Hiding In Plain Sight

Breaking Of Man

Emetophobia warning.

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The trio managed to shake off the police and public, jumping through alleyways and hiding in plain sight on the street. Shuichi had no idea where they were going, but he didn't care. Rain poured from the clouds, soaking the three men on the run. Normally, Shuichi would use his hat to shield his eyes, but he'd lost the comfort tool in the earlier scuffle with the police when his uncle died.

Rantaro followed Kokichi up the ladder on the side of an unknown building, holding a hand out to help Shuichi onto the roof. The ex-detective heaved himself onto a closed dumpster, staring up at the outstretched hand without any further movement, rain trickling down his sodden, sorrowful skin. "Just go without me. What's the point of running?"

Falling backwards, Shuichi collapsed to the concrete, his tears indiscernible from the rain. Nothing mattered anymore to the boy, he watched a police officer put a gun to his uncle's head and shoot, killing an innocent civilian for loving his family. At least he didn't suffer, he didn't feel pain. Ignoring the thump next to him, Shuichi attempted to curl into a tighter ball, numb to the entire world around him, including the arms wrapping around his lanky body.

Shuichi continued to sob, not bothering to quieten his wails of sorrow and despair. "Why did he have to die?! He was the last family I had, the last person who cared about me!"

"I know Shuichi, I know," Rantaro soothed the boy, rubbing calming circles on his back. The two sat in silence, bar from Shuichi's sobbing, sniffing and the rain tapping against their surroundings.

"Shuichi, I'm going to be harsh about this but you need to calm down and we need to run. Once we get to safety you can let it all out." Kokichi slipped down the ladder and held out a hand to the boys, waving at them to hurry. "I get that you're upset, I would be too, but right now our priority is survival. If you've given up, then Rantaro and I can leave and I'll just call the cops over now to get this over with."

He's right, if I give up now then I'm as good as dead. "Kokichi, no need to be like that, he's suffering right now," Rantaro attempted to defend his new friend.

"No, it's okay, he's right. Let's go, I'm right behind you." Shuichi stood, easing Rantaro's arms off of him. The other boy nodded, following Rantaro up the ladder again to the roof of the small building. Shuichi jumped onto the dumpster, attempting to heave his body onto the ladder with the little upper body strength be obtained, ultimately failing the attempt.

"Here, I've got you." Rantaro leaned down and held out a hand to the young man. Shuichi jumped up and clasped the outstretched hand, Rantaro lifting him with ease so he could climb the rest of the short ladder. His hands are so soft, but they feel warped, almost as if they've been severely burned. "Woah, you're pretty light. No offence."

"None taken," Shuichi smiled as the three jumped across the roofs of the building, careful to stay out of sight for as long as possible. Noticing members of the public populating the street slowly diminishing, Shuichi noticed the two approached what seemed to be another abandoned area.

"We're almost there, we'll get to the ground in that building there," Kokichi pointed to what seemed to resemble a gym, explaining to the new member of the group. The trio hopped over a few more roofs finding themself on the gym roof where a ladder lead to a lower roof of the same building. Shuichi groaned, his legs burning due to the exercise.

"Just a little bit longer Shuichi, don't worry," Rantaro held his hand, pulling the boy towards the ladder. As Shuichi waited to climb down after him, he looked around at his surroundings, noticing a familiar water tower in the distance. We're in the same area where Ayak- Maki was, I wonder if she's still here. Shuichi descended the ladder, reaching the roof below and jumping through a broken window, meeting his friends inside the building.

Climbing the stairway to the ground, the three ran across the street towards a bar, climbing a set of stairs outside the building leading towards the floor above the bar. The moment they entered, Shuichi noticed a small cooking setup, with two beds crowded in one corner and supplied crammed into another. They've been living here for a while, haven't they?

Rifling through the supplies, Rantaro and Kokichi set up some food to cook on their portable stove, encouraging Shuichi to join them with waves of their arms. Shuichi shook his head, having no desire to eat any more food than he already had. Crawling into an unused corner, Shuichi curled into a ball, his sopping wet clothes staining the wall and floor as tears leaked into his knees, the boy silently weeping as he fell asleep.

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Fluttering his eyes, Shuichi noticed a shadow hovering over his face. "Morning sleepyhead!" 

"A-ah! Kokichi?!" Shuichi shouted in surprise, seeing the purple-haired male's upside-down face in front of his.

"Get that sexy ass of yours up, you've been sleeping for ages!" Kokichi giggled, leaning backwards to allow Shuichi room to get off the tough floor. "We made breakfast!" He cheered, thrusting a plate of eggs at the male.

"Kokichi, stop shouting, we're in hiding in case you've forgotten?" Rantaro sighed, almost not attempting to hide the grin on his face as he ate.

"Thanks, it means a lot but I'm not that hungry," Shuichi excused himself, having no desire to eat. Not when his only comfort blankets were gone, when his main comfort was dead. He was murdered because of me, it's all my fault that he's dead, I don't deserve to enjoy eating or even living.

"That's nice, but you're eating breakfast." Kokichi frowned, forcing the plate of food into Shuichi's hand. The boy sighed, knowing he had zero chance at wriggling free of the order. Slowly bringing the food to his lips, the male's mind screamed in disgust as Shuichi started eating, forcing every bite down with a painful swallow.

It felt like hours before he finished, finally bringing the plate to a bucket of greywater, washing it and placing it where he saw others stored. Turning to the two criminals he'd become acquainted with, Shuichi smiled. "I'm going to get some fresh air, if I'm not back in ten minutes then something's happened."

"Alright, don't go too far okay?" Rantaro begged as Shuichi left the building, rushing down the steps and travelling out of sight from his new home.

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Using a roll of bandages he stole when returning his plate, Shuichi wrapped the bloody wounds he'd inflicted on his wrists, covering the pristine bandages with his shirt sleeves and striped jacket. His throat burned from residual vomit, unable to wash his mouth of the vile taste. It's my fault, I did this to myself. Sighing, the man came to a sudden realisation. Uncle hasn't been dead for a day and I've already thrown up my food and started cutting, I'm nothing without him, am I? Maybe I'm better off dead too, instead of the police capturing me.

"Hey, Shuichi! It's been ten minutes, are you alright over there?" Kokichi shouted, having turned the corner to find Shuichi sitting against a slab of concrete. Slipping the knife he also stole into his pocket, Shuichi attempted to spit out any residual vomit in his throat before approaching the other male. Don't let them know, it'll only make you seem like the weak bitch you are.