CH 9

Look into my eyes and you will see

what you mean to me

just search your heart, search your soul

and when you find me there, you'll search no more

.

Don't tell me it's not worth fighting for

you can't tell me it's not worth dying for

you know it's true

everything I do, I do it for you

.

just look into your heart and you will find

there's nothing there to hide

take as I am, take my life

I would give it all, I would sacrifice

.

Don't tell me it's not worth fighting for

I can't help it, there's nothing I want more

you know it's true

everything I do, I do it for you

.

There's no love, like your love

and no other, could give more love

There's nowhere, unless you're there

all the time, all the way

yeah

.

Oh, you can't tell me it's not worth fighting for

I can't help it, there's nothing I want more

I would fight for you

I'd lie for you

walk the wire for you

Yeah, I'd die for you

.

you know it's true

everything I do

I do it for you

-Bryan Adams-

Junso was glad Kouta was in a better mood as they boarded the train for Kamakura. He knew his son had been working hard with exercising and with what he could only guess was some kind of bicycle. It was easy to go down and buy one, but if Kouta wanted one he made, that was fine too. He was learning about mechanical things, and to learn more was always good.

He just wished Kouta's bag wasn't so damn heavy. The boy had trouble carrying it.

Getting a seat on the train, Junso asked, "Kouta what do you have in that bag, and entire bicycle?"

"Many pieces I need," Kouta told him. "I also got some things for Yuka."

"That's thoughtful of you, son," Junso said. Kaede had been gone nearly two years now. With no ransom, no word and all the searches turning up empty, Junso was sure she had suffered some horrible fate and she would never be found. He ached from knowing this. He was taking some heart from seeing Kouta more or less returning to normal. Right now, even if Kouta did get naked with Yuka someplace, Junso would be happy to see he was moving on with his life.

After the train ride, Kouta hauled his bag to the taxi and hefted it into the trunk, then out again when they got to the house.

Today was almost over. Kouta took his bag to his room and pulled out his bookbag. He needed that for small things he had to carry once he got inside. He got his clothes out and shoved the bag in the closet then went down to grab some food.

Food, something he hadn't thought about. Since he had no way to know where Kaede was in those buildings, he'd have to search. That meant it might take a long time to find her. He'd need to take food with him. Water too. Kaede might be hungry also, which was another reaosn to grab some food to have when he found her.

"Hey, Kouta," Junso said from across the table. "In the morning, I'm going to see Takami. You coming?"

Kouta put on a thoughtful face and said, "If you don't mind, Dad, there's some things I have to get to finish my project." He hated to lie to his father, so he ddn't say what that project was.

"So I can eventually see this project?' Junso prodded.

"Right after I get it done, I'll be happy to show it to everyone!" Kouta promised. He would too, for his project was to get Kaede back.

Heading to bed for the night, Kouta got comfortable, and whispered, "I'm coming for you, Kaede."

In the morning, Kouta waited until his father left, then dragged his bag out, put his bookbag on his back and headed to the hardware store.

.

Beside the things on his list, he also got a wagon to carry all this stuff in. All the stuff he got fit in the bag, but he had a long walk and now he could barely lift the bag. Puling his new wagon behind him with his overloaded bag in it, he headed to the grocery store to buy eight premade bentos and two six packs of bottled water, then walked for the shore.

One would think that places to sell boats would be lining the shore. He only found a couple, and they sold larger power boats for fishng and ocean going. He was comitted now, he had to find a boat he could use!

Walking down a residential road, it was past noon when he spotted a smaller boat for sale. It was on a trailer in someone's yard with a FOR SALE sign. He went up to the door and knocked.

It took a couple times, but an old man did come to the door. "Yes?" the man with only a fringe of white hair left on his head asked.

"Sir, I'd like to buy your boat," Kouta told hm.

"You have 60,000 yen?" the old man asked.

"I do. Actually, I was looking for a canoe, but can't find one. I suppose that boat will do," Kouta told him.

"Canoe, huh?" The old man asked. "Let's go check the garage. I thingk I might have one."

Kouta followed the old man out to the garage. The old man used a remote to open the door to a garage that was packed with stuff. "Let's see," the old man said scanning the cluttered place.

