Bokutachi wa Akuma: Chapter Forty-One

Ryota was feeling strangely at ease today, he was not feeling hyperactive as he normally did. Wearing a cute, daisy yellow apron, Ryota was in the kitchen, backing sweet honey cakes. He was good at baking these traditional sweets only if they were made in single serving batches, otherwise they would all burn.

Pulling out his last batch of six that sat on a cookie sheet for easier transport, Ryota set them off to the side to cool. As soon as he closed the oven door and turned it off, the front door slammed open, scaring him out of his skin.

After regaining his breath and having a regular heartbeat again from the fear of hearing the door slam open, Ryota pranced to the door happily like a faerie with a like smile on his lips. His faerie like smile washed from his face as soon as he saw the darkened, psychotic look in Daichi's eyes coming out from under his sweating brow. He was panting heavily with a slight growl in his breath, as he ran all the way from Ueno Park to his apartment in Shibuya.  Fear rose in Ryota's eyes, he attempted to speak Daichi's name, yet only whispered stutters escaped his lips. Swallowing hard, Daichi gripped to the wall with a tight fist.

“You knew didn't you?” Daichi growled at Ryota, making him cower back innocently. “You knew what happened to me! And you didn't say anything! Didn't you!” Daichi crawled against the wall, inching closer to Ryota, whom was cowering back away from Daichi in fear.

Pressing himself to the counter hard, Ryota felt a warm liquid dripping down his cheek; they were nothing more than tears of guilty. Ryota dropped himself to the floor, scraping his back against the metal handles of the cupboards. He began to sob quietly, trying to hold himself back from crying; keeping his eyes locked with Daichi's psychotic dark orbs, he whimpered out softly.

“I wanted to tell you so many times Daichi.” He began to sob loudly in hearing his own words. “ I’m so sorry Daichi.” Ryota did not cause this to happen, but he kept it a secret, which was just as bad.

Daichi pried himself from the wall and towered over Ryota on the floor silently. His psychotic, glassed eyes locked with Ryota's pooling eyes; he then turned away just as silently, heading off to his room. Digging through his belongings loudly, Daichi had finally found the box that he had hid away since Christmas.

Ryota pulled himself to his feet, wiping away his fresh, sticky tears. Inching closer to the hallway where Daichi had stormed down, he had heard crashing and banging, Daichi was definitely in a fury. He was about to call out Daichi's name before he came around the corner of his room, scaring Ryota out of his skin again. Ryota darted from his position in the hallway to the living room in a blink of an eye; Daichi had come out of his room, wielding the unsheathed sword.

He slowly made his way to the trembling Ryota on the cube chair in the living room by the window, unsheathing the sword as he walked. He towered over him, holding the sword strongly in his small hand.

“I don't need you anymore Ryota. You or the group.” He raised the shining blade in the air to frighten Ryota further. “I'm leaving, and don't bother following me.” Daichi could live by himself; he had money just like all the other group members. He could survive off the money in his bank account long enough.

Ryota trembled on the chair in the living room staring up at the formerly cute boy he knew and loved and which he called roommate. With tears rolling down his cheeks, Ryota tried to relax himself.

“Daichi…” he mumbled out through his sniffles. “I'm sorry. Please don't go.” He reached up for Daichi, who slapped his hand away roughly, making him cradle his hand as he cowered back again.

Daichi stared at his former roommate and friend psychotically before sheathing the sword again and running out of the house, leaving the door wide open.

It took Ryota a few minutes to register what had just happened, and even longer to realize that it was real. Covering his face slowly with his daisy yellow apron, he took a deep breath and began to sob loudly. Curling into a tight ball in the small chair he began the breakdown of his life; if only he told them all of those times that he had the chance, none of this would have ever happened. In his large apartment, his sobs rang loudly; the pleasant scent of honey cakes were longer pleasing to him.

After only a few minutes of crying, Ryota looked up and around, expecting to see someone or something that could possibly comfort him. Dropping his head to his knees again after realizing nothing would be there from him, he began to sob again, mumbling Daichi's name to himself in guilt.

Grumbling to himself, still beating himself up about what had just happened, Ryota slithered off of the chair he sat in and landed on his knees on the floor hard. Reaching behind his neck, he slowly untied the apron and let it slip off from around his neck; he then untied the apron from around his waist and let it drop to the floor. With hardly even blinking, Ryota stood up, grabbed his keys and coat and left the apartment silently, without even locking the door. He was in shock, and did not really know what he was doing or why he was doing it.

