Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Sai!!!" Naoko called out, glancing to his brother and seeing the man on the phone.

Rolling his eyes, the blond knelt down next to Ko. "Look, you can't have EVERYTHING. I want you to pick out ONE coat. Just one. We'll get you five shirts, three pajamas, one coat, and a stuffed mickey. Uncle Sai's already getting you some underwear and socks. And if you want a couple pairs of jeans or pants with mickey on them, that's okay too." the pianist laughed. "Who knows, maybe if you get famous with the piano, you could design your OWN mickey clothes!" Naoko said, wondering if that would excite the boy.

Laughing, Naoko watched as Ko dashed off. "Yeah, I've got everything." his amber eyes turned to his brother. "And no, he's not a handful... he's just a boy. A boy who needs this. Needs us."

The pianist couldn't help how much happier he felt with the child around. It was like... Ko was able to get his mind off all the bad things.
Including even his fear of losing Sai again.

"I think it's a great idea for Yamada-san to hear him play." Naoko returned, eyes focusing on his brother once more. "He's been so cheerful today, niisan. It's such an improvement over yesterday... he hardly seems like the same boy anymore."

"Parenting?" Naoko asked, looking at his brother in surprise. "No I just... I'm not his father... I'm definitely not his mother... I'm just..." he smiled slightly. "I'm just acting how you would... you know... as my older brother. I'm being Ko-kun's niisan more than uncle I guess." the blond spoke, feeling awkward for Sai thinking he was basically doing a good job.

Amber eyes focused on the man at his side and Naoko nodded. "I think you and Ko-kun need to spend a bit more time together... especially since when Shou-san's around, I probably won't be. You, niisan, are his guardian now." the pianist teased. "But in all seriousness... I'm still exhausted. It's been a long few weeks. I might catch a cab and go check on Ryu-kun. Let him know I'll be going with you and Ko-kun to the onsen. Hell I've got to tell him about Ko-kun in the first place..."

Reaching out, Naoko wrapped an arm around Sai's shoulders in a semi-hug. "You're a great parenting choice. Better than me. Your other side isn't like mine... so he'll always be safe with you, niisan." the blond spoke, smiling. "A psychiatrist is a good idea. He... he'll be different for a while, but I'm glad he's opening up to us."

The younger Oumori released his brother, watching as he interacted with Ko. The child was still a bit skeptical around Sai... for some reason he had taken to trusting Naoko far more lately.
It was so odd...
Someone trusting him...
Ryu didn't even seem to trust him lately...

"Maybe Shou will need to get a mini-van?" Naoko asked, helping put the bags into the trunk once they'd left the store. "We may need to have some places deliver, depending on how much you want to turn his room into a kid's palace." he laughed softly... knowing Shou would indeed spend the money to make Ko's dreams come true.

Looking at the boy as they walked, Naoko suddenly realized neither of them knew his interests too much. "Ko-kun... we know you love the piano and you've got your cute pet mouse... but what else do you like? Baseball? Martial arts? Are there any shows you enjoy besides Kamen Rider?"

But once they entered the music store, the blond could only smile, watching the young boy act as if he were in a candy store!

Suddenly, Naoko was being pulled to the side though and he listened to his brother, nodding. "So... you've a check for Yamada-san in your back pocket and Yamada-san is supposed," he did air quotes with his fingers. "To be going to the onsen too. Got it. I'll make sure to let Shou-san know. But he's taking a vacation?" this actually surprised the pianist. "Where's he going? Just curious and all."

"You should ask him." Naoko spoke, watching as Ko played the piano. "I know he's all secretive and stuff but... well... taking an interest in him might be worthwhile. I worry that he doesn't have anyone to relate to. I mean... he's always with you or working... I've never seen him on his off time. Have you?"

Yamada was... a curiosity to the pianist.
The main question in his mind right now though... was how he got his hands on Ko in the first place.

"But... well... I think I will head home tonight. Like I said, you and Ko need some time to bond... just try to stay Sai. I think he's bonded just fine with Shou. And I'll be around in the morning so we can head out to the onsen." Naoko spoke, thinking he might leave now... before Yamada arrived.

