(BL) Mafia Love; He who falls the hardest loses-Chapter 144: Tears

Haruki’s heart tightened at that sight as a lump formed in his throat. This man whom he had never seen scared for the first time appeared mentally defeated.

"I . . ." Hiroshi began his voice low and cracked a bit. He cleared his throat before continuing, "I swear it wasn’t me."

Just a few words yet Haruki could feel the helplessness in the man’s voice, in every word said. He had never once suspected Hiroshi of doing it, he never even imagined that the man would do such a thing.

At that point, he didn’t even wonder why he had never suspected him but he just couldn’t put Hiroshi into the role of someone who exposed a heartfelt conversation they had. It could have been anyone else not Hiroshi. It was something he never thought possible.

Hiroshi sniffed and repeated himself, "I swear it wasn’t me." When he got no response, he trembled visibly in the position he was in as he continued, "I have no reason to do such wickedness. I have never thought of doing such a thing. I swear it wasn’t me."

Haruki could not hold back a sigh why did his chest hurt so much hearing Hiroshi repeatedly deny the allegations? He wondered standing so still frozen by the confusion of such sudden action, if Hiroshi thought of him to be so cruel enough to blame him for what had happened.

He wanted so badly to shout that he knew Hiroshi was not a fault. He glanced at everyone in the room calmly and they were smart enough to walk out of the room and close the door behind them.

He felt his hands shake on his sides as he swore to drain the person behind it of every drop of their blood for bringing a man he knew to be so confident to his knees.

He was the only one allowed to see Hiroshi on his knees yet the person had forced Hiroshi to beg so vulnerably. Remembering the day Hiroshi first worked as his doctor, the first day he had noticed the man, he remembered the resilience of the man who now kowtowed before him.

Even after getting trained by Ren, Hiroshi had not lost his spirit and still stood before him without an atom of fear. Finally, his feet gave him and he walked to Hiroshi.

He bent to touch the man but noticing the slight tremble of the man’s shoulder as he maintained that demeaning position, Haruki went on his knees and tapped Hiroshi’s shoulder.

"Stand up," he ordered between clenched teeth. He pressed his lips into a thin line pissed off by how cold the floor was only after he had knelt for a short while and how Hiroshi was still in that same position.

He brushed his hair backwards and exhaled before repeating himself in a low voice from his chest, "Stand up."

"I swear . . ."

"I said stand up," Haruki interrupted his words. The rage he felt could no longer be suppressed he reached and lifted the man’s shoulder.

Their gaze met, Hiroshi’s brown eyes misty as though he was trying so hard to stop the tears from falling while Haruki’s obsidian eyes looked red as though he was suppressing so much fury at that moment.

Hiroshi felt the urge to kowtow once again and deny the accusations but Haruki’s hands on his shoulders wouldn’t let him move.

"If you didn’t do it, why do you keep denying it?" Haruki asked glaring at him.

Hiroshi’s eyes widened when he heard the question, he wanted to deny it but considering what Haruki had asked him, he pressed his pale lips back together and looked down unable to meet the rage in those eyes.

He wanted so badly to deny it all because he never even thought he could be considered a suspect. He was starved for days for something he had never even considered doing. He was shot for the first time in his life and the wound was far from healing completely.

Seeing Haruki’s anger left him confused.

Haruki seeing the man looking down unsure of what to say made him sigh. He touched Hiroshi’s cheeks and raised his head so he could look into those beautiful brown eyes. "I know you didn’t do it."

Hiroshi was too smart. He could almost swear that Hiroshi was not dumb enough to commit a crime that he could easily be linked to and the conversation was too spontaneous for him to be certain that Hiroshi hadn’t planned it.

Hiroshi felt all the energy that he had gotten from seeing Haruki a moment ago disappear as he slumped sitting on the cold floor. For the first time in a while, he felt a warm small ball of liquid roll down his cheeks.

He looked up hoping to stop any more from rolling down but he made no progress with that as the tears streamed down and he sniffed. He wanted to hide away so badly but Haruki had his face cupped in his hand.

"I will let you decide Ren’s punishment as for the person who had framed you for it, I will kill the person without hesitation," Haruki promised.

How could they make Hiroshi cry? His thumb slid over Hiroshi’s cheeks when it wasn’t enough to wipe his tears, Haruki pulled out a handkerchief and mopped the man’s tears.

"I missed you," Hiroshi cleared his throat and said when the tears finally ceased.

He looked down red with embarrassment when his gaze met Haruki’s.

"I missed you too," Haruki replied smiling at the blush that tinted the man’s cheeks. Cute! "Now can we move to the bed? No, let’s leave. This place is so cold."

He knew the longer he stayed in the room, the more he was very likely to order Ren’s death for leaving Hiroshi in such a cold room when the heating system in the basement was working after all, the corridor was not this cold.

Haruki rose up and lifted the man from the floor. Hiroshi loved seeing him stand up although he could tell that Hiroshi was a bit weak, he didn’t want to see the man on the floor of such a place.

He smiled when their gaze met and reached to brush Hiroshi’s brown hair backwards away from his face. Feeling a strong need to appease the man a bit considering what his subordinate had put him through, he leaned closer and pecked Hiroshi’s lips.

He had begun thinking of all the things he might need to do to make up for what Hiroshi had experienced. Standing face to face, he could not see any physical pain but he knew that both Ren and Kiyoshi were capable of torturing people without leaving physical evidence.

With a sigh, he wrapped his hands around Hiroshi and pulled him closer. He whispered pressing his head against Hiroshi’s shoulder, "I am sorry you had to go through all these."

He felt scared of asking what they had made him go through although he knew that was something he would have to face but first, they had to leave the basement.

"Let’s get out of here," he said trying to pull away from the hug but Hiroshi held him in place and pressed his face against his neck. "I know you missed me but let’s leave first," Haruki whispered softly hoping to get Hiroshi to release him.

"I missed you so much," Hiroshi confirmed Haruki’s words but he didn’t let go. He pressed his nose against Haruki’s neck and inhaled deeply. With every breath he took, he was certain that the days here without sunlight were over and he was no longer a prisoner.

Haruki rubbed his back assuredly as he whispered, "I will get them punished for what they did to you, I promise."

Hiroshi sighed and finally let go. He knew he had to leave the basement. Haruki believed him, he had no reason to stay there anymore and he had the right to punish Ren the way it pleased him. Haruki had also apologised to him.

It was appeasing enough that he was willing to let go of Haruki so that they could leave the place. He winced after taking the first step forward. Haruki looked down at the leg he had moved before looking up at Hiroshi.

"What happened?" he asked worriedly.

Hiroshi shook his head knowing Haruki had only asked that question because he didn’t know he was shot. "I guess I stayed down for too long."

That was a lie as someone who lived most of his younger days in Japan, kneeling for less than half an hour was not enough to make his legs ache but he hoped Haruki would believe him for now.

Without wincing anymore, he took another step forward but Haruki reached forward and supported him. He gave in grateful for that help and leaned against Haruki. He could guess that he would have to use crotches for a while until his leg fully heals.

He was so grateful that the bullet had missed a nerve and his bone or he might not be able to lift himself up even with the support Haruki gave and pretending would be impossible.