Walking almost thirty blocks in utter shock, Ryota ended up at Maruki and Aiya's apartment. He stood staring at the door for a long period of time. With Satsuki barking on the other side of the door, Ryota heard footsteps yet did not move. The door opened, his eyes focused on the same spot still.

“Ryota kun!” Aiya swung the door open and held Ryota by the shoulders, which was still not responding. “Ryota kun! What's wrong?” seeing the shock in his Ryota's eyes, Aiya knew something was wrong with him.

Hearing Aiya shouting and Satsuki barking, Maruki ran to the door quickly seeing Aiya shaking Ryota who was staring right through him.

“What's wrong Ai?” Maruki ran to the doorway, looking over Aiya's shoulder. “Is he all right?” He looked at Ryota who was finally looking like he was coming to, it must have been the familiar voices. Looking right up at Maruki, Ryota's lip began to quiver.

“He left.” Ryota stuttered, slurring his words together.

“Who Daichi?” Maruki asked shocked, Ryota giving him a nod. “Why?”

“He found out.” Ryota's doe eyes were welling up again.

“Found out about what?” Maruki did it, but he had completely forgotten that it was a secret.

“Vampire.”

“What? You finally told him?” Aiya hopped up, excited and nervous at the same time.

“No.” Ryota fell to his knees. “He came home and yelled at me. I think…” he paused, taking a sob filled gasp.

“I think H2O told him.” H2O and Ruka were the only ones aware of what happened to Daichi, and Ruka was not so cruel to do something as such. “Ruka would never do such a thing would he?” Ruka was still getting training from his friend Kousuke in relearning how to feel emotions again. Even for Ruka, telling one of his own kind about their change without permission from their ‘master’ was cruel. In Maruki's case, he found out around the same time that Mikiya did, he was not told until Ruka confessed that it was true.

Maruki dropped to his knees, picking Ryota up again to stand on his feet. Holding his shoulders, Maruki got him to focus on him.
“Ruka would never do anything like that to us, okei?” He looked off to the side, furrowing his brows in confusion. “How did you know about H2O?” He looked back to Ryota sternly, needing to hear his answer just in case anyone else knew about them.

Oops!

Ryota spoke of something that he was not supposed to.

“I, I listened in that afternoon.” He had to confess now, even through his tears. “The day of the conference. Mikiya kicked us all out, but you three. I figured that it had to do with something about you, which I already knew. When Takuya sempai mentioned ‘the other one’ I knew that he had to be speaking of Daichi.” Ryota looked over to the side, making eye contact with Aiya. He let out a quivering sigh and then continued his explanation.

“When Miki kun and you kicked them out, I ran away from the door, but the two of them saw me. When they found me trying to return to the rest of the group, they pinned me to a wall and asked me what I had heard. I told them nothing of Daichi or anything. In hearing you guys talking, they knew that I had heard everything you guys were talking about. I swear I didn't tell them anything about Daichi.”

Maruki and Aiya stood silently, never being aware of this information. They stood staring at him blankly for a moment before Maruki pulled him into the house along with Aiya.

“Why didn't you ever tell us this Ryo?” He closed the door behind them all, looking over his shoulder. “And did H2O ever do anything to you?” Maruki was worried now; Akira and Kyoukei had a track record going around for deaths around Tokyo, hopefully Ryota was not on their list, if such a list even existed.

Ryota shook his head, nothing of any sort had ever happened that day since. Though he was unaware that both Akira and Kyoukei were the ones killing people around Tokyo, he knew what they were and that alone made them dangerous.

“No, nothing.” He looked to Maruki after removing his shoes. “I didn't tell you two because I thought you would be mad for my eavesdropping.”

Aiya looked over him, silent as always. Thinking back on the night that him and Ryota walked in after Maruki had attacked Daichi, Aiya pulled his taller friend into a hug; remember what he thought that night as well. Ryota and Daichi were very close much like Maruki and Aiya. Ryota cared for Daichi, and having him walk out so suddenly after yelling at him must’ve been very difficult for him.

“Daichi will come back you’ll see.” Aiya tightened his arms around Ryota's back. “He just needs to cool his head off.” Even Aiya couldn't be sure of his own words. It was a huge amount of information to be put on someone all at once, especially if it wasn't from someone one could trust. There was no guarantee that Daichi would come back that night, or even at all.

