Makishima ruffled Aiko's long hair gently. Sometimes, his long fingers would trail her symmetrical face and chuckled to himself. Sometimes, he would bend down and kissed her forehead, inhaling her intoxicating scene while he was at it.

Makishima couldn't deny it. He was drawn to this girl.

And he couldn't thank her brother enough for it.

Flashback

"Specimen case?" Aiko's face was all scrunched up. The name didn't bring much pleasure to her. And the details of the case would definitely make her having nightmares for three days straight.

"See? I've told you she's not so brave!" Sasayama laughed as he successfully teased his sister. By now, Aiko already turned to mushroom at the corner of the kitchen.

"You're mean, brother!" Aiko hugged her knees tighter. "You should be more like Shinya!"

"Shinya?" Sasayama blinked at the fact Aiko called Kougami by his first name. "Since when did you get so close?" Kougami already sweatdropped at the glare he received from his enforcer.

"I asked Shinya to protect you. You know how you're always get into trouble, brother." Aiko got up. She's standing with her hands on her waist, meaning that she's in lecture mode.

"Really?" Sasayama refused to give up. "Name one time I caused you trouble."

Aiko made a disbelief face. "Really? You don't remember. Then let's see..." And her fingers began counting. "Let's start with when your crime coefficent syrocketed. We had to move out because the neighbours are giving us hard times. And then there's also the time where you played with a looooooooot of women and they came here accusing I'm your mistress. Not to mentio-"

"Yeah yeah I got it." Finally Sasayama gave up. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Geez!"

Aiko laughed, followed by Kougami. "We're going to have okonimiyaki tonight!"

"And that's why I love you, Aiko!"

What? What happened? What's that pool of blood? Brother?

Aiko couldn't keep her eyes open. Her memories were fuzzy. Last she remembered, she was shopping for groceries before she was taken by a couple of men.

Few hours later, she saw her brother was panting. His face was all serious and worried. She never saw him like that.

Shooting took place where she was held. She covered her ears. Without looking nor thinking, she ran as fast as she could. She just wanted to get out.

Inside her mind, she was calling for both her brother and Kougami. Save me – she said.

And that's all she could remember before she blacked out.

Kougami's head was hanging down low. The rain was pouring hard but he didn't budge at all. All of his colleagues had returned to their daily lives routine. Yet, he's still standing and mourning in front of the Sasayama siblings' memorial stone.

"Ku..." He clenched his fist so tight that it bled. The rain that washed everything away, apparently didn't wash the guilt and sadness that he felt.

He couldn't save Sasayama and he couldn't even save Aiko. Worst, Aiko's body haven't been found. The bureau just assumed that she was a victim herself in the Specimen Case.

"I'm sorry..." Kougami's finally on his knees. His tears got mixed with the rain. "I'm sorry, Aiko. I couldn't protect you..."

End flashback

Huh?

Aiko woke up with warm liquid flowing from her eyes. She didn't understand why she was crying, but she didn't make any effort to stop it.

'What is this lost feeling? Who was calling for me?' And her fingers reached for her pendant for consolation without second thought.