Kouta did too, and saw a slim bow peeking out from under a bunch or lawn chairs. "There!" Kouta said excitedly.

"Ah yes," the old man said, then dimmed. "Hate to tell you, but I can't move all that stuff. Tell you what, I've been meaning to clear this place out. You game for a trade?"

Kouta nodded. He really wanted that canoe instead of a boat that needed to be moved on a trailer.

"When you dig that canoe out, bring out everything on it and put it along the side of the drive here. You do that for me, and you can have that canoe. Deal?"

"Yes sir!"

Kouta got to work and found there was a ton of stuff he had to pull and haul out to even uncover the aluminum canoe. He was thinking it was maybe eight feet long, but he had to keep going until he'd uncovered it almost to the back wall of the garage. This canoe was long! He'd lined up things all along the edge of the driveway.

While he was doing this, he also found the canoe was filled with small stuff too. One thing was an old canvas cover. He unfolded the cover to find it went on the canoe. GREAT! The old knife he found in it, he left where it was. He'd forgotten he might need a knife. He stuffed the canvas under the front seat.

Another odd thing he found was a pair of wagon wheels on a boxy frame. Once the canoe was empty, he pulled. It slid a little and stopped. Kouta thought these things were light, but he had to hall and huff to get it partway out. Once it was almost out , more stuff fell down on it.

This was taking forever!

Kouta cleared the canoe off again, leaving a hole in the garage pile. Getting an idea, he lifted the back and put the wheels under it. Picking up the front, the canoe moved easy now. The sun was low in the sky as he left his wagon and the canoe near the top of the driveway and went to get the old man again.

Showing the old man what he did, Kouta asked, "Is that god sir? I have to move the canoe out on those wheels I found."

The old man laughed. "I forgot about those! I made then to move that canoe around way back in my fishing days. I could load the canoe up with everything, put the wheels on and go. Handy as hell they are. Those wheel go with that canoe." He then frowned and asked, "Didn't find the paddles for it, did you?"

"No sir."

"Too bad. You did good, son. I can do that garage sale now. You enjoy that canoe, it's old but alot better than that plastic stuff they sell nowadays."

Thank you, sir," Kouta said with a bow.

"Thank you son," the old man said and returned his bow.

.

With his bag in the canoe over the wheels, Kouta put the wagon in the canoe too. For how long it was, it really wasn't that bad to pull it down the road. Finding a road headed towrds the water, Kouta went down it to find a small beach.

It was almost dark, he had to hurry.

.

"Kouta?" Junso asked as he walked through the house. "Kouta!" he yelled. He went throught the first floor then up to Kouta's room. Where was he? It wasn't like Kouta to be out this late. The only thing he could thing of, was after Kouta had gone to the store, he went out to draw and forgot to leave a note. Worse yet, Kouta probably got involved with whatever he was doing and lost track of time. Angry at Kouta, he got something to eat and settled down on the couch to let Kouta know he was grounded for being so careless.

.

Another thing Kouta forgot was something to sleep in. He'd emptied the canoe, turned it over and painted the outside black. Lettng it dry, he put together the pieces of his 'propeller power' by flashlight. Getting hungry, he ate a bento and opened one of the watter bottles for a drink. Luckily, the paint was fast drying. He used the battery powered drill to make bolt holes and attachd the propellers, shafts and bearings in the outside of his canoe, ensuring he used the silicone sealant on the bolt holes. His first set of flashlight batteries was dying. Not having planned to spend the night on a beach, Kouta propped the canoe up enough to get under it and wrapped the extra clothes he brought in the raincoat for a pillow. The canvas was his blanket. He'd finish up in the morning.

.

Takami heard the phone ringing as she made breakast. She picked it up. "Hello?'

"Takami, it's Junso, did Kouta go there last night?"

"No, we haven't seen him. Is something wrong?"

"He never came home yesterday. I thought he was just late, but he hasn't come home at all!"

Takami's mouth hung open. "He's missing? Where did he go?'

"Knowing Kouta, the only thing I can think of is up in the hills to draw," Junso told her.

"Do you think he got hurt?"

"Yeah, I do. I ... I'm going to call the police. He could be lying somewhere with a broken leg!"

