Takeru sat sullenly and
silently in the cell he was placed in after his capture, having said
nothing since they had put him there. Raiden watched him quietly
from the security monitor that was linked to the camera in his cell.
“I wonder how long he's just going to stay there....” He
murmrued, Kohl standing beside Rai and glancing at him. “Who
knows?” He said, shrugging. “He's a warrior....he won't say
anything and his mental defenses are formidable....most likely put in
place by Tsuyoshi....” Kohl added, sighing softly as he watched
the young man.
Raiden glanced back at
Kohl. “Can you break through?” He asked, Kohl shaking his head.
“Not without
significant damage....and possibly death....what with how stubborn
this one is....” He replied, looking back at Takeshi. “I'm not
sure how we'll be able to crack him....maybe...Kurai....”
Raiden immediately
shook his head. “No....we've put him in enough danger as it
is....we don't need to put him in more danger.” He said, frowning
and folding his arms. Kohl sighed softly, resting a hand on Raiden's
shoulder. “I think it's up to him to decide....hm? You can't
protect him forever....and he doesn't like being treated like a
child....” He chided, watching Raiden. The man sighed and nodded.
“I know. I can't
help it though. I can't bear the thought of losing someone else
close to me....like I lost my brother. Tampering with the mind is a
dangerous thing. What if something goes wrong and they're both
damaged?” Raiden worried, shaking his head.
Kohl smiled
understandingly. Kurai was like a younger brother to Raiden almost
as much as Hikaro had been. He felt responsible for the boy just as
much as for his brother. He didn't want to risk creating another
Hikaro...Kohl rested his other hand on Raiden's shoulder and turned
his friend to face him.
“Raiden....I will
stand by to make sure that Kurai comes out of this unharmed...Will
that ease your mind?” He asked, searching his friend's eyes.
Raiden was silent for
a few moments, searching Kohl's eyes as well for peace of mind. He
then sighed and nodded. “Yes...at least a little. I'll still be
worried....but at least I'll have someone in there to make sure that
nothing goes wrong.” He replied, smiling at Kohl. “Thank
you...I don't know what I'd do without you, Kohl....you're a good
friend.” He murmured, clapping him on the shoulder and smiling
gratefully. Kohl smirked a little back. “I know I am.” He
teased, chuckling softly as he left the room to go find Kurai and
talk to him about their plan.
Meanwhile, Amaya had
not gone to carry out Hikaro's orders....but went to her real master,
Hakaija. He would not be happy to hear about how his son was
imprisoned and that Hikaro had ordered her to kill him. Hakaija was
out on the terrace of his penthouse in the city when Amaya
materialized in front of him and nearly made him choke to death.
“Honestly! Do you want me to die at a young age?!” Hakaija
asked, exasperated. Amaya stared at him impassively.
“I have news....bad
news, I'm afraid.”
Hakaija huffed.
“I thought as much,
you came as the very Angel of Death just now!” He replied, still
sore about her startling him.
Amaya's expression
didn't change. “Your son has been rash and gotten himself captured
by your enemy, Raiden, and his team. Hikaro has ordered me to go and
execute him.”
Hakaija's face went
red and he jumped to his feet. “What?! That upstart maniac! How
dare he sentence my son to death!”
Amaya watched him.
“That's why I've come
to you first....what would you like me to do?” She asked, watching
her master.
Hakaija sat back down
and stewed for a bit, staring at the food as if his stare could make
it burst into flame....and Hikaro with it. He was a yakuza
boss....his son was important because he was to be his heir and carry
on his legacy....he was also all he had left of his dear wife who had
perished in one of the nastier gang wars. On the other
hand...sparing his son would mean him lying low until things with
Hikaro and Raiden came to an end....if it ever did. Hikaro might
become suspicious if something else happened. Hakaija sighed slowly,
sinking down into his seat. “Rescue my son....bring him here...I'm
going to keep him here with me and he's going to keep his head down
until you and the others are finished with Raiden. I want you to
finish things up quickly....my son is of age so he must succeed me
soon...I can't have this nonsense with those twins messing up all my
hard work....finish this quickly, Amaya...I grow impatient.” He
murmrued, looking tired and upset as he rubbed his eyes.
