CAPTURED

Chapter IV

On the day of their departure, Hikaru arrived ahead of Shin, bubbling with excitement about returning to his hometown.

“I hope Mr. Shin will be interested. It’s been so long since I’ve been to that place,” he murmured, scanning his list of potential photography spots. A few minutes later, Shin appeared just before their boarding time.

“Good evening, sir! Are you excited? I can’t wait to be back home,” Hikaru greeted enthusiastically, but Shin merely nodded, donning his headphones.

“Is he still upset?” Hikaru whispered worriedly to himself, resigning to silence and opting for a nap to conserve energy for their arrival in Ibaraki.

After hours of travel, they reached the station just before the last trip.

“Finally! We made it on time, sir. Shall we—” Hikaru began, but was cut off by Shin, who suddenly became nauseous. Hikaru escorted him to the nearest restroom and arranged for a cab to their accommodation.

Despite Shin’s weakness, he insisted on tidying up, but Hikaru urged him to rest. Ignoring Shin’s protests, Hikaru lifted him onto the bed.

“Let me go! Mr. Yamada, I said let me go!” Shin panicked, but Hikaru gently persuaded him to stay put, promising to bring his belongings.

Fifteen minutes passed as Hikaru searched for Shin’s bag in the living room. Eventually returning to the bedroom, he confessed.

“Sir, I think we left one of your bags at the station. I’m deeply sorry for being careless, sir.” Shin sighed in disbelief at the unfortunate turn of events, while Hikaru left some clothes for him, muttering to himself as he exited the room.

The next morning, the aroma of a delicious meal wafted from the kitchen, awakening Shin's appetite. As he savored the food, prepared by Hikaru, he was taken aback by its taste.

“I haven’t tasted food this good in twenty years. I will marry the person who cooked this meal!” Shin exclaimed, astonished.

“Are you sure you’re gonna marry me?” Hikaru teased, revealing himself as the chef. Shin’s disbelief turned to gratitude as they bantered over breakfast.

Later, they headed to the station to retrieve Shin’s lost bag before deciding on their first destination. They paused at a park to decide on their first destination. Nervously, Hikaru presented his list to Shin.

“Sir, I know many beautiful spots in Ibaraki. We can visit farms, parks, ponds, lakes, shrines, and that bridge…”

After scanning the list, Shin suggested, “Eigenji Temple.”
“Hananuki Valley,” Hikaru countered.

“Ah, that’s a good choice, sir,” Hikaru acknowledged, before arranging transportation to the temple.

At the temple, they set up their cameras and began photographing the scenery. Later, over dinner, they debated their next destination.

“Kashima Jingu Shrine,” Shin proposed.
“Hananuki Valley again,” Hikaru suggested.
 
Reflecting on their previous visit, Hikaru whispered, “I wonder if I’ll have the chance to go there again.”

-

The next day at the shrine, Hikaru conversed with the fish while Shin grew weary. Disappointed by Shin’s indifference, Hikaru questioned their relationship as Shin walked away, dismissing his concerns. Hikaru sighed as he follows Shin to the exit.

“What’s with the deep sigh and with that long face? You can stay if you want, just don’t bother be knocking at the door while I’m asleep” Shin said.

*alarm warning on their phone 

“ehhh earthquake warning? I felt like I’ve encountered this same situation befo-” Shin interrupted “I don’t care with your past or whatever you’ve experienced here before, I’m leaving.” 

As Shin walked away, “Do you hate me that much? I know I’ve caused you a lot of trouble since I came but isn’t that too much for you to be mad at me?” Hikaru frustratedly shouts.

Shin keep walking as he couldn’t care less.
"Go leave, abandon me like how everyone turn away from me. I’m sorry sir, I’ve crossed the line” as Hikaru walked out and left.

Hours has passed, as the place was covered in darkness and filled with silence, Hikaru suddenly felt the shaking of the ground. An earthquake is happening just as the warning stated. Hikaru immediately looked for a safe place to hide, since he was in an open area all he can see are the trees around him, the pond and the shrines. He saw a table behind the trees and hid under it. The place was surrounded by the trees and is located in the mountain area in where landslides may occur.

As the earthquake was violently striking the area, due to its intense and aggressive impact it caused a landslide and as Hikaru was unaware of his surroundings a huge rock fell above the table where he was hiding. He was trapped under the table, mercifully he wasn’t that hurt but he cannot move his legs for the rock was blocking his way out of the place. Hikaru was trying to calm down but he screamed in pain as he felt the pain shot from his legs. He was screaming for help as he passed out due to difficulty in breathing.

“Hikaru! Hikaru! Wake up, can you hear me? I will get you out of there just hold it a little longer. You can do this okay?” Hikaru heard a familiar voice and he immediately knew it was Shin.

The earthquake stopped and it started raining, Shin was able to rescue Hikaru from the landslide and he saw a cottage nearby and decided to stay until the rescue arrives. But as he carries Hikaru to the cottage a sharp and long branch from the tree fell and pierced through his stomach. He groans in pain but his main concern is to bring Hikaru in the cottage to keep him safe from the rain and from another crash if it ever happens again.

-

It was midnight when Hikaru woke up as the rain stops. He felt a stinging pain in his legs as he tried to stand. He saw Shin covered in cuts and saw the branch that was stabbed in his stomach. He tried to check on Shin and he was burning with fever. He was shaking and his lips are cracked. Hikaru was so scared as he was about to cry but he can’t but to be strong and calm for Shin. He tried to take out the branch out of Shin’s stomach and he took off some of the cloth from his shirt to cover and stop the bleeding of the wound.

"This might sting a lot but please hold on" Shin pleased as he took out the branch from the stab.

Hikaru was so worried but he doesn't know what to do, he's also in pain and he cannot even stand.  The rescue may arrive in the morning so they have to wait for four to five hours.

“Mr. Shin why do you have to comeback and get me, you should have saved yourself instead of going back. I will never forgive myself if another person will die because of me, please survive don’t leave me."

Shin’s situation is getting worse, his body temperature is still rising and he started coughing blood and what might get worse is he might die at any moment due to his high body temperature and infections on his wounds. Hikaru is running out of ideas on what to do to save Shin’s life, until he thought of this idea of sharing body heat. Since both of them are cold he had no choice but to do it.

“I’m sorry for doing this sir but it’s for saving our lives, you might die at any time because your body temperature is continuously increasing. Excuse me but I have to take off your clothes” Hikaru explained as a proof that he asked for Shin’s consent before taking off his clothes.

As Hikaru removed his clothes he then slowly removed Shin’s clothes and he then started crying. A sudden burst of tears due to his unexplainable pain and situation.

“Please don’t die” the last words Hikaru said as they are laying next to each other.

Wrapped in Shin’s coat, they feel only their body heat intertwining, warding off the cold as they hold each other close.