Heading over to Ko, Naoko knelt down, watching the boy's fingers on the keys. "I'm going to go home for a bit, Ko-kun. I need to get extra things for our trip tomorrow. Do you think you'll be alright with Uncle Sai? He's going to let you try out all the pianos."

"Of course I'm coming back silly." Naoko replied with a smile. "I'll play piano with you as much as you like, but when I come back in the morning, we'll go to the onsen, so we might not get to play until after Christmas. But don't worry... I plan on spending a lot of time at Sai and Shou's. Yakusoku." his soft smile never waivered as he stood up and turned to his brother.
Naoko hugged Sai, "I'll see you in the morning." he said before heading out of the store. The pianist stopped however and turned back, "Niisan, make sure Ko-kun eats something besides pancakes for dinner." the musician said, laughing before leaving the store.

Sighing once outside, Naoko was glad to have a moment to himself. He'd have to tell Ryu all about Ko... about going to the onsen for Christmas... and secretly he wondered what his lover would think about that.
They would be apart for Christmas but... maybe that was good?
Certainly right now, Ko-kun was doing wonders for Naoko's mental health... and Ryu had wanted him to get more stable...
Hadn't he?

Walking down the street, Naoko intended to take the subway and then a bus to get back to Ryu's.

The place was attractive. In fact, Naoko wouldn't have minded spending some time there. He garnered looks and glances from various patrons and employees alike.
After all, this wasn't the first time someone had thought he'd make an incredible host himself.

He even noticed a woman request him but the host she was with apparently let her know that he wasn't an employee.

Little did Naoko know... he'd been in the depths of this establishment before.

Amber eyes scanned around, looking for wherever Hayato might have gone. For a few moments he didn't see anything... then he noticed a door at the far end of the room, one that had a guard outside, close.

It was the only logical place that Jun could have gone judging from the crowd, so naturally... Naoko followed.

"Did a man with long hair just go through here?" he asked the guard.

Without so much as a glance at the pianist, the man nodded and opened the door. Thinking that a bit odd... Naoko entered, looking around and wondering if Hayato really had come this way.

Eventually, at the end of the hall, the pianist found an elevator. Watching the numbers, after pushing the down button, he realized that whoever had used it last, most likely Hayato... had gone to the fifth floor.

Waiting.... waiting.... as the elevator returned to the first floor... Naoko wondered to himself why he was actually following Hayato in the first place.
After all, this wasn't exactly where he should be at the moment... and things were starting to pick at the back of his mind as warnings.

What if this was some sort of shady deal?
And why had the guard just let him pass so easily?

Having no time to fully questions his decision, Naoko got in the elevator and hit the button for the fifth floor.

What he would find in the depths of Izo's PIT... were the stuff of his nightmares...

Hours later...

Hanging there limply in a cage... the little birdie was too exhausted to even tweet out a single note. His head lolled to one side as he blacked out...

When Naoko woke up next, he was in the same clothes as the day before. Body exhausted, he woke to his cell phone alarm going off... an alarm that he had set up to remind him to go back to Sai's...
Still feeling the effects of the drugs, the blond pulled himself out of bed and stumbled down the stairs, body too sore and mind too sluggish to really understand what was going on.

It took Naoko two hours to get to Sai's... and as soon as his brother opened the door, the blond pianist collapsed.

~ ~ ~

As Naoko fell, Sai caught him but at the same time this sent Ko screaming in panic thinking Naoko was hurt. And he was right although Ko wouldn't know exactly what right away. Sai carried Naoko to the guest bedroom and laid him out then checked his vitals.

"Ko, I need to take Naoko to the hospital." Sai said hearing the boy peeking into the room. Then he got up and walked over to Ko and knelt down pulling Ko close, "This didn't happen because of you so don't even think that. Naoko sometimes makes...bad decisions and gets into trouble. So don't....blame yourself. Ok?"

Ko nodded very slowly and hugged onto Sai for a long moment sniffling. He knew....oh he knew what happened to Naoko and that scared him.

