Sleeping With Money (MewGulf AU)

🌞Chapter 46

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The ringing phone interrupted Mew's sleep.

He opened his eyes a crack and let out a little sigh. Gulf had taken off. After abusing him until the breaking point, Mew had carried the unconscious Gulf to bed. The man should have been right next to him, soundly asleep.

Mew touched the pillow. Stone cold. Gulf must have left some time ago.

Where did he go?

Gulf couldn't have had much sleep. Hell, he probably couldn't even walk. But he still managed to leave somehow. He really didn't want to be with Mew.

Mew sighed, feeling his heart sink into a gloomy abyss. He didn't want to talk to anybody, but the phone kept ringing, demanding his attention.

He picked it up, resigned to his fate. The instant he put it to his ear, he heard First's anguished voice.

"Is he...is he there?" First gasped.

"No," Mew answered dully. "He didn't come back home?"

Mew got out of the bed and opened the shades. The sun was already up. He had slept longer than usual. If he didn't get moving, he'd be late for his nine o'clock meeting.

Does it really matter?

He felt as if all the energy had been sapped out of him. His relationship with Gulf had been going so well. Now, in just one night, it was all over.

What did I do wrong?

Maybe Gulf was actually straight as an arrow after all. Being with a man had become too much for him.

"It's terrible!" First exclained. People say he's been kidnapped by a gang!"

Mew immediately came to his senses.

"Kidnapped?" he echoed.

"I just heard about it now," First babbled. "It happened early this morning. Boss was walking downtown, drunk out of his mind. Some thugs jumped him and threw him in a car. Then I got a phone call, someone from the Seishoukai, I think. The Seishoukai members are old enemies of the boss, especially AA, their Tokyo branch president. If AA took him, the boss is dead meat!"

Mew had heard of AA before. The man was quite a powerful figure. First probably wasn't exaggerating this time, though like most Yakuza First loved to exaggerate. Even now, the thought made Mew smile a little.

Gulf in trouble with AA?

Mew wondered if he should even get involved. The Yakuza world had its own, violent customs. But Gulf hadn't go with them willingly, he'd been kidnapped. He was plagued with doubts.

As First babbled on anxiously. Mew interrupted him. "Maybe Gulf knew them. Maybe Gulf is returning to his old life."

He felt a sharp pain in his chest as he remembered last night. He had asked Gulf why he was leaving, over and over again, but Gulf only said he was bored.

"That can't be!" First insisted. "The boss loved his new life. He used to get drunk and tell me how happy he was now. He loved the suit you gave him so much, he wouldn't even let me touch it. He gave me one of the business cards, too. No way would he ever join the gang again. The boss may be proud, but he's also loyal."

First hit the nail on the head.

Mew suddenly felt he understood everything.

Gulf had definitely acted weird last night. He wouldn't even look at him. And Mew could tell he was feeling unsure of himself. Even after Mew had asked for payment once a month, Gulf had still acted strange.

"Did Gulf actually tell you he was going straight?" he asked First.

But his mind was already made up. So what if Gulf had broken up with him? If Gulf had been kidnapped, then he had to do something. He would get rid of anything that prevented Gulf from living an honest, decent life.

Energy welled up inside him.

"Understood," he said firmly. "I'll look into it. Where was Gulf kidnapped?"

After First explained. Mew immediately hung up. He knew the location well. In fact, the act might have even been caught on camera. He made a few phone calls to have that looked into, then let Lovely know he was taking the day off. He could easily make up for the time. Gulf was his top priority.

I don't care about overstepping the bounds. I don't care if he still wants to break up. He needs my help.

It hurt like hell to be rejected by someone you loved. Maybe Mew was only picking up his wound, but he wouldn't give up on Gulf.

He had first seen Gulf way back in high school. Gulf was his first love, in fact. His only love, Mew knew in his heart.

What spurred him on the most  was the chance of seeing Gulf again. It wouldn't be easy to find him, but Mew would use his whole organization if necessary. Just the thought of Gulf made Mew's eyes start to shine again.

TBC