From the look in Daichi's eye when he left, there was no promise that he would be coming home anytime soon. Daichi seemed very serious about what he was saying, which was even more heartbreaking.

Maruki ruffled Ryota's hair playfully while he was trapped in Aiya's hug, he was trying to make him feel better.

“Well if you ever need anything Ryo, you know we are here for you.” With the age difference between these three boys, they felt more like friends rather than friends at times. Ryota seemed to acquire that position in Maruki and Aiya's life more so than the other younger sub-group members; for he was more vocal and involved than the other members.

Mizuki was vocal, over the top at times, but he was young, he liked to complain about everything that bothered him.

Ryota pulled himself from Aiya's arms, looking over to him with a warm smile. Directing his gaze over to Maruki with curiosity in his glassy eyes.

“Actually. There is something.” He dropped his head slightly, still looking up at Maruki; whom of which gave him a questioning ‘hm?’,  curious as to what he wanted from them. Ryota looked from Maruki to Aiya and back. “Can I stay here for a while? I don't want to be home alone.” It was hard enough to leave his mother to be a part of the group and live with Daichi; now that Daichi left, he had no one to be with him.

Maruki's features softened, nodding to him warmly.
“Of course you can stay with us.” Maruki smiled wider and took Ryota's jacket, which he was still clinging to tightly; he had never put it on after leaving the apartment. “You can stay here as long as you need to.” He placed Ryota's jacket on the row of hooks off to the side, giving him his own hook and all.

Ryota let out a sigh of relief, happy that he had such good friends who were always there to help him.

“Domo Maa chan. You too Aiya, thank you.” He looked to Aiya and smiled warmly.

Looking down to the floor, his face relaxed, he was thinking and remembered a very important piece of information.

“If…” He paused, looking to Maruki, embarrassed that he was even asking this. “If I stay here, you wont…” e paused again, hoping he wouldn't offend his older friend.

“You wont attack me will you?” he quieted his voice, very embarrassed to ask such a strange question.

Maruki stood silent for a moment, he had to think about the last time anything had overcome him. To make Ryota feel better, and out of natural reaction, Maruki let out a hysterical laughter; he could not remember the last time he had such a craving other then that night he accidentally attacked Daichi.

“I wont attack you Ryo.” He slapped a hand on Ryota's shoulder friendly. “I am a civilized person, you know. I'm not going to hurt you.” He smiled brightly and ran off into his house like a pixie to prove his point.

Nervously laughing, both Aiya and Ryota followed him into the house.

Conversing about the situation further about Daichi to see if there any hint as to why he did it or who could have told him; there was nothing that the three could find. The conversation had rolled on passed supper and straight until bedtime. There was nothing out of the ordinary until that moment he had walked back into the house and yelled at Ryota.

Aiya was the first to be sleepy and wanting to go to bed.

Aiya dragged himself to the hallway and into the linen closet and grabbed a couple of pillows and blankets for Ryota. He dragged himself back to the living room and tossed the bedding on Ryota's lap as he collapsed beside him again, being very dramatic about being tired.
“So are these going to be good enough for the night Ryota?” Aiya looked over to Ryota sleepily, collapsing his face into the pillows on Ryota's lap.

Ryota leaned over the pile of pillows and blankets on his lap; patting Aiya on the head as he looked over to him. Though having puffy eyes, Ryota smiled to him and nodded happily.

“They will be fine Ai kun. Thank you.” Maruki and Aiya had a very nice, comfortable sectional couch that would be a very good substitute for a bed. “You two are helping me enough as it is.” He raised his head and dropped his chin heavily on the soft pile on his lap again. Looking to the love seat where Maruki sat, Ryota gave him a sweet smile from underneath his puffy eyes.

Maruki, who sat with his feet up on the cushion, dropped his feet to the floor softly. He looked to the sleepy Aiya and to Ryota as he stood up.

“If you need anything Ryota, you know we are here for you.” He walked across the living room and pat Aiya on the head. “Come on, you're tired Aiya. And we should let Ryo sleep, he needs it.” He hit Aiya's curled up knees, getting him to stand up. Pushing him towards the hallway, Maruki looked back at Ryota with a bright, warm smile on his lips.

“Oyasumi nasai Ryo kun. Try to sleep okei?”

Ryota shifted all the bedding to the soft cushion, watching the two of them leave off for their rooms.