Sai let Ko go before walking to his room to grab the keys. He was calm on the outside for Ko's sake but inside, he felt the headache coming on fast. He couldn't protect his brother! Impossible! He could never stop the cycle of abuse no matter what he tried. What would he tell Ryuukaze? Sai blamed himself for letting Naoko leave his side at the Music Box. The headache assaulted his vision and every time he couldn't handle his own guilt the shock of it all triggered the event.

Shou returned to the room with a mask upon his face and tilted his head looking at Naoko's distressed unconscious body. "Is he sleeping Ko-kun?" asked Shou with a confused smile. Was Naoko going to the onsen too?

"No...he's sick Uncle Shou. You need to take him to the hospital. He's....he's been.....hurt." answered Ko as he took Shou's hand quickly.

Shou frowned trying to figure out what happened. Did Naoko have a run in with Jun? Oh no.... He then looked down at the keys in his other hand. This was odd....intuition? "Alright. I'll carry him to the car. You open the doors for me Ko-kun."

~ ~ ~

Laying on the bed, Naoko had a vague memory of hearing Ko scream... of his brothers arms around him...
Hospital?

"No... no hospitals..." the blond whispered wearily, amber eyes opening and fixing on the two standing near the bed.

Little Ko had his hand in Sai's... no doubt they were worried about him.

"I'm fine... just let me sleep..." he spoke, exhausted beyond recall. "I'll be good to leave this afternoon... yakusoku... just... let me sleep, niisan..."

His mind couldn't comprehend that this was Shou even if it tried.
No... the loving arms that had caught him belonged to Sai... to his brother...

Turning his head, that tired gaze focused on Ko. "I'm okay, Ko-kun... Really... Don't be scared..." he reached a hand out to the boy, hoping to draw the youth closer. "Did... did you play the piano for Yamada-san?"

The pianist was trying to act like nothing had happened... that he was just really very tired. After all, he had plenty of time to explain to Sai what had happened... of course... he had no idea his brother was mentally MIA.

~ ~ ~

The words pinged Shou's sensibilities. "No hospitals?" Oh this was frustrating indeed. How could he just not take him there. But it might be more troublesome if Naoko were thrashing about not wanting to go. However, when Naoko called him Nii-san again it caused Shou's head to stir. Although the squeeze from Ko's little hand stabilized the star right away. Shou glanced down at the boy tenderly and realized that he must take care of his little nephew first.

Ko clung to Shou's hand and then hid his face in Shou's pant leg. He was very afraid even as Naoko held out his hand. Shou reached down and then picked up Ko into his arms and brought him closer then knelt so the boy could see Naoko up close. "It's ok, Ko-kun. See....Naoko is going to be alright. He just needs a little time to rest and get cleaned up. "

The boy's face was a wet wipe of tiny tears as he reached out very cautiously to take a hold of Naoko's hand. He only nodded yes about the piano while his body clung very tightly to Shou. "I'm going to take Ko-kun to his bedroom now." Shou stood up as Ko released Naoko's hand and then he walked off with the boy. "Now Ko-kun, play with your mouse and just stay here for awhile. I'm going to go take care of Naoko-san. When I'm done, I'll come get you and I promise that the next few days will be fun."

He kissed the boy's forehead and held the child for awhile. It was difficult when the little guy just didn't want to let go of him. A part of Shou didn't actually want to put the boy down. Seemed to him that Naoko was always getting into trouble with men. Finally, he carefully untangled Ko from his chest and set him on the bed then patted him on the head. "Be a good boy while I'm taking care of Naoko. When I come back we can go play with your piano and I'll join you with my guitar. Does that sound good?"

Ko nodded and a little smile showed upon his lips. He liked Shou a lot and then put on his NeKo mask quickly. Shou smiled and walked to the door. "Just like me, NeKo-kun is...right?" Ko nodded under the mask as Shou walked out.

Returning to the guest bedroom, Shou rolled up his sleeves. He didn't say much as he walked off and filled the tub with warm water and sweet soaps before carrying Naoko in there and setting him slowly into the tub.