Amaya bowed
respectfully. “So be it.” She murmrued, disappearing once more
as Hakaija looked up. “So be it.” He repeated, the words acid
on his tongue as he grimaced and wondered what he was doing. Whether
in this game of playing with fire, he would be the one ending up
getting burned. He shook his head and finished his lunch. He didn't
know....time would only tell...
Kurai sat stunned
after he heard Kohl's proposal. He took a deep breath, shifting in
his seat as he let it sink in. Kohl's hand rested on his gently, it
felt warm and Kurai flinched a little as he felt the small spark of
psychic energy that he felt from the contact. Kohl was powerful, but
Kurai could read him like a book.
“I wouldn't ask this
of you if I didn't think you could do it.” Kurai heard Kohl say.
The boy nodded.
“I know.” He
paused and took another deep breath. “I just...”
He trailed off,
sighing and running his fingers through his hair as he sifted through
the thoughts running through Kohl's head. Kohl was letting him so it
was no intrusion, and in doing so, Kurai could tell that Kohl really
needed his help. Kohl and Raiden were friends...but he knew Raiden
would be overprotective, which was probably why the decision was now
his to make.
“I'll do it.”
Kurai finally said after a long pause.
Kurai heard Kohl's
sigh of relief and could feel the tension radiating from Raiden. He
turned to where he sensed the tension coming from and smiled.
“It'll be okay. I
promise.” Kurai reassured.
The tension lessened a
little and finally Raiden sighed and the creaking of wood signified
that he had shifted back to standing from leaning against the wall as
he spoke.
“Kohl will be there
monitoring....I don't want you to push yourself okay?” He replied,
his voice filled with concern.
Kurai sighed softly,
standing slowly. “Yes, mother.” He teased, grinning a little as
he tried to lighten the mood.
He heard Raiden
chuckle a little and the tension eased away. The door opened and
Kurai listened as Raiden left before following after his friend to
where Takeshi was being held. It was a silent procession, but Kurai
could hear his friends' footfalls in front of him and behind him.
Between that and their collective psychic auras, Kurai kept on track
until they arrived at the interrogation room. Kurai could sense the
crackling and raw energy emanating from Takeru. The boy was volatile
and dangerous...but there was something underlying that seemed even
worse than the boy's nature. Kurai would find it out. He stopped
both of his friends.
“I need to do this
alone.....” He said, Raiden starting to object before Kurai
silenced him with a wave of his hand. “I'll be fine. There's a
two-way mirror right? If something goes wrong then you will see it
and come in to rescue me.” He said, grinning a bit cheekily and
showing confidence that he didn't feel at the moment....Kohl would
see through it, but he only had to fool Raiden...because he knew Kohl
would understand.
Raiden reluctantly
agreed with a sigh and let Kurai in, the boy feeling his friend's
eyes on him all the way. He sat down across from Takeru and smiled a
little. “Good afternoon.” He said, feeling the other's surprise
at this display as well as who his interrogator was. The young man
snorted. “What is this? Some sort of trick? You think you can do
better than your psychic friend?”
Kurai shook his head.
“No...I know I can. Because I'm already in.” He said, already
sifting through Takeru's subconscious and memories for information.
There was a section of pinups and fantasies that Kurai quickly
skirted around, making a face and shuddering a little as his cheeks
reddened. “Your mind's a mess....” He muttered, Takeru balking
and trying to pull away. “Stop it!” He shouted, the sound of
the cuffs rattling and the table shaking startling Kurai a little.
His concentration was not broken though as he went deeper, ripping
apart what futile attempts at blocking his invasion Takeru threw up.
He finally made it to the core of what they wanted to know and his
face quickly turned to horror. “It's all a trap!” He hissed.
“They're all working for...” He then sensed another presence,
volatile and disruptive....Tsuyoshi?....No... Kurai went white. “Oh
God no....” He breathed, then his mind exploded and he screamed
and fell to the floor holding his head. The wall then exploded and
he heard Raiden and Kohl shouting something before everything faded
away and he was alone in his own personal darkness.
