money and then feigning ignorance of Kuchiki’s disappearance when Akio found out? Not a sensible thing to do but something that Chou would do.

Or worse, was he planning on tracking him down?

Akio looked to Chou for an explanation of the outburst.

“A child letting go of his first toy. No cause for concern.”

Akio nodded. “The agreement is sealed then?”

“Yes.”

“Let me see him.”

“Of course. Hayato bring Daimiki!”

Makoto didn’t feel nervous, in fact he felt composed. Thinking that Hayato would be going to Kuchiki-san’s room to fetch him, Makoto couldn’t wait to see their faces when he returned without him.

They were in for a surprise.




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