Shou wouldn't call Ryuukaze-san because he actually wondered if the man would just snap and tell Naoko to go to hell. The young man seemed so unable to care for himself or make good decisions. And Shou sometimes wondered if Naoko just like being used. But considering was a member of his band, he had to take some sort of responsibility for him. Maybe taking him to the Onsen with he and Ko was not a good idea. Naoko needed to really be home with Ryuukaze and maybe in bed. No maybe in a hospital getting treatments for all the various problems the young man dragged in his life. Seriously, Shou couldn't even fathom living like Naoko. Too much drama for his taste.

So he washed Naoko up gently while pondering his next actions. If Yamada-san was here he would have just had him handle Naoko. Maybe he should call Yamada-san and ask for his advice? Would it hurt to call him while he was on vacation? Shou continued to think as he finished cleaning up his band mate then prepared to carry him back to the bed.

~ ~ ~

Naoko didn't say anything as Shou took Ko from the room. Even when Shou carried him into the bathroom... he said nothing.
But as the man was carefully cleaning him up... the blond broke down into tears.

He didn't say anything though... only cried... his legs pulled up to his chest, face hidden in his knees and behind his hair. After a few minutes though... the young man finally spoke.

"You must think I'm a horrible person, Shou-san..." Naoko whispered, having realized that the man helping him wasn't his brother.

Wasn't the man he had hoped to find when he knocked on that door.

"I didn't choose this..." he said, nearly choking on the words. "I...." he clamped his jaw down, feeling another round of sobs coming on. "I was on my way to Ryu's and I saw Jun from a distance..." the pianist continued, eyes screwed shut to hopefully keep himself from crying again. "I followed him because I didn't want him to leave you... you're happy with him and... and I thought I could talk him out of it but... but then some men jumped me and... and..." Naoko broke down crying again, his body shivering as flashes of memory flew through his mind.

"I just wanted to help..." he sobbed, clutching his legs closer to his body.

~ ~ ~

Shou sighed as he started washing Naoko's hair letting him cry for a moment then saying slowly, "The problem between Jun and I is just that...a problem between Jun and I. You shouldn't try to help it. He knows I am here and he doesn't want to see me thus I think that is all the answer I need about our relationship." It was a sad reality but he couldn't force Jun to talk to him and he wouldn't step in where he wasn't wanted. Life moved on, at least in Shou's mind.

"I'm stronger than you realize, Naoko-kun." Shou said as he scrubbed his hair clean. "I won't cry about what I have lost because there is no place for it. I thought I could have a decent relationship with someone for once in my life. It didn't work out but I've made a new friend in Izzy Lucky and now I've got Ko-kun to be...mm...a father to...So It all balances out in the end, doesn't it?"

He picked up the shower head and turned it on, feeling it until the water was warm then started rinsing out Naoko's hair. "I know you didn't choose this, Naoko-kun. But you've a terrible habit of getting into places that get into trouble. So maybe, rather than helping me, you should help yourself for a change. Hmm?"

"You remind me of my sister...she has problems too. Sometimes I wish I could take them all away from her. But it's impossible. She wouldn't listen if I tried...she ran away from me a long time ago. Always so determined but always so...mmm...well, lets just say she has poor judgement. I have to make up for everything as the older brother...especially now with Ko-kun. I want him to have a better world." Shou's mind eschewed Sai's issues with Naoko into what his 'sister' seemed to be in his head.

~ ~ ~

Shou's words though... only made Naoko cry harder.
Because he knew that this 'sister' was... in reality... himself.

Had he truly caused Sai so much grief?

"You think I wanted to be locked in a cage for hours?" Naoko asked softly. "They jumped me... chloroformed me... what other choice did I have? I wasn't even in a bad part of town..." he sniffed, closing his eyes for a moment and just trying not to burst into tears. "I just want to run away.... Ever since coming to Tokyo it's been nothing but trauma after trauma and I don't want that anymore..."

