A Heart is not Black
Chapter Nine: Death is only the Beginning
Misaki met November Eleven at the Hospital, as he was being released. He had bandages on his face and hands, and his right arm was in a sling. He also had lost a front tooth from his little duel with BK201.
"Did you get any information on the young woman?" November Eleven asked, while he continued gathering his belongings.
"Unfortunately no," replied Misaki. "She woke up not knowing who she is or who she worked for. We actually got more information out of CC-696." November Eleven looked at Misaki impatiently. "He told us he works for the CIA. They had put a tracking devise on her because they began to think she was a double agent, and he's been trying to bring her back to them. He was also told to make BK-201 the main suspect."
"That cross-dresser told you all that without a hitch? Some agent he is. Although, telling the truth is probably his obeisance."
"No, dressing up as a female is."
November Eleven looked at her with a blank stare.
"As I said, some agent," he repeated. "What is being done about that double agent, Kara?"
"I have a guard watching her room," informed Misaki.
"I would like to meet with her, if that's okay, Misaki?"
"Hai, I'll come with you."
xxx
Hei sat in a chair next to Kara's side, as he watched her sleep in the hospital bed. Her hair was down and she was dressed in a hospital gown with the bed sheet covering up to her hips. He was glad to see she was all right, but he was upset to hear she had amnesia. Kara slowly began to open her eyes. They blinked heavily at the light, and then looked over at Hei, as she seemed to notice she had a guest.
"Hei, I'm so glad to see you here," she smiled at him.
"You remember?" Hei questioned, his eyes widening in shock.
"Hai."
Hei smiled with relief.
Suddenly the door opened. He looked over his shoulder to see Misaki and November Eleven enter the room.
"Li-kun?" Misaki asked dumbfounded. "What are you doing here?"
"Misaki-san, Jack-san," said Hei surprised, wondering why they were here since Yin had told him it was clear, and thought of an answer to give her. "I was worried about her after we were separated and looked all over for her last night. She wasn't at school this morning, so I tried calling her. Someone had answered her phone and told me she was here. It seems she don't remember me though." Hei realized how stupid it sounded while he was saying it.
"You got separated?" questioned Misaki. "You didn't go back to your apartment with her?"
Li looked at her dumbfounded.
"Eh, ah, I mean," blushed Misaki, realizing what she had said, which it didn't sound appropriate. She must have stopped by his place, broken in somehow, and saw the bowls on his table. "How did you get past the guard?" she asked instead, trying to change the subject.
"He was sleeping," answered Hei.
He couldn't believe Misaki bought that stupid story. He looked at November Eleven standing next to Misaki with an unemotional expression on his face and hoped he fell for it too.
"Sleeping?" questioned Misaki.
"Hai."
The truth of the matter Hei had put the guard to sleep. Misaki displeasingly sighed concerning her officer. She then noticed Hei's bruised and cut hand.
"What did you do to your hand, Li-kun?" she inquired, causing November Eleven to gaze at it, and give Hei a dirty look. "It looks like you got into a fight with someone."
"Eh, um it all started when I cut myself cooking lunch for Kara when she came over to study," explained Hei, hoping his fib would explain the extra bowl on his table. Misaki seemed to accept the answer.
"Later, when we were running away," continued Hei, "a man in black had grabbed Kara, and well, I went up to him and punched him in the face. He released his hold from her and I saw her able to run away, but it didn't faze him much. The next thing I knew he knocked me out. When I woke up, Kara was gone. I searched all night for her, but couldn't find her. She wasn't even answering her phone."
"You hit the man in black?" Misaki asked amazed.
"Hai," he responded, and then his eyes widened. "Eh, he didn't come to your department and press charges on me, did he?" Hei said hysterically. "I know it was stupid, and I'm really sorry. Please don't arrest me for attacking him."
Misaki and Kara blinked at Hei flabbergasted.
"You did that for me?" Kara asked. She sat up and kissed him on the cheek. Misaki's mouth slightly dropped. "How sweet of you. You're not seeing anyone, are you?"
Misaki looked at Hei, her face red with jealousy, and probably hoping he would say yes so she wouldn't continue her pursuit on him. Hei felt like he was a monkey in the middle and wondered what to say, as November Eleven leaned against the wall looking curious concerning his answer.
"Eh, well, there is someone I'm interested in," confessed Hei.
"Oh, is she the one?" Kara asked, pointing at Misaki. "Is she here to meet you and the other guy is her brother or something? Oh, I know. Yaoi!"
Hei fell out of his chair as Misaki dropped her purse. November Eleven frowned, but then smirked.
"No, no," muttered Hei, waving his hands back and forth.