.

Kouta got up and relieved hiself behind a rock, then flipped his canoe over. The outside was nice and dark now. He pulled out the canvas and painted it, then went to work building his propeller drive. The propellers stuck down, so he propped the back up on the wheels. Once he had it done, he sat in the back seat and peddled. Both propellers spun just like they should. The waterline on the beach was lower now, He used the wheels to help get the canoe to the water. From here, he couldn't see the island, but he knew it was 92 degrees by compass from here. He loaded up everything except the wheels and the wagon. Today was a calm day, and there was very little wave action. Once it was loaded towards the front so he had plenty of room, he put the blackened canvas on and cut a hole over his seat so he could get in.

It then hit Kouta that while at night, the canoe would be hard to see, during the day a black boat would stick out. He needed it to be dark when he approached the island. He decided to second check his things. The flashlight was all but dead, so he put in an extra set of batteries, He had only brougth two extra sets. He'd have to use is sparingly. He kept his light out and the compass, and a bottle of water with him. Everything else was in and waiting to go.

.

KOUTA! ... KOUTA!" Junso called as they scowered the woods up near the orphanage where Kaede had been. To his sides, police made a line as they walked. This was one of the places Junso knew Kouta came to. It was getting to be later in the afternoon, and they had no idea where Kouta could be. He had to be around someplace!

Yuka walked a short distance from her mother. As she walked along, she remembered something. "Mom, are there any lakes around here?"

"I don't think so," Takami replied as she searched ahead and to the sides. "Why?"

"I just remembered, Kouta asked me about getting a boat for him and painting it black," Yuka told her.

"What?" Takami asked. That sounded like an absurd request.

Yuka shrugged and said, "I think he wanted to take me out someplace private."

Then why paint it black? That didn't mase sense, Takami thought. Trying to reason out why Kouta would want to do that, she tried to figure out his reaosning. Junso did say Kouta went shopping yesteday. Did he go buy a boat? If he did, why paint it black?

It was getting later and no sign of Kouta. Thinking about Kouta, she had no idea why he wanted something like that. As she was trying to puzzle out his reasoning, Kouta got in his canoe and started pedalling out to sea on a course of 092 by his compass.

.

Kouta launched with the afternoon sun just above the horizon. Peddaling out from the beach, his rope and grappling hook were below his legs as he pumped away at the pedals. His flashlight was in his pants pocket, his compass in his shirt pocket. The utility knife he'd sharpened on a rock, was tucked in a beltloop. Although the pedals moved a little harder, the canoe was moving along. Not fast, but he noted in the water bits of foam were going by showing he was moving.

After pumping a while he glanced back. He could still see the beach, but it was behind him now, the land was casting long shadows across the water. The waves were gentle swells. He was lifted and lowered, but it was fairly calm. Checking his compass in his hand, he saw he was pointed at 100. He turned the rudder slightly to keep on course. As for how fast he was going, he could only guess. A little better than walking speed? With no reference, it was hard to tell.

Night began to close over him with the darkening sky. Ahead of him he did see a tiny lump of land. The compass said he was pointed at 096. The land was slightly to the left. OK, that was it. He pumped a little harder at the pedals, he had his goal in sight. Remembering the ocean had a current, he kept the bow of the canoe just to the right of the island. As it got dark, lights came on on the island. Good thing too, it was really dark out here on the ocean at night.

Peddling became a chore. Kouta's legs were tired, his muscles were starting to burn. He was panting with effort and the island was still small. He slowed his peddling to rest. he wanted to stop and rest, but he was out here in the middle of the ocean, He couldn't stop. If he did, the current would take him north, farther away from Kaede. He had to keep going. To make things worse, the waves were a little higher. The constant up and down motion was making him feel sick to his stomach.

"Come on," He coaxed himself. Fixating on the lights that now showed tiny buildings, he kept pumping the pedals and ignored his aching legs and queasy stomach. Kouta also noted another light to the side. A single white shown just to the left of the island. Was that a ship? He didn't think so, it wasn't moving.

