Dream - Volume 2

Chief of the Tokyo Police Department Isao Ishikawa rushed to his home as soon as he heard the news. He had been in the middle of a meeting when he received a call from his neighbor informing him that an unknown man was attempting to break into his home.

Isao quickly parked his car and took out his gun before cautiously stepping out. He slowly crept up to his house, his pistol drawn and steady, as he prepared to confront the intruder.

He saw a tall figure of a man peering through the windows, his long coat dusted in snow. Isao tightened his grip on his weapon and cautiously approached the man, ready to face him.

"You are either stupid or brave for trying to break into the home of two police officers," Isao grunted at the man who quickly turned around to face him. The stranger's grayish-brown eyes widened in surprise and he took a step back as he lifted his hands in surrender. His hair was dark, cut crew style, and he had a few days' worth of stubble on his chin.

"I'm sorry, I was looking for someone," the man confessed as he bowed humbly.

"I know you," Isao said as he finally recognized the intruder - the ex-member of the yakuza his wife had helped in the past. He served a relatively short sentence for serious crimes he committed.

"Is he still staying here?" Jiro asked as he carefully straightened himself. He had knocked on the door and called his spouse, but no one wasn't picking up, so he had decided to take a look around to see if anyone was even home.

Isao slowly lowered his gun, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. He wasn't fond of this particular individual and he had heard stories of his shady past. Natsuo had opened up to his mother about this fellow's substance abuse and Saika had spoken to her husband about it.

"I don't want to harm anyone," Jiro assured him when he saw the chief of police giving him skeptical glares.

"And I don't trust you. I think it's obvious that you have negatively influenced my stepson," Isao said grimly. He was aware that his wife's son was a decent young man with a rough past and he was determined to help him turn his life around.

Jiro got down on his knees and pressed his forehead against the snowy ground. He was willing to do whatever he could to make amends for his past mistakes and show that he was a changed person.

"Please," he pleaded with Isao.

"Let me talk to him. I only want to help him. I promise I won't do anything to hurt him."

"Are you still using drugs?" Isao asked straightforwardly and moved on to the next question without waiting for him to respond.

"This house shouldn't be listed in our name, so how did you discover it?"

Jiro was nervous to answer both concerns, but he chose to be honest.

"I was in the hospital because I had overdosed myself," he began slowly, his voice shaking slightly.

"... and I asked my relative to find out your address. He discovered that you were living here and I thought I'd come and see if Natsuo was still here."

Isao still remained unconvinced, his face twitching with anger. He couldn't help but suspect that this man was still involved with the yakuza and wanted to draw Natsuo back into criminal circles. A tense feeling spread through his body as he imagined all the possible ways that this person could harm his stepson.

"You should leave. If you come back, I'll ensure you get the full punishment you deserve for your crimes," Isao threatened and nodded toward the gate. He knew his wife had helped him to get away from smuggling drugs and other illegal activities, but he was committed to protecting his family and wouldn't hesitate to send the criminal back behind bars.

Jiro begged Isao once more to let him speak to his partner, but he knew that the man had every right to be wary of him. There was no way for him to convince Isao that he had pure intentions, and the chief of police's steely stare made it clear that any chance he had of being forgiven was slipping away.

"Could you please give him a message from me?" Jiro asked as he tried to give him a folded document, his hands trembling faintly.

Isao looked at the paper with suspicion, but he reluctantly accepted it. He recognized that it was an official partnership certificate and the name of his stepson appeared on it.

"I'm willing to do anything for him," Jiro declared earnestly.

"I know that I have made mistakes in the past, but I love him with all my heart and I want to make up for them."

Isao let out a deep sigh before he finally spoke. His expression softened as he saw the genuine emotion in the young man's eyes.

"Do you still work for the yakuza?"

"No."

"Have you committed to getting treatment and showing that you have changed?"

"Yes," Jiro replied at once.

"What if you were able to go there right away? Would you do it?"

Isao's voice was surprisingly gentle as he posed such a challenge to the young man, but his gaze remained stern. He was prepared to take a risk by allowing the ex-yakuza to prove himself, but his stepson's safety was his utmost priority.

Jiro nodded in agreement and bowed his head, ready to demonstrate his ability to be a loving and responsible partner to Natsuo.