"Oh, don't be so modest, Li-kun. I find you attractive," spoke up November Eleven. Misaki and Hei looked back at him horrified from his comment, as Kara blinked dumbfounded at them. "Just kidding."
Misaki looked at him upset.
"Misaki and I are police officers. We came to ask you a few questions about last night."
"Last night?" Hei asked. "But I thought she had amnesia?"
"Just making sure. Well?"
"Sorry, but no," answered Kara, shaking her head.
"What is the last thing you remember?"
"Nothing."
"Is that so?"
"Hai."
"I see, thank you."
November Eleven walked out of the room. Misaki looked at him puzzled for his accusation.
"So are you the one Li is interested in?" Kara asked.
Misaki turned to face them to see Hei blushing.
Hei and Misaki exited the room to see November Eleven waiting for them. He walked up to them and said, "I wish to speak with Mr. Li Shengshun alone, Misaki."
"All right, I have to get back to the police station anyways," mentioned Misaki.
Before she left, she turned to her officer and gave him an earful about sleeping on the job.
November Eleven guided Hei into an unoccupied room and closed the door behind him. Hei began to feel a little uptight, and thought November Eleven might be slightly Yaoi.
"I know there is more to you than you let on, Mr. Shengshun."
"Eh?" stuttered Hei. "I'm not seeing Kara. Really!"
"Not that!"
"The yaoi thing? I assure you I am not, and never had been. I'm Chinese and I was shocked to find out what it meant. You see, I was in this bar, and some guy came up behind me and he whispered that word in my ear. I had to ask what it meant, and well, the whole bar started laughing. I came to find out it was a gay bar."
November Eleven's eyes were narrowed at him and muttered, "That's far from what I mean. I know you're holding back more than you're letting on about yourself. The problem is I can't prove it and I don't want to see Misaki get hurt."
"Eh, oh, I understand. I—I do like Kirihara-san, and well, I find her beautiful, but if you want to ask her out, I—I won't interfere."
"That's not what I mean either, Mr. Li Shengshun."
November Eleven exited the room with Hei following. He stood by the door as his adversary walked towards the elevator.
"Oh, you might want to get that hand looked at!" he commented aloud. "It looks to me from that wound you had broken it when you connected it with your opponent's jaw!"
He entered the elevator, and after the door closed, Hei's eyes narrowed angrily at November Eleven.
xxx
A few days later Hei met Huang, Yin and Mao at the park for another mission briefing. Yin was sitting on the circular bench with Mao underneath it by her feet. Huang sat on the stair side of the elephant slide, as Hei sat behind him on the slide.
"There is a new target for you, Hei," informed Huang, lighting up a cigarette.
"What do they need him to steal now?" Mao asked.
"Nothing. They need us to find and kill a target."
"Who?" Hei asked. Huang handed him a picture. Hei almost fell off the elephant in shock.
"She went missing from the hospital. The Syndicate believes she has been lying about the amnesia and she is trying to run away. They want you to get the information from her first. Tell her you will spare her life if she does, but once you have the information in your possession, you are to terminate her.
"They should have done that from the start. It's more your kind of work anyway. Mao, you are to make sure he does it."
"I am to make sure?" questioned Mao, as his ears perked up. "Oi, I don't like getting mixed up in all this!"
"The Syndicate knows that too, so that's why they want you to get involved. If he fails, then it's on both your hands."
As Huang turned around to leave, Hei looked at him with narrowed and displeased eyes. Turning his head towards Yin, he noticed she wasn't on the bench anymore and looked over to see her rocking back and forth on the swings.
"Yin, can you find out where she is?" Hei asked.
Jumping off the swing, she walked over to a puddle on the ground, stood in silence for a few minutes, and answered, "I can't locate her. She must be somewhere without water."
"Keep trying. Eventually she will need a drink of water," instructed Hei.
"My question is, Hei, are you going to be able to kill her?" Mao inquired.
Hei thought of Mao's comment. Moments later he responded with, "I don't know."
Mao cringed, as he lowered his body to the ground and his ears drooped.
"I take it back, Hei," stuttered Mao. "You don't ever bore me, but you always seem to put me in a pinch I don't like."
xxx
Kara woke up to find herself in a confined white room with only one small window located at the top of a door. Still wearing the hospital gown, she frightfully ran over to the door to open it, but it was locked. She peeked through the window and saw a wide and white empty hallway with doors. Fear began to run through her body, thinking that the Syndicate had caught onto her scheme and was going to kill her. She should have known she wouldn't be able to run away from them.
Sitting in the corner of the small room, she shivered from the cold, and began to think of Hei. She hoped he was all right and prayed the Syndicate didn't find out that he had helped her.
Hours later the door to the room opened as a man in a white suit entered.