Kouta's vision was night adjusted. He saw shapes against the star lit night sky. It took him a moment to figure out what he was seeing. The island was no longer tiny. The buildings were also up off the water. The island was closer, much closer. Except for the lit top where buildings were, all he was able to make out was the black outline. He was headed directly at the island, but he didn't see anything but a slope on the left and the sharp drop of a cliff on the right.

He knew the cliff wasn't possible for him to climb, so he steered left. He also notice a yellow light near the water. It looked like there was some framing structure. It also looked close. Kouta grabbed his flashlight. After a moment of indecission, he turned it on to see what was in front of him. The darkness ate his beam, so he turned it off. Still, something was there. He slowed his pedaling again to just moving the pedals. He didn't want to hit something and sink his boat before he even got to Kaede.

By the yellow light that was on a pole, he saw it was some kind of platform in the water. The water below the platform was black, just like his boat. Also hidden was whatever was holding this platform up. He did see the pipes that ran away from the platform towards the island. He stopped his canoe to inspect the structure.

This time, his flashlight showed the concrete pillars the platform rested on. On one pillar had a ladder coming down to water level. It was a short distance to go over to it. With the rising and falling swells, getting onto that ladder wasn't going to be easy. It looked about four meters from the water to the platform.

Kouta grabbed his rope and felt for the grapple. As he did this, he drifted under the platform. He had to pedal and steer back to the pillar and the ladder.

Freeing the grapple and a few meters of rope, Kouta gave the grapple a toss and caught a rung of the ladder. Yes! Now he was able to pull his boat close, and it would stay in place.

Kouta found other end of the rope and tied it to the ladder, cut a couple meters free and tied the other end to the ring on the back of his canoe. He was still rising and falling with the swells, but he was here! He'd made it to this island. He rolled the canvase cover towards the front to expose most of the canoe's bottom. There was a little water sloshing around in the bottom, but not much. Kinda like someong has spilled a water bottle. Taking his time, Kouta made sure his backpack and bag was set by flashlight, then donned the pack and slipped his arms through the handles of the bag to wear it like a backpack also. It was now, he found the canoe was very unstable when he stood up. It rolled one way then the other, Kouta supressed a yelp and sat down fast. Crawling to the back tip, he grabbed the rope and pulled himself back over to the ladder. Carefully, he gripped the ladder and swung/fell into it. He held on as he splashed waist deep into the ocean. The canoe drifted back to tug at it's rope.

Kouta climbed up the ladder. After bobbing up and down for so long, holding onto something solid felt very good. The bag was a little lighter, but Kouta still had to work at climbing. He was pulling with his arms harder than pushing with his legs. His legs felt like rubber, he had no strength left in them.

Reaching the platform, he peeked out with just his head showing above deck level. No one was around, there was no shack, just big valves and pipes. The pipes trailed off with a catwalk between them. Seeing and hearing no one, Kouta made the deck and headed down the catwalk. He stepped carefully, hand on the rail as he walked in the dark. Part of this was to make sure he didn't trip on something, part to keep himself upright. It felt like he would collapse at any time. If there was a camera watching, they would see if he turned his flashlight on, so he didn't dare use it.

The pipes and catwalk split, which he didn't see. The pipes went on straight, he tripped on the metal steps as the catwalk rose. Bitting back on the pain from falling into the metal steps, Kouta clenched his teeth and struggled to rise back up, both hand now on the rail. He desperatly wanted to rest. He didn't dare, for if someone saw him out here, he'd be taken away and no one would rescue Kaede.

Through his teeth, he hissed, "If I want her back, I have to take her away from them."

Exhausted and hurting, Kouta climbed the steps. At the top was a door. He studied it in the dark and found it had a simple handle with a push lever. He tried the door, it opened. Inside was a black hole. He went in and turned his flashlight on. On one side of the room was a control panel, electrical panels were on the opposite wall. The inside door was a normal door. He cracked open. There was some dim light beyond. Kouta staggered though the door into a hallway lit by a windowed door a dozen meters beyond. The glow from the doorway lit the pipes lining both walls of the hallway. It looked like one of those underground service tunnels.

Despite his drive to keep going, Kouta had to find a safe place to rest. His legs quivered, they hurt so bad. Looking down the hall, he saw an alcove. Holding onto a pipe for support, he made it to what he thought was an alcove. It was another hallway. This one was short and had a few doors. One was partially open.