~ ~ ~

Shou heard the heavy sobbing and stopped washing to pull Naoko into his arms, "Shhh...shh...I didn't mean to make things worse. I know you didn't want to have any of that happen to you. All I'm saying, is you've got to think ahead a little more. But I know that things do happen sometimes." Maybe the onsen was a good idea to get Naoko out of Tokyo for awhile. Ok, he'd cope with it. Hopefully, it would be a healthier environment.

"Why don't we get you into some nice soft pajamas and let you rest for a few hours. I'll make arrangements for the limo that is picking us up for later in the day. Then once you're awake the 3 of us can go have some fun. Alright?" He walked off for a moment and went to his own room finding Naoko's bags in their for some unknown reason. He carried them to the guest room along with a pair of fluffy warm footie purple PJs. Obviously Shou's PJs.

"Now, hop into these and I'll tuck you in. I've an afternoon musical date with Ko-kun so we'll play a few lullabies just for you." he tweaked Naoko's nose and gave him the PJs.

~ ~ ~

Getting out of the bath, Naoko wrapped a towel around himself as Shou left to find some pajamas. When the man returned... well... the pianist couldn't help but laugh in amusement.
"You're seriously going to make me wear that?" he asked, smiling slightly.
For a moment, his misery forgotten.
"Grown men in footie pajamas is a little awkward..." the blond commented.

He was glad that Shou wasn't kicking him out... though how he would explain everything properly to the man was a mystery.
"I... I ended up in a host club, Shou-san... and... I mean I can't prove it but... I think it was owned by Izo... Be... because this wasn't the first time this has happened... and... and..." Naoko very nearly broke down again, but instead he took the offered pajamas and held them close.

They smelled like Shou... which meant that they also smelled like Sai...
It helped calm him down some.

~ ~ ~

"What...what's wrong with them? They're purple and plush!" he mused as he pushed them into Naoko's arms. Shou was a big fan of bright colors especially purple. "Yes I'm going to make you wear them. No ifs ands or buts." He waggled a finger at Naoko then waited for the younger man to scoot his buns into them.

But then he paused as Naoko dressed. There were so many possibilities but pinning things on Matsumoto was going to be difficult because he hadn't any experience with that side of Matsmoto's world, "A host club? Mm...there are so many of them out there. I've never heard Matsumoto-san speak of owning any clubs although I know he frequents many. Mmm...and you say this has happened to you before?" He frowned because well he didn't know the circumstances. Even so, how did the younger man get himself in to these things was beyond him.

Shou was glad that Naoko seemed to be calming some. He definitely had a reason to call Hamu now because Naoko's words did bother him a bit. He wasn't sure about anything and well Matsumoto...had a very bad reputation. Shou knew he was dangerous and had done things to other people. At least that is what Narcissus had said but never had proof to back the claim. It was frustrating because the threat seemed to reach far further than Shou imagined. Sometimes the star didn't want to think that far or have even more doubt about what he could protect in this world. As long as his shined highest in the heaven, his bright feathers would protect all that stood within their rays. But, that light...didn't extend too far it seemed. However, Naoko was in his band! If he couldn't do something about that, then what good was he?

He grit his teeth as the thought simmered to a boil. Maybe while Naoko was sleeping he'd go and pay Izo a visit. Yes, he could do that. But...wait...there was little Ko-kun and if Naoko was sleeping, who would be there for Ko? The price of parenting Shou realized and the need of a good babysitter or nanny. But Shou doubted that Ko could handle too many new people taking care of him. So if he couldn't go meet Izo, he could call him and chew him out!

~ ~ ~

Wearing the Pajamas, Naoko walked out of the bathroom. "Don't... don't tell anyone... please..." the younger Oumori asked, amber eyes flickering over to Shou in embarrassment. "This... this is the... the third time and... and I don't know what to do but... but Izo finds out I told you or anyone I..." he swallowed, obvious fear in his voice. "I can't protect Ryu, Shou-san. I can't even protect myself so... so.... so please don't.... I'm not supposed to talk about it..." the blond was rubbing the back of his neck in worry, a usual trait of his when nervous. "No one's supposed to know... the first time I met Izo there... I think... and... and the second time his men came for me..."

~ ~ ~

TBC...