Chapter Four

The doctors couldn't find anything else wrong with Kazuki besides the incision on his neck and a mild concussion. They were keeping him in the hospital overnight for observation. Paul, on the other hand, had a broken arm, two broken ribs, a serious concussion, contusions, and abrasions. He wasn't getting out of the hospital for at least four days.

Kazuki's nurse finally kicked Shido and Ginji out of the room citing she needed a few minutes to get his vitals and run a few tests. So they put their planning on hold and went to get beverages.

Said planning was slow going seeing as how they had no information yet to work with. The only thing they had come up with so far was that when Kazuki was released in the morning he would contact everyone he knew in hopes someone saw something and was willing to talk.

The wait was driving Shido insane. The need to do something was gnawing at his nerves. Madoka was in trouble and he was doing nothing. Madoka…

They had met three years ago right after Paul had handed the reigns of his information empire to Kazuki. Kazuki had learned from a reliable source that the girl was to be killed on the order of a Mafia boss named Akutsu. He was under the impression she had overheard him and a few associates discussing a significantly lucrative business deal. Normally Akutsu wouldn't have bothered with the blind girl, but one of his associates held a rather high city office who didn't want to take the risk. Upon hiring themselves as her body guards the two had grown quite close.

And now here she was in the hands of another Mafia lord and Shido could do nothing about it.

A comforting hand rested on his shoulder. He turned to find his feelings mirrored in Ginji's eyes. At least he wasn't alone. Shido nodded and placed his hand over his friend's, returning the sentiment.

Upon arriving to Kazuki's room and seeing his nurse at the nurse's station, they knew his tests were finished, so the two entered without knocking. Only to be surprised that Kazuki wasn't alone and in a somewhat compromising situation. On his lap sat a blond who happened to be in the process of sucking his tonsils out. Not that he was complaining, he had his hands under her shirt kneading her lower back. As Shido stood stunned she ended the kiss and buried her face into his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her.

Ginji cleared his throat.

The blond jerked upright with a yip and looked at the two intruders. It was Hevn. Shido nearly dropped the drink caddy holding the tea he and Ginji retrieved while Ginji smiled knowingly.

"Oh…um…," she flushed and looked away.

"And when did you plan on telling us this little tidbit of information, Kazuki?" Shido asked gruffly moving around her, before now unnoticed, wheelchair to set the tea down on the bedside table.

"Now, Shido, don't be like that," Kazuki soothed, "I couldn't tell you, not with the mob spies everywhere.'

"That's still no excuse! And you," he pointed to Ginji, "stop smirking. You knew at the meeting today and you didn't say anything. All you did was smile, jerk." The last was said more as an endearment than insult, Ginji just snickered.

"'Say anything?' I thought he was mute," Hevn said regaining her voice.

"A common misconception, he just doesn't talk much," Kazuki countered.

When Hevn looked at him, Ginji merely smiled impishly, she shook her head. "You have very strange friends."

Ginji tried to stifle a giggle when she unknowingly echoed Shido's assessment of her.

Shido blushed and grunted, "Shut up, Ginji." This only set the man off into a full blown laugh.

"What is that all about?" Hevn asked an equally bewildered Kazuki.

"I don't think I want to know," he said as he watched Shido advance on the cheery Ginji.

Before Shido could pounce a volunteer poked her head into the room announcing that she had flowers to deliver. When she left Shido lifted the card from the bouquet and froze as he read it.

"Shido?" Kazuki asked at his friend's reaction.

Shido took a shaky breath as he read the lines slowly out loud. "'Greetings, I have some things of yours. And while they are delightful, I fear that their appeal will soon grow wearisome. An exchange may be negotiated, we must discuss this further.'" Below that was an address with a time and date. Two days from now at the Meiji Shrine in Yoyogi Park. The card was signed with a decorative maroon J.

"Doctor Jackal, the fiend," Kazuki stated.

Something tickled the back of Shido's throat. A morbid thought latched in his mind. It couldn't be, he thought. Shaking his head slightly, thinking he had to be wrong, he brought the card to his nose and took a cautious whiff. With a violent hiss he flung the card away and started to swear profusely. "That bastard! Sick fuck, son of a bitch! Moth--,"

He was brought back to his senses by a concerned Ginji gripping his face.

"Sorry, sorry." He sank into a nearby chair, running his hands through his hair. After gathering his thoughts he spoke without raising his head. "The bastard signed the card with human blood." Gasps were heard through the room.

"Was it--," Kazuki began.

"No, it wasn't Natsumi's or Madoka's." At this news Ginji sat down beside Shido.

"Do you think he really intends to release them? And if so, at what price?" Hevn broke the ensuing silence.

"From what I've heard of him, it's very doubtful," Kazuki answered.

"How long will he keep them alive?" Shido needed to know.

"Probably until we show up. After that, all bets are off."

"What can we--," Shido's question was cut short as a chirpy tune invaded the room.

"It's my cell. Sorry," Hevn explained before she agilely alighted from Kazuki's lap to her chair to reach her phone. The almost annoying ringer stopped as she answered, "Delbon Associates…yes, we are always interested in new commodities…" Her eyes suddenly grew large as she listened. "Doll, you are the greatest! I'm doubling your normal fee. Thanks, later." She hung up.

At the general air of curiosity she said, "That was an associate of mine, does a little of this and a little of that, but specializes in transport. He informed me that earlier today he was commissioned to transport a package to a warehouse on the east side and happened to overhear someone mention the fact that there were two young ladies being held there."

"Was that all he heard?" Kazuki asked.

She seemed reluctant to answer but when she did she refused to meet anyone's eyes, looking at her hands in her lap. "They were wondering if they might have a chance at them before they were disposed of."

"How trustworthy is this information?" Kazuki asked.

"Very," she replied raising her head.

Shido growled and started to pace the small room. "Did he give you the address?" She nodded. "Jackal won't let them live and will most likely try to kill us as well. If we move tonight we'll catch them off guard and might actually survive."

"Way to think positive, Shido," Kazuki quipped. "Alright, Hevn, what can you tell us about this warehouse and the surrounding area."

Within two hours they had a plan of action.