Chapter Text
The accident had happened so quickly that Yukuto had barely had time to process it.
He’d chased after that criminal without really thinking, stepping out in the way of the truck as it barreled down the road. He wasn’t sure why he’d done it, and he wasn’t sure why he’d moved- everything had been a flurry of limbs and screams as he felt someone pulling him, escaping death by a hair as they tumbled over each other.
He saw red when it happened. Blood- he wasn’t sure whose- was coating the pavement beneath them. His brother’s eyes were closed, but he was breathing.
Concussion, probably, his mind supplied. The blood seemed to be coming from around where his head was, and panic rang out in Yukuto’s chest. He tried to move, but a horrible pain stopped him. He looked down to see his leg twisted in the wrong direction, more blood leaking from it.
Pain finally seemed to register as his eyes took in the sight, and he passed out.
When he woke next, he was in a single-bed room in the hospital. Not seeing his brother reignited the panic from before and he tried to get up from his bed, but he was quickly stopped by the sole other occupant of the room: a brunette woman who was most certainly not dressed like any sort of nurse.
“Good, you’re awake. Just calm down a moment- your brother’s fine.”
She grabbed at his wrist to keep him from jumping out of bed, Yukuto noting blankly that his watch was gone. Her words did the job of helping him relax into his bed once more, but it did nothing to calm the anxiety in his chest. He needed to be sure that his brother would be okay. Needed to see him himself. After everything they’d been through, he just needed to make sure of it.
“My name is Shizue Kuranushi. I’m with the police, I just want to talk for a moment. I don’t have much time right now.” The woman either didn’t notice or didn’t care about his anxiety, taking a seat in a spare chair. She held up her badge for him to inspect- it seemed real enough, and he wasn’t really in any position to challenge her beyond that. “I just want to hear your testimony. Anything can be helpful.”
“Well… alright. But then I need to go check on Kuruto.”
She nodded, allowing him to speak. As much as he wished otherwise, though, Yukuto really didn’t have much to say- it was all such a blur that he could barely remember anything. He was lucky to be alive, that was all he knew. He’d always been an unlucky one, or maybe he just pushed his luck too often. So this was probably just one of those strokes or mercy, before his luck came back around to bite him again. It was hard to say.
Still, she didn’t seem too upset by his lack of an answer. Yukuto had expected some more frustration or something, but instead she just stood and gave a casual wave.
“Well, if you remember anything else, here’s my number. Give me a call.”
She handed him a business card, and he quickly slid it into his pocket.
“Right. I will, Ms. Kuranushi.”
She exited the room at that, leaving Yukuto alone to think. He didn’t even know what room his brother was in, but that shouldn’t be any reason to not look for him. Given enough time, he was certain to find the right room. The hospital wasn’t that big, and he was usually pretty quick. He wouldn’t need to be up on his leg for long, and he could deal with pain, so long as it meant making sure Kuruto was safe. With all that justification in mind, Yukuto snuck out- directly into the unfamiliar face of a nurse.
“Oh no, you’re not slipping out anywhere.”
She smiled, but something about her smile felt off. He wasn’t sure why, but he didn’t like the look of it at all. He tried to move, to run, but he felt a firm hand grip his wrist and a sharp pain in his arm.
“You should relax, Mr. Ryuki. You wouldn’t want to miss your appointment with the doctor.”
Her voice was soothing, but her actions anything but. He was unable to resist the pull of sleep though, body growing heavier and heavier by the second.
“That’s it, just relax. Very good.” She smiled, holding up his body as he grew more limp, nodding over to another nurse who was bringing over a wheelchair. “Don’t worry, Raven. You’re in good hands.”
Not even the encroaching sleep was enough to fight off the panic that gripped him when she said that name, eyes sliding shut as his mind was pulled down into a restless unconsciousness.
When Yukuto next opened his eyes, the first thing he noticed was the dirty grey of the concrete ceiling. Fluorescent lights did little to illuminate the room he was in, and he moved to push himself up- only to find that his wrists were tied together.
Slowly, carefully, he moved himself back towards a wall so he could leverage himself up properly. His entire body ached, but the panic was settling back in as recognition struck.
Not here. Not here. God, please, anywhere but here.
The room was mostly empty, save for a dirty operating table and some varied medical supplies. He was alone, but there was no place to hide. Even if there had been, he would’ve been too big by now. All he could do was wait for the inevitable, trying his best to keep calm, despite how terrified he was. He had to be strong. He had to be strong.
“Ah… finally awake, are you?” The voice called out over speakers, scratchy and somewhat distorted but still immediately recognizable. “You’ve delayed my schedule quite a bit, I’ll have you know. And after all the trouble I went through to speak with you again.”
Yukuto opened his mouth, intent on saying something, anything, but nothing came out. He didn’t want to speak to that man. He didn’t want to be here. Why, god, why had this happened?
“You seem a bit nervous. But you have no reason to be, you know. I’ll be there in just a moment.”
The speakers went dead, and Yukuto looked around the room once more. Nowhere to hide- hiding was pointless. He could try to run, but he wouldn’t get anywhere on this leg. Vents too high- even if they weren’t, his leg was still a problem. So he could do nothing but wait in agonizing silence, flinching hard at the sounds of someone outside the door.
He shouldn’t be scared. He was older now. He shouldn’t be scared, but…
“Ah, there you are. It’s good to see you again, Raven.” Chikara Horadori stood in the entrance to the room, eyeing him like a predator. “It’s been a while since your graduation, hasn’t it? But I’ve heard you and your brother were doing well.”
“Where is he. Where is Kuruto?”
“Don’t look so suspicious, Raven. Your brother is still back at the hospital. He’ll likely be there a while, given his… condition.”
Yukuto’s heart was gripped with ice, but he fought hard to keep the fear from showing on his face. He couldn’t let this monster know how scared he was. He had to stay strong.
“What the hell have you done to him? If you’ve hurt him, I swear to god—”
“I haven’t done anything. He just hit his head- and so long as you cooperate with me, I’m certain he’ll continue to get all the help he needs.”
Horadori grinned, and Yukuto lowered his head. He had to protect his brother, no matter what. He couldn’t let him be dragged back down here. No matter how terrifying it was, he couldn’t let that happen. He was supposed to be a hero, and heroes were strong.
“What… what do you want from me, then?”
“Like I said, I just need your cooperation. I’ve got some special tests that need run, and you’ll be free to go once we’re all done. I think you’ll be thanking me for this, honestly.”
Yukuto wanted to laugh in his face at the mere suggestion, but held his tongue. People had often called him brash (or just stupid), but he knew when not to speak. And this, this situation right here... this was a time when letting himself be impulsive was simply not an option.
Not that any of it would’ve mattered. There was a needle in his neck before he could fully process that Horadori had even gotten close to him, and he once more passed out.