Chapter Text
The streets, cities and beautiful mountain roads only ever seemed to rush him by or stretch on endlessly. It was impossible to say how long they were already on the road.
They stretched on endlessly whenever he managed to actually look out the window and rushed him by as soon as his whirring thoughts took over.
Akihito was thankful for every inch the cramped bus put between him and the juvenile training school while dreading every millimeter he got closer to the adult prison awaiting him. He cursed himself for not being able to stick to the rules of the damn school long enough to convince the warden that „rehabilitation“ in prison was unnecessary. But he had been unable to help himself.
Standing to attention, reciting school rules, laws and prayers wasn’t something he would ever be good at. It didn’t even matter that he understood every damn thing he was reciting day by day, he just couldn't manage to look meek and disciplined enough while doing it. And no hours of kneeling or solitary confinement would ever change that.
He was too twitchy, his impulse to move overrode everything, no matter how hard he tried. Trying to explain his difficulties to the warden had been unsuccessful, of course.
Apparently, rehabilitation meant to remain motionless even if every muscle of his body rebelled against his brain's commands. Aki wasn't ready to be let loose on the world again until he'd learn to control his impulses, the warden concluded.
And according to the judge, the warden's assessment of him was correct. Two more years to learn to control his impulses were coming his way and there was nothing he could do about it.
Two years before he could hope to start to make amends for that fateful night five years ago. No matter what would happen to him in prison, he had to survive. Kou would never come back and his parents deserved someone to take care of them. He'd try to make up for the loss of their son, even if he was doomed to fail.
Prison. Aki fought down nausea that threatened to take him over at the thought. He could fight back against the other teens at the school but he had no illusions about holding his own against hardened criminals.
His knuckles still hurt from putting his fist through Arata’s face this morning when the bastard had insinuated just what he’d have to do for his new cellmate once the doors closed behind him. This morning he had been outraged and ready to fight, now he was just scared.
There would be nothing he could do if a man bigger, stronger and meaner than him actually demanded any kind of favors from him. The mere thought of it made his stomach churn.
He was screwed in any way imaginable. The warden had recommended two years in prison to the judge, who had complied with the recommendation. So much lost because he couldn't control his thirst for adventure...
It had been six years already but the constant circle of anger, grief, and self-reproach never changed. He was responsible for Kou's death- how was he supposed to get over his guilt? There would never be a sentence severe enough to absolve him.
He had to survive the next two years. That's all he could reasonably hope for: to live long enough to make amends.
The sound of a siren brought an abrupt end to Akihito's musings. A nervous glance out of the barred window confirmed their arrival at the gate of Fuchū Prison.
************
Being processed had been a whole lot more humiliating than Akihito had feared. Just this morning, he had been convinced that the guards at the juvenile training school were anal about details but they, at least, didn't take it to the literal sense the guards in Fuchū did.
Now, an hour later, he was still slightly damp from his mandatory shower and dwarfed by the ill-fitting moss green prison uniform.
The warden had given his spiel about the strict schedule everyone was to follow and the disciplinary measures that would be taken if needed, which left them with only one more task: the track to their new homes.
Fear slowly won out over all residual embarrassment. His cell-mate could either be his doom or his first ally.
The men in front of him started to move, prompting Akihito to fall into step. The climbed two stairways, interrupted by just as many locked gates. The second of them gave way to a corridor, which again ended in bars. Two guards were waiting behind the gate and started to read out names as soon as they stopped in front of the bars.
Akihito's already rigid spine tried to straighten in vain when his name was called. He was told to form a new line with the other prisoners and follow the two new guards into D wing.
D wing. Akihito didn't know enough about Fuchū to deduce anything from being placed in this wing. Was D a high-security wing? Non-violent offenders? Middle ground?
"Takaba Akihito, step into cell 34-97." Aki had kept his eyes on the ground, as prisoner after prisoner left the queue to step into their respective cell. A quick glance to the left was all he needed, 34-97 was towards the end of the corridor and apparently already inhabited by another prisoner.
The queue started moving past him towards another corridor.
With a churning belly, he stepped into his new home. When he noticed his cellie on the higher bunk bed, he nearly dropped his stack of clothes and toiletries.
They stared at each other in shock for a few seconds.
"Aki!", the boy jumped down from his bed.
Tao. How could Tao end up in this prison?
The boy had been 19 when he had been whisked away from the juvenile training school one year ago to God knows where.
"How....", Akihito didn't even know how to finish his question. Why would anyone place him in an adult prison?
Tao made to hug him but suddenly stopped short.
"Problem?"
Akihito froze at the deep voice coming from the doorway. An abrupt turn revealed a tall, deceptively calm man.