It all happened so
fast! Raiden and Kohl had barely any time to react as Kurai screamed
and fell to the ground convulsing and the wall exploded inward to
reveal Amaya. “Hello, boys. Don't mind me, I just came to pick up
a few things.” She said, throwing Takeru over her shoulder.
Raiden went to rush her and Kohl stopped him. “No!” He said,
Raiden snarling at his friend. “I'm not letting her go!” He
shouted as Amaya smirked and turned to leave. “Your friend is
wise....don't try anything. It's futile anyway....the end of this
game is fast approaching...if you wish to survive...the information
your friend has found is more important than my defeat.” She said
cryptically, and then she was gone. Kohl stared at the spot where
she had been standing. It was almost like she had never been there.
He then heard Raiden shouting at him to help him, his friend's voice
cracking in desperation and distress as he worked to move the rocks
away from Kurai's prostrate form. Kohl turned, feeling like he was
made of lead. He realized what was happening....this was all a plot
of Hakaija's....and Amaya was the crux of all of it. They were just
pawns in his master plan...even Hikaro...it was so obvious! Why
hadn't he seen it before?! Raiden's shouts and pleading soon snapped
him back to reality. He used his telekinesis to remove the rocks
from Kurai's body, flinching at the damage that was done to both the
boy's body and mind. They might not even be able to save him....
“Raiden...” He breathed as he watched his friend cradle the boy
in his arms. “Raiden, I...” He didn't know how to tell him.
Kurai coughed and opened his eyes. “R-rai....q-quick...you have to
listen....” The boy choked out, blood trickling down his chin out
of the corner of his mouth. He was fading fast and there was nothing
Kohl could do but watch... Raiden smiled a little and nodded
shakily. “I-I'm right here Kurai, you're gonna be okay. I'm
listening.” He said, the boy gripping Raiden's hand. “I-it's
all....a trap...A-Amaya....she's the crux...w-warn
Hikaro....H-hakaija....using him...” Kurai was struggling to
breathe as he coughed up more blood. Raiden panicked. “We need to
get you to a hospital!” He said, starting to get up. Kurai shook
his head. “N-no!...T-too late...for me....listen! I-I beg you!”
He begged, tears in his eyes. Raiden had tears in his own. “No!
It's not too late! You can't die!” He objected, Kurai shaking his
head. “P-please....n-no time....p-p-please....” He gasped out.
Rai bit his lip hard and nodded. “O-okay...” He breathed.
Kurai swallowed. “H-hakaija...wants you to...d-d-destroy....e-each
other...c-c-can't happen....Amaya....m-must st-st-stop her....”
Raiden nodded. “I-I will....I promise....” Kurai clung to
Raiden.
“R-Rai...” The boy
whispered.
“Yeah, kiddo?” He
breathed.
“I-I'm scared...”
Raiden saw Kurai's
tears and he swallowed against the lump in his throat.
“I-I know
kiddo...don't be okay? I'm not gonna leave you....I told you I'd be
right there til the end....”
Kurai swallowed and
smiled a little.
“Thank you, Rai....”
He whispered as his breathing and heart beat slowed. “You're...the
best...friend....a blind kid....could ever....have....” He
whispered, his last breath coming in a shuddering sigh as he slipped
away.
Kohl watched all this,
feeling numb all over as he watched his friend fall apart once
again....Raiden held Kurai tightly and sobbed brokenly. It was like
Hikaro all over again....Kohl couldn't stand it....this had to
end...but Kohl knew it wouldn't....not yet....he leaned heavily
against the wall behind him, covering his eyes with his hand as he
too succumbed to the pain and sadness of this moment. The others
where there in a moment and Mae was by Rai's side, soon holding him
and sobbing with him. Yoshi and Siiju stood in the background,
stunned and quiet as they beheld the scene, neither of them knowing
how to process all of this. Kurai's brother fell to his knees,
begging it not to be so and cursing and lamenting loudly in
French....it was the only way he knew how to cope. Chason was sullen
and silent and Kai stood with the twins, glancing at Kohl as the man
pulled himself together and met the eyes of the second-in-command.
Kai knew in an instant what had happened and why. No more words
needed to be said....Kurai's death would not be in vain.