“I will. Thank you again Maa.” He shifted and threw his pillow to the end of the couch and looked back up to Maruki. “You too. Oyasumi.”

Ryota adjusted himself and got all of his blankets on him before relaxing his head on the pillow. Just as he closed his eyes, he groaned lightly and dropped his arms heavily to his sides; Ryota had forgotten to turn off the living room light.

“Mou.” He kicked the blankets off him self and dragged himself to the light switch on the wall. Lightly slapping his hand on the switch, he turned it off, leaving the room a pitch black. He returned to the couch in a daze, becoming blind as a bat in the dark. Crawling back under the blankets, Ryota relaxed again, trying to sleep.

★ Though more tired then he could imagine, each hour past like cars on a racetrack. Ryota had constantly tossed and turned, rolling on the couch to get comfortable. The sting of sleep was strong in his eyes, making it even harder to sleep. The dark room was eerily quiet; no air moved, no one was around and the pets were asleep in the bedrooms.

He lay flat on his back, silently staring up at the ceiling as let out a long, quiet sigh. It was not but five minutes after finding comfort on his back that Ryota found sleep in his eyes. Ryota let out a gentle groan as he tilted his head, finding more comfort, as he was moments away from sleep.

His body was numb and frozen. His eyes lids felt as if they were glued shut. His lungs were on autopilot and he sunk into the couch, falling asleep at the late hour of night.

What felt like hours yet was only seconds that had past; Ryota head a small click, shooting his eyes open. A click? A door?

“Maruki?” he spoke up sleepily, his eyes unable to open. He waited, yet no one answered.

A moment passed before another click was heard, much louder then the last. Ryota shot up, his eyes were wide but fuzzy, and he could not see a thing in the black, fuzzy room. “Aiya?” he called out again, his heart pounding in his ears. No one answered his calls; it was definitely not one of his friends making those noises.

Creek. Click. Tap. Tap. Tap. The front door had opened and someone had entered his friend’s apartment in the middle of the night. Ryota raised the blanket over his mouth, hearing the footsteps come closer. The perpetrator was almost in sight, making Ryota's heart beat louder in his ears.

A short slender man came from around the corner quietly. The pale glow of the man’s flesh shone lowly from the nightlife light that came in dimly from the windows. A bright, long reflection shone from the man’s hand, it looked to be metal.

“Da, Daichi?” the man looked up to Ryota when his name was called. “Is it really you?” Ryota woke up fully, seeing his lovely roommate.

He stood in the entrance of the living room, staring at Ryota through the darkness. Rolling his wrist slightly, Daichi shone the reflection of the blade over Ryota's eyes. He took slow, quiet steps towards the couch, inching closer to Ryota. Daichi stood next to the coffee table, staring down at Ryota who stared up at him like a puppy. Through the darkness, in the blink of an eye, Daichi threw his arm up and pierced the blade of the sword through the surface of the coffee table easily. Ryota jumped up, covering himself with the blanket again as he muffled his loud gasp. Daichi leaned forward, a frightening glow to his formally sweet.

“You are a horrible person Nakada. Not telling me that I died and became… this.” The frightening glow grew brighter, revealing and eerie red tone, “You don't deserve to live for that.” Hell hath no Fury then a best friend scorned. A young male idol whom had a secret held from him.
“You deserve the fate that I have to endure day in and day out.”

Deserve the fate? Did he mean exactly what Ryota was thinking? Ryota peeked out from above the blanket, peering up at him innocently; hoping he wasn't talking about what he was thinking.

“Daichi. Do you mean?” Daichi jumping on the couch over Ryota cut off Ryota quickly.

Daichi pushed him down, pinning his shoulders to the cushion of the couch. Ryota gasped, peering up at Daichi with wide, glassy eyes.

“You deserve what you allowed me to endure.” Daichi closed his eyes for a moment, tilting his head down as he reopened them again quickly. Peering back at Ryota was a pair of glowing crimson orbs that consumed his sweet, chocolate orbs. “Live for eternity in fear and loneliness, just like me.” Daichi opened his mouth, revealing inch long fangs that were meant for only one thing, to kill. He leaned down quickly and aimed for the deep, pulsing vein in Ryota's neck. ★

Ryota shot up, screaming as his forehead poured with sweat. He looked up and around, seeing the light of the early morning sun peeking in through the living room window.