He looked in this room. There were pieces of pipe leaning in a corner, a few tools on the wall and some kind of rusty valve on the floor. In fact the place smelled like rust.

Kouta shut the door. Looking around, he found a piece of angle iron to wedge under the door in case someone came by. He then sat down on the dusty floor, took his bag and pack off, and dug out a bento and a water bottle. His flashlight cast the room in creepy shadows. He knew he he had to conserve his batteries. He ate some, drank some water and turned his light off.

As Kouta rested, it really began to hit him. He was in a strange place where who knew what the people here would do to him if they caught him. There would be no one to help him if things went bad. Here, they could well shoot him and throw his body in the ocean, and no one would ever know. Then again, Kaede was under the same threat. They could do whatever they wanted to her unless he got her back. He had to get her back and get her out of this place.

Before he drifted off to sleep, he whispered, "I'm coming, Kaede."

.

Takami was tired. Sitting at the community center near the beach where the searchers were gathered, she looked at Junso sitting next to her. His face was stricken, and she understood why. The only child he had left was gone. All the searching they did had turned up nothing. It was like Kouta had disappeared, just like Kaede. She knew there was nothing she could say to comfort him, so she held his hand. It was all she could do for him.

"I can't believe he ran off by himself like the police think," Junso said vacantly. "Why would he do that?"

A policeman and a volunteer came in. "We have a clue," the officer announced. "Down on Ocean View road, a man said Kouta was there. He wanted to buy the man's boat, but cleaned the garage for him and took his old canoe."

Junso stared at the man. "What would Kouta do with a canoe?" he asked.

Takami wondered the same thing. She then remembered Yuka mentioning Kouta wanted her to get one and paint it black. Thinking about Kouta when Kaede had been taken, she remembered he had insisted Kaede was taken to an island off the coast. She looked out at the dark ocean, and it hit her. A black canoe for a black ocean. "Dear, Kami! He's gone after her!"

People looked at her as she explained, "Kouta insisted Kaede was taken to an island off Kamakura when she was kidnapped! He got a canoe, painted it black so it wouldn't be seen, and he's gone after her!"

"Is that kid nuts?" a man asked. "No one takes a canoe out on the ocean, especially at night. That would be suicide!"

Junso saw it too. Whatever he was building, Kouta was making something to help him get to that island to rescue Kaede. "Kouta would do that if he thinks he can find Kaede. He's out on the ocean at night in a black boat ... anything could happen to him!"

"That would be very hard to see," an officer agreed. Looking outside, he said, "The best we can do is initiate a Coast Guard search in the morning. If he is out there, anyone looking for him at night just might run him over without knowing it, if they did find him."

Junso rubbed his face and asked, "Takami, do you have any idea which island Kouta might be trying to get to?"

"No. He didn't specify that I can remember. I just know that's where he is," she said.

Junso sat in thought, then said, "He's been planning this all along. His sudden intrest in exercising, never spending a single yen he didn't have to, that contraption with pedals and drive chains, that heavy bag he brought. I thought Kouta just took an intrest in every burglary show he could find. For the past two years, he's been working at going to that island to steal Kaede back."

It was a stunning realization for him.

The next morning, the search was concentrated on the beaches. Sure enough, a set of wheels, a kid's wagon, an empty can of black paint and a brush was found on a small, hidden beach. Of Kouta or the canoe, there was no sign. He was out on the ocean in his black painted canoe.

The search helicopter who'd been told what to look for, flew close to the island, but didn't see the black canoe floating underneath the refueling platform.

.

'Kaede, where are you?'

'Kouta ... I'm here Kouta!'

'Where? I can't find you.'

'HERE, in the dark place. Kouta, please come find me.'

'I'm trying, I don't know where you are.'

'I'm here! The growly man is going to bad things to me, you have to save me, Kouta!'

'Where, Kaede? Please, you have to tell me where to look!'

'I can't see, all I hear are my guards and a boom now and then.'

'but where?'

'I don't know!'