(Later that day)

Natsuo was sitting on a hospital bed, his eerie expression even blanker than before. The only thing that made him look the same was his eyes, which still held a glimmer of sadness in them. His brown hair was wild over his shoulders, tangled and messy around his face.

He had been taken to the hospital for monitoring and to receive intravenous fluids after the doctor had diagnosed him with depression and his blood test showed signs of dehydration. Saika revealed in a worried manner that during his psychosis Natsuo shot with a gun, which led the doctor to admit him for further psychiatric evaluation. He spent the night tossing and turning in the bed, his mind still plagued with thoughts of what had happened and what could have been.

His mother arrived at the hospital the next day, bringing Natsuo's phone charger with her as he requested. Her hair was bunned in a neat twist and she was wearing her detective's outfit, ready for a day of work despite her son being in the hospital. She was relieved to see him looking better, although she could still feel the sorrow radiating from him.

"How are you doing?" Saika asked as he plugged his phone into the charger. His attention shifted to her and he sighed, before quietly responding.

"I'm okay."

Natsuo turned on his phone after it had run out of battery and checked his inbox. His heart was strangled as he saw a notification and his stomach twisted when he opened it to read what it said.

Saika watched how his son's body shook as tears filled his eyes - he could barely breathe as he read the message again, the words slowly sinking into his soul.

"Mr. Takuya visited our house earlier today," Saika said as she touched his shoulder.

Natsuo looked fragile and vulnerable, his lips quivering as his voice seemed to have faded away. He had been waiting for his loved one for what felt like a lifetime, missing him with all his heart and soul.

"My husband... greeted him. The two of them talked for quite a while. He gave you this before he left."

Saika gave him a folded document, showing Natsuo's and Jiro's shiny partnership certificate about their relationship. The printed letters were stained with tears as Natsuo held the paper in his trembling hands.

Jiro had written a few words in large letters on the document, along with a few shaky hearts.

"Towards a paradise of dreams..."

Natsuo smiled through his tears and his heart was full knowing that Jiro had fulfilled his promise and made their relationship official. He was grateful for the opportunity to be with the man he truly loved and he had renewed faith that everything would work out.

A subtle smile appeared across his mother's face as her hand still rested on his shoulder.

"But what do you mean... he left?" Natsuo wondered in a puzzled tone.

"Isao managed to get him into a rehabilitation facility after making some phone calls. Only one spot remained, so he took it and headed there."

"Which one?" Natsuo asked almost breathlessly. He grabbed his phone along with his charger and jumped to his feet.

"I have to go see him."

(Later that day)

Natsuo had argued with the adamant doctor that he wasn't psychotic and that he wouldn't shoot anyone. He explained that he was just having a stressful episode and now he was feeling better. After a long debate, the doctor finally agreed to let Natsuo leave the hospital, on one condition: he must agree to continue seeing Dr. Kawahara on a regular basis.

The highly regarded rehab center was located in the greenery of the mountains, away from prying eyes and the distractions of the city. It was designed for the wealthy, with luxurious amenities, specialized therapists, and a modern facility.

Natsuo parked his black car hastily in the parking lot and quickly made his way to the entrance of the rehab center. He ran through the glass doors of the building as he searched for his fiancé.

His steps led him to the check-in desk, which was elegantly decorated with marble countertops and polished wooden furniture.

Natsuo slammed the partnership certificate on the table and tried to catch his breath as he asked for Jiro, tapping his full name on the document. The lady in her neat uniform looked difficult, explaining that they didn't have a patient with that name.

A sharp shock struck him and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Natsuo frantically questioned the secretary, asking if she was sure and if she could confirm it with someone else.

He tried to reach for his phone but realized it was out of battery again. His legs started to get weaker as overwhelming despair began to sink in. He leaned against his hands, trying to control his panic as he listened to the lady making a quick phone call.

His stomach was in knots as he waited for the answer, his hope slowly fading away as the seconds ticked by. After what seemed like an eternity, the secretary hung up the phone and announced that Jiro Takuya had turned down the clinic's offer of a place.

"He did WHAT?!" Natsuo shouted so loud that his voice echoed around the serene hall, causing the other visitors and staff to look up in surprise.

"I declined it," a calm and familiar voice replied behind him...