Don't Give Up (On Me)

Tori was the first to arrive back at their makeshift base-slash-crash space, running up to the group gathering in front. Hayato caught up moments later.

“We found her,” Tori said, after taking a few moments to catch his breath. “The cabin they’re staying in isn’t too far from here.”
“Great,” Eita replied. “And you definitely saw her?”
“Yeah. But Eita…”
“So, then let’s go get her back. We’ll just follow the plan, and take her away from them.”
“Eita…”
“Someone should let the priests know there might be a fight…”
“Eita…”
“We’ll also need to figure out how we’re going home…”
“EITA!!”
That shook him out of his little reverie. He blinked, and then looked at his friend.
“They’re gonna leave.”
“WHAT?!”
“They haven’t left yet, but we don’t have time to stand around,” Hayato told him.
“Right. Let’s go. Lead the way.”

Tori turned and went back the way he came, with Eita and Toshi on his heels. Iwaizumi started after them a few minutes later. Everyone else worked hurriedly to change their plan, and make sure Yahaba couldn’t leave the area. Oikawa and Hayato went with the small group of plain clothes officers, led by Sawamura, who directed his men to split up and watch the closest exits. He told them to text if they saw anything shady. Kei and Tetsu stayed at the building, getting it ready for Hitoka’s arrival, and enlisting the aid of the ladies who helped her the first time. The priests diverted any curious visitors.

“It’s not that far,” Tori was saying as they ran through some trees that surrounded the shrine. “Kyotani didn’t take a direct route back, either.”
“Probably to keep anyone from following him, or figuring out where he’s going,” Eita replied, keeping up with his friend.
“Well, yeah. He’s not stupid. Well, not too much anyway,” Iwaizumi said, once he caught up to them.
“EITA!!!”
The four of them skidded to a stop for a moment, and then ran even faster after Tori. That was Hitoka screaming, and Eita had to get to her.
“LET ME GO!! EITA, PLEASE!!”
He pushed himself to go faster, passing Tori and bursting out from the trees in time to see her struggling.
“You go to her. We’ll take care of the other two,” Toshi told him, as they split up and went in another direction. Eita would’ve agreed; he wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms and take her away.

But then she slipped, crying out as her ankle twisted at an odd angle. Still, she tried to keep fighting, but Kyotani brought his hand down right at her neck, and she stiffened before crumpling to the ground.

Eita saw red.

He knew nothing else but the need to do some damage to the man who just hurt Hitoka, and the man who had the audacity to touch her, picking her up in his arms.
He was already running toward them, barely hearing anything around him.

He launched himself at Kyotani before the man had the chance to get ready, hitting him in the head hard, with all the force of his anger behind the punch. The man grunted, fell to one knee, but was back up and swinging seconds later. But by then, Eita had thrown another punch to the other side of his face, and Kyotani was back on his knees. Eita left him for Iwaizumi, who was hauling him up and dragging him away, cursing at him the entire way.

That left Yahaba, who was cradling Hitoka to him, grinning madly and using her limp body as a shield. Eita glanced around, and saw Tori and Toshi had reappeared behind Yahaba, leaning against the car like they had all the time in the world. Eita stood at his full height, staring down Yahaba, a smirk showing up on his face.

“She’s mine,” the man was saying as he backed his way to the car. “You can’t have her.”
“Yours, huh? Is that what you think?”
He took a step toward Yahaba, who backed up a step. Eita glanced behind them and saw Tori motioning as if guiding a driver who was backing up into a parking spot. Toshi rolled his eyes and waited.
“Is that why you’ve stalked her since high school? You somehow got it in your head that she was interested, that she liked you? Even when she turned you down multiple times? You’ve somehow convinced yourself she’s yours?”
Another step. Two.
“She is! She loves me. I know it!”
Back a step. And another. Almost there.
Eita’s smirk grew sharper.
“She loves you, huh? That’s why you kidnapped her? Kept her from contacting friends and family? Kept her from everyone she actually loves?”
“They would only turn her against me!”
“Funny, but what I saw just now gave me the impression she was already against you. Didn’t look like she was willing to go anywhere with you, either.”
Just one more step…
“She’s mine! I won’t let her go!”
“Oh, I beg to differ,” he replied quietly.

He took a step. Yahaba did, too. Right into the waiting grasp of Toshi, who held him immobile by wrapping an arm around his neck like a vice. Tori came around and started prying his arms away from Hitoka, while Eita rushed forward, catching her up in his arms as soon as Tori loosened Yahaba’s grip enough. He paid no attention to the struggle behind him. He walked away from it all, carrying Hitoka gently in his arms, taking her away from everything.

As he walked back, he caught glimpses of the others as they converged on the duo and the cabin. They’d do what they were there to do. Eita didn’t even care anymore; the woman he loved more than anything else was back where she belonged.

The moment he was within sight of the building they were staying in, Kei came rushing out with Tetsuro right behind him. They were her best friends, and after everything they'd been through in the last few months, they were his, too. But, he'd just gotten her back. He wasn't going to let her go. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

“What happened?” Kei asked as he tried to reach for Hitoka’s hand. “Did she faint?”
“No. Could you find Mika? Ask her if there’s anyone medically trained. I’d like them to make sure she’s alright.”
“Yeah, okay, but…”
“I’m going to make her comfortable,” he said entering the building, not looking back. “Mind if I take one of your futon?”
“Nah, we can share,” Tetsuro said gently.
“Thanks, man.”
“No problem.”
“Let me help,” Kei was saying, but Tetsuro held him back. Eita heard him say something along the lines of, “if this were us, I’d keep you close and everyone else at bay. Give him time, okay, love?”
Eita didn’t hear a response.

Ten minutes later, Mika arrived with one of the priests, and he silently examined Hitoka from head to toe. He also tended to Eita’s hand, which was an angry shade of red and purple from where he hit Kyotani’s head. When he finished, he leaned back, put his hands together and prayed. Eita and Mika followed suit. Then, the priest spoke quietly.

“Nothing is broken, but her ankle is severely sprained. I will have a poultice made and a bandage to wrap it in until you can get her to a proper doctor. There will be enough for her ankle and your hand.”
“Thank you very much, sensei,” Eita replied, bowing.
“She will have a nasty bruise on her neck,” the older man continued. “I have a salve that will ease the pain a little.”
“Thank you.” Eita bowed again. “Sensei? When will she wake up?”
“It could be anytime. She was hit at a pressure point, which likely stunned her first and then knocked her out.”
The priest rose to his feet with the aid of Mika. He shuffled over to the door before turning back to look at Eita.
“She’ll be fine, young man. Take good care of her.”
“I will. I promise.”
“Mika will bring back the poultice, bandages, and salve.” And with that, the two left the building.

Eita reached down and took Hitoka’s hand, weaving his fingers with hers. But it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t nearly enough. He climbed in beside her, careful not to jostle her too much, and gathered her close. He took a deep, shaky breath, and let the tears fall.