"Kaede!" Kouta yelled as he woke up suddenly. Sitting up, he blinked. Where was he? It was black like Kaede was experiencing. Touching something cool and round, he found his flashlight. Right, he'd sneaked onto the island he now was certain Kaede was on. The dream he awoke from felt too real. He was sure he was talking to Kaede. Just like he knew Kaede was being kept in a dark place, he knew that dark place was on this island. He had to go find her but she didn't know where she was.

By flashlight beam, Kouta streched and got up and got his pack and bag on. He was thirsty so he finished the bottle of water. He had to go. No bathroom, so he peed in the bottle and capped it, then put it in a corner. His legs were stiff and sore, but at least they had some strength now.

Peeking out of the room, Kouta watched and listened. No one was around. He exited the room and shut the door behind him. Standing in the hallway, he quietly asked, "Kaede?"

Nothing. Well, anything was worth a try. This hallway was short and ended in a blank wall. Going back to the one he'd come in, Kouta walked down the long hallway. The light from the dim exit now behind him faded away, and another light came from in front of him. He approached slowly, searching for any movement.

This was an overhead light in the hallway. It looked like an intersection. The pipes on the right wall disappeared down the right side, the left side kept going. He walked silently as possible. Getting to the intersection, he looked each way. He had no idea where to go.

'Kouta'

Kouta froze. The barely whispered sounded like it came from straight ahead. He kept walking and searching. On the right he saw a door. The plaque on the door was marked : 'DANGER, TOXIC GAS" He tried the knob. The door was locked. Not seeing hinges on the door, he knew it opened in. He took his bag off and opened it.

He did have a hacksaw blade. He tried to fit it into the edge of the door. It wouldn't fit. Ok, fine, he pulled out the hammer. He looked both ways, then hit the knob hard. It dented deep, but didn't break. He hit it again, then again. The knob broke off, showing the stem inside. Shifting his angle, he hit the stem like a nail, driving it deeper. Another hit knocked it through the door. Shining his light on the hole he saw the internals. He took the screwdriver and wedged it in and twisted. The door popped open.

Kouta went in and turned the light on. Flourescent lights lit the room. He shut the door and studied the room. More pipes and valves. Along one wall was a line of tall gas bottles marked CYANIDE. Atop these bottles were boxes with wires going to them. He knew cyanide was a fatal gas. He shut every manual valve he could find. The pipes off the bottles all went down a tunnel. it was wide enough, so he followed it. One by one, the pipes turned and went up a square shaft.

Kouta felt something. He didn't know what it was, but he had the idea it was important. He continued to the third pipe. This was the way to go. How he knew that, he had no idea. He just knew Kaede was this way. Shining his light up the shaft, the pipe went a couple meters and turned to go into the wall. The square shaft wasn't very big, a little over half a meter. He took his pack off. Higher, there was a pipe running straight through the shaft.

Before he tried to climb the pipe, He hooked the grappling hook onto his shoulder. Grabbing the pipe, he pulled himself up. It was hard, but he mananged to get high enough to push his feet against the sides and help boost himself up. From hanging onto the top of the Cyanide pipe, he was able to get the grapple up on the pipe above him by shoving it hard. Luckily, the grapple caught on the pipe and didn't come down on him. He pulled himself up a bit higher with the rope and saw light. It was dim, but light was coming through slits in the wall.

He turned his light out and climbed up to find the slits was a fine grating. Beyond was a large, dimly lit room. He could see one man wandering in the room, his light blue shirt, dark blue pants, and gun holster tould Kouta he was a guard. To the side, all but hidden in the shadows, a form hung from a cable coming from the ceiling. That form was Kaede, he just knew it!

'Kouta'

The hanging figure picked up it's head and turned slightly as if looking back at him.

Kouta want to yell, to scream that he was here. That would also let the guards know exactly where he was. The grating in front of him was heavy and even if he was able to bang/ pry it out of the wall, those guards would know. He realized he also had to be very quiet or they would hear him. reaching up high, he turned his light on briefly. Nothing but ceiling over him. He already knew what was below.

The heavy sound of metal grating on metal sounded out. From here it looked like a large portion of the wall opened. As the huge door opened, more light came in. He now saw the control box on the far side of the door on the outside. A guard stood by it as the guards in the room left and two more came in. They talked briefly, then the great door slid slowly shut, finished with a boom.

