Page 63 of Love of the Egoist
“Found?” Somehow that was funny and Kuon chuckled. His gaze fixed at the route they had left not long ago. His pupils focused on three black jeeps, creeping over the bumpy road toward the pier. “Go home, Mio. There’s nothing more you can do.”
“No way!” the boy exclaimed in a shrill voice, his eyes lit up with dancing blue flames. Kuon couldn’t stop staring. In a fury, Mio’s skin flushed with color, nostrils flared, and lips twitched, revealing a brilliant row of perfect teeth. The wind, playing with his hair, threw snow at his face, creating a breathtaking vision of sheer Nordic beauty. Heavy snowflakes covered his light eyelashes and Kuon reached forward, brushing his thumb over his eyelid, sweeping it off.
Such a good kid. Yugo is one lucky bastard to be loved by someone like Mio. It’s a pity he hasn’t realized it yet.
“Let’s look for a boat!”
“Enough, Mio. Everything is already over.” Howling wind muffled Kuon’s calm voice, but Mio’s thin fingers didn’t release his damp palm. Bowing his head, the boy hauled Kuon toward the pier. But even after they reached the end, there was no boat.
“Damn!” Mio swore. “Why are you so calm? Don’t you care? He will sell you, how can you not give a damn!”
A wide smile split Kuon’s face as he patted the boy’s head. His fingers twined in the soft, fluffy hair. “Go to Yugo. He loves you.”
The beautiful feminine features twisted, his cheek flinched as Mio dove under Kuon’s arm and ordered, “Put the gun to my head. Hurry! We still have a chance!”
“Still haven’t played enough?” Kuon smirked but followed the order. It didn’t matter what he would do anymore. Yugo would kill him anyway.Or worse…Kuon shivered, remembering the greedy whip splitting his skin.
Since last night, after he’d returned to that forsaken room, his mind had been numb. He felt odd, as if his actions weren’t his own. Someone else moved his limbs, putting words in his mouth, he merely watched. He no longer cared about his own life, but he still worried about Mio.
Three black jeeps slowed down by the water, and a group of people, all wearing black suits, flocked to the pier. Aiming their guns at the smiling face of the half-naked man, who wrapped his arms around the slender body of the trembling boy, they moved in Kuon’s direction. Among this monotone setting, they resembled a crowd of penguins, the only bright spot was Yugo, wearing a snow-white suit. His gait was confident, his mouth pressed in a firm line. Gray eyes pierced Kuon’s soul, devouring the last drops of life; the white-knuckled fist squeezing the bloodthirsty steel of a gun.
“Kuon, put the gun down,” Yugo ordered, stopping about ten feet away. His hand shot up into the air, and the black pupil of his gun pointed at the detective’s head. “Kuon, lower your weapon. Let’s talk.”
Kuon’s vision sharpened, making out snowflakes landing on Yugo’s sleek hair and high cheekbones, diving into the bottomless tunnel of the gun barrel. Something flickered deep inside, and Kuon tilted his head, wondering if it was a hallucination or if he saw the glinting point of the bullet.
His blood pressure spiked.
Never taking his eyes from the man, Kuon smiled. Yugo’s appearance had awoken a nagging pain in his chest. A closing wound felt like this—itching and begging to be scratched.
Come on, shoot!He begged Yugo silently, but the man didn’t pull the trigger.What are you waiting for? Shoot!
“Kuon, let Mio go and lower your gun. Let’s talk, please.” Yugo inched closer, holding his left palm high in the air.
Kuon didn’t reply, didn’t move. Biting wind stripped him of body heat.
The wall of faceless people closed behind Yugo’s back; all of them pointed their guns at the man, who lightly held the thin, frail boy. If Yugo cared to take a closer look, he would find it odd that Kuon didn’t force the boy to stay put but covered his small body from the piercing wind with one hand.
“Kuon, drop the gun. I’m counting to three. One…” Yugo’s voice drenched with threat as he cocked the hammer.
I guess this is it. You will put the bullet in my head without a second thought hence the boy can go back to your bed tonight.Kuon thought, counting his last seconds.I have nowhere to return, even if you let me go. I wonder if the water is freezing. It’d be good to know before I die.
His glazed eyes fixed on the dusty winter sky, found the wan disk of the sun. Kuon took a deep breath of fresh air, enjoying the soft prickles in his nose.
“Two…”
“Three.” Kuon finished.
He threw his hand forward and pointed his gun at Yugo. The gray eyes widened, hardened. Yugo’s Adam’s apple jumped as he frowned.
Are you hurt?Kuon asked mentally.Your toy raised a hand to you… does it hurt? Good. It hurts me too, Yugo. Maybe this will make you remember…
“Come on, shoot!” Kuon’s lips whispered, but the man didn’t pull the trigger.
An unbreakable stare tied their eyes together as they stood, unable to move, unable to pull the trigger.
Are you that scared to hurt him?A bitter smile flickered on Kuon’s face. He cupped Mio’s chin, pulled the boy closer and planted a light kiss on his temple.
Blood left Yugo’s cheeks as worry and confusion surfaced his face.