"It's you from the hospital. Why have you kidnapped me?"
"I want you to tell me everything you know about the CIA and the Syndicate that you work for," the man replied.
"I told you, I don't remember."
"You don't expect me to believe that crap about amnesia, do you?"
"I'm telling you, I don't remember."
The man turned around, opened the door, and exited as Kara let out a sigh of relief. Minutes later he returned holding a cup in his left hand.
"Are you thirsty?" he asked.
Kara nodded.
The man approached her while he held up the cup of water to her. Kara took it in her hands to drink the water, but it had been frozen, surprising her.
"A contractor?" muttered Kara.
"Ah, it seems your memory is just fine," he smirked. "I'll give you two hours to tell me what you know, including information on Mr. 201-BK. If you don't tell me by that time, then you will end up like that cup of water."
xxx
Hei was still at the park with Yin, waiting for her to find Kara.
"Hei, I found her," informed Yin.
Hei looked over at her shocked, as Mao's ears stood up like little satellite dishes. Frowning, Mao tucked them back down and started sweating heavily.
"Where?" Hei asked.
"She's at the Foreign Affairs Police Station. I didn't have time to get an exact location."
"Nani?"
Hei couldn't believe it and felt stupid. He should have known Misaki knew that Kara was faking her amnesia, and now she was trying to pump her for information on him. He ran out of the park and headed towards his apartment.
"Well, I had a good run in life," muttered Mao, and then followed Hei.
xxx
November Eleven walked out of the room to find Misaki standing in front of him.
"What are you doing here, November Eleven?" asked Misaki angrily.
"I'm interrogating a prisoner," he replied.
"A prisoner?" Misaki questioned. "Who…don't tell me? My officers just called me from the hospital and said that Kara was missing. I thought they had fallen asleep again to where she was able to escaped, but you kidnapped her, didn't you?"
"She is the key to finding out about this mysterious organization and Mr. 201-BK, Misaki. She was not exactly truthful to us about her amnesia."
"I know, why do you think I left a guard at her door. You can't just kidnap somebody and bring her here to the Police Station. I'll give you a serum that will knock her out so you can take her back to the hospital."
"Misaki, don't you want to find out who 201-BK is?"
"Yes, I do, but this is not right."
"Misaki, she is an agent of this mysterious organization. You can arrest her, but that won't get her to talk. You have to make her think her life is in danger, and then she will talk."
"Nani? What did you do to her?"
"Nothing, I just gave her a little warning."
"Well, I'm giving you an hour to get her back to the hospital," instructed Misaki, as she turned around and walked down the hallway.
November Eleven reached inside his suit pocket for his box of smokes. As he pulled it out, he noticed it was empty. He sighed and looked around for a cigarette vending machine, but to his luck, there wasn't one on this floor. Cursing, he headed down to the next one.
A half an hour later, he entered the room with a cigarette in his mouth, and glanced over at Kara who was sitting curled up in a corner with her head lying on her arms. She slowly looked up at November Eleven.
"Your times up," he informed her.
Kara looked up at him flabbergasted, "But it's only…"
"Tell me what you know. Who is 201-BK?"
"BK-201? You mean the Black Reaper who was trying to kill me? How would I know who he is?"
"You and I know that the Reaper, who was trying to kill you, was an imposter who works for the CIA. I want to know who the real 201-BK is. You work for the same organization he does, am I right?"
"Well it looks like your just going to have to kill me, because I've never met the man."
"I find that hard to believe."
"Just because I work for the same organization doesn't mean that I know everyone who works for it. Moreover, you don't have a clue of whom or what is involved with them. They are everywhere and they will not hesitate to kill you if you find out anything. There is probably a hit put out on me right now, and no doubt they'll send the Black Reaper himself to do it."
"Then why not tell me what you know so I can take them down?"
"Because the very person you report to may be working for them." November Eleven stood in silence at her comment. "I've already told you too much as it is, and besides, I have a lot of friends I don't want to see get hurt."
Suddenly the power went out in the building.
"See, the Black Reaper has found me," she stated.
xxx
Misaki sat at her desk typing away on her laptop with Saitou sitting next to her, as the power went out.
"Damn, my battery is dead, and I didn't save what I was working on," cursed Misaki.
Saitou began to search for a flashlight, thinking it was a normal power outage, but Misaki had a feeling that it involved BK-201. Opening her drawer, she grabbed her flashlight and reached inside her purse to pull out her gun. She aimed them around the office, but only saw other's pointing their flashlights around their desks.
"Damn!" yelled Saitou.
"What is it?" Misaki asked.
"I just spilled my drink all over my desk."
Misaki sighed. Saitou's clumsiness was the least of her problems.
"Saitou, Kouno, Matsumoto, follow me