OK, that was the boom Kaede talked about hearing. He'd found Kaede, but she was in this big room with a very thick steel door and watched by guards. There was no way he was getting through that door and past those guards.

Kouta shinnied back down his rope. He had seen the room, and from what he saw, this was his only way in, but then what? Kaede was held up by a cable, and had two guards in the room with her. He had to think about this, there had to be a way to get Kaede out of there!

.

Junso watched out over the ocean, looking for that black dot that might be his brave, baka son looking for his Kaede. Heilcopters and ships had searched the area and up and down the coast. There was no sign of Kouta or his black canoe. Junso thought it may have sunk, but he was assured that canoes had flotation in the front and rear cavities as well as under the seats. It was close to impossible to sink a canoe, even if the bottom was ripped wide open or even torn in half. What else could 'no sign' of him mean? He watched another helicopter in the distance flying over the water. Kouta had to be out there, somewhere.

.

Kouta went back to the Cyanide room to stuff a rag in the knob hole in the door to keep light from shining out into the hallway. At first, he wondered why they wanted to put cyanide into a room. That stuff killed people. Maybe to prevent escape? Then wouldn't the guards in the room die too? Looking around as he thought, he saw posted instructions below the control panel.

Prior to manually activating cyanide into a containment room:
ensure dispensing room fresh air fan is on HIGH.

wait until the guards are reported out of the room and the containment door is shut.

After cyanide has been dispenced:
keep the dispensing room fan on HIGH for ten minutes after Cyanide valves are shut.

Kouta thought about guards fleeing the room to keep from getting killed. Guards fleeing the room. Was there something visual that may make them think the room was being gassed? Like a smoke bomb?

Kouta grinned. He ran to his bag and pulled out a smoke bomb. He needed something to pry that grating off with. He took a hammer and the big screwdriver. there was nothing else he had in his bag that he could pry with. Looking around the room, he didn't see anything better. He did find the dispensing room fan control. It was on low. He turned it on high, and headed for the shaft with his rope up in it. Quickly he checked to make sure he had everything, hammer, screwdriver, knife and the all important smoke bomb.

.

Kaede was on edge. She had dreamed Kouta was coming for her, and now she felt Kouta was close. It was almost like she could see him, even though her world was perpetually dark. Kouta was so close, he just had to find her in the darkness. She heard the guards yelling.

"Look! The room's being gassed, OPEN THE DOOR!"

"OPEN THE DOOR NOW!" the other cried.

"LET US OUT!"

There was the heavy sliding noise for a moment, then again, this time it ended in a boom.

.

Kouta held his bottle up against the grating as the smoke from it poured into the room. It was working! The guards were frantic to escape. The big door opened enough to let them out, then shut again. He dropped the smoke bomb and put his light on the grating. Working the screwdriver into a crack, he pryed. The screwdriver stuck, He pulled out his hammer and beat it in farther. He had to get this grating off!

One hand wasn't doing it. Bracing himself in the shaft with his feet and knees, he pounded on the end of the screwdriver and yanked at it. Slowly, the grating was giving way, pushing out. His knees stung but he ignored the sharp pains. Once a bit of grating showed it was pulling away, he got the screwdriver out and moved it a little father and again, pounded at it like a madman.

A POP sounded and a corner of the grating pushed out. Like a shark after blood in the water, Kouta attacked the grating. When one side was free, he climbed up a bit higher, drew his legs up and pushed with his feet. Red faced in effort, he pushed with all he had. There was another pop and the grating moved out a bit. Suddenly the grating gave up and came free. Kouta's legs shot into the room. He landed on the edge of the wall with the small of his back. Pains shot up his back, but this also help him from falling back down the shaft.

He pushed hard with his hands and wiggled out of the hole to fall down into the room. His hammer fell back down the shaft. He checked, he still had his knife. He pulled it out and hobbled towards the hanging form with a yell. "Kaede!"

"Kouta!" Kaede replied with a sob. "I'm here, please help me!"

"I'm coming, Kaede," he called back. Seeing stairs and a platform behind her, he made his way up onto the platform. There were wires and tubes that went into the suit wrapping Kaede. He cut and slashed at them to get her free. He HAD to free Kaede.