Working Title Episode 8 D':

((Warning: there are feels ahead, proceed with caution.))

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.