"I'm fine, Yoh-san", Tao's timid voice set Aki on edge. What had happened to the loud, self-assured boy to make him sound like this?
"I know him. Aki is a friend."
Light brown eyes scrutinized him for a few endless seconds until he was carelessly dismissed as non-threatening.
"Feilong-sama has business to take care of. He wants his cell cleaned and sheets washed."
Tao nodded rapidly and stepped around Akihito, he hesitantly turned before stepping out into the hallway: "I'll be back tonight, Aki. You can have the lower bunk, okay?"
Before he could respond, Tao was hurrying after the hulking man.
Aki tossed his belongings on the small table before slumping down on his bed. Apparently, Tao had to go and play cleaning-lady for someone named Feilong. And Feilong was a big shot if other prisoners practically fell over themselves to follow his orders.
There were hierarchies in juvenile training schools but he was reasonably sure that they had to be taken much more seriously here if he wanted to get out at the end of his sentence.
Tao had been a tough kid when he had left. No one had dared to mess with him and the few who did hadn't known what hit them.
Aki remembered the day one of the school's bullies had tried to go after the boy... it had been one week before he vanished. Apparently, Sakazaki had tried to surprise him with an iron pipe and found himself at the end of it instead. Of course, in the guards' version, Tao had attacked Sakazaki unprovoked, which led to solitary confinement and a transfer to an adult prison. At least, if Akihito's reasoning was correct.
If Fuchū turned strong, brash Tao into a scared boy, Aki didn't even want to know how he would turn out at the end of his sentence.
******
It didn't take long for Akihito to find out what exactly was in store for him.
Dinner had been uneventful, as could be expected by a meal closely supervised by armed guards. The way back to his cell was when things started to change, precisely the moment he was surrounded by a group of other prisoners and boxed into a corner.
He had noticed the eyes on himself before but had done his best to ignore them. He was fresh meat, of course, he would be scrutinized for the first few days.
What he didn't expect was to be mobbed, groped and passed around for everyone to cop a feel. He was tossed around, pulled and pushed, held down, lifted off the floor and-
Suddenly released when someone barrelled into him. "LEAVE HIM ALONE!"
Akihito was pulled to his feet by an utterly terrified Tao. The boy dragged him away from the mob, towards the tall man who came to collect him earlier. "Yoh-san, please"-
"Has Feilong-sama claimed this one too?" The question came from a heavily tattooed man in the center of the mob. He could feel the rise of tension in Tao's body "Please, Yoh-san"-
"What's all the commotion about, Yoh?" Everyone in the hallway, apart from the calm bodyguard startled at the imperious voice from the stairs. A tall, elegant man entered the corridor, long, silky hair put up in a heavy ponytail.
"Tao put his nose where it doesn't belong, Feilong-sama." If possible, Tao stiffened up even more. An amused smile curled around the man's lips.
Aki had been right about the man. He was a big shot in here. The shift in the atmosphere was palpable.
"I assume this is the friend you informed me about?" After a short nod of confirmation from Yoh, Feilong moved towards him. "Let me have a look at your little friend, pet."
Tao's death grip on his arm eased gradually until he stumbled to the side to make way for the man.
Long, surprisingly soft fingers tipped his head upwards and forced him to look right into deep brown eyes. They skimmed over his face, his unusual hair color, light eyes and rested on his left cheek.
With the adrenaline ebbing away, he could start to feel the throb of a bruise on his face.
The hand left his face and Feilong turned towards the men still crowded in the corner. "I apologize, my pet was worried for his friend. Please conduct such thorough inspections of fresh meat where he can't see it."
Akihito felt like he had been punched in the gut. Do it where Tao can't see it?! Was this guy serious??
"Feilong-sama, please", Tao was wringing his hands and Aki's stomach started to churn again. Please, don't let Tao do anything stupid. Whoever this Feilong was, he was not a man to be angered, that much was clear.
To his surprise, an amused smile was Feilong's only outward reaction.
"Stray pets only need to ask for an owner in here, you know that Tao", Aki froze up again when the dangerous eyes landed on him, "As he is your friend, I'll do him the favor of helping him find a good home, should he ask me for help."
Help him find a good home. In prison. Akihito choked on air and started coughing.
"Thank you, Feilong-sama", only Tao's genuine thankfulness at this "favor" was worse than the idea of being passed off to a guy of this man's choosing.
"I don't need a HOME!"
"Aki!", Tao had the actual audacity to put his hand over his mouth, "Thank you, Feilong-sama. May I take him back to our cell?"
Tao drew his hand away inside the relative safety of their cell. The forced silence had given Akihito ample time to process what had just happend.
As much as he hated it, he owed Tao for getting Feilong on his side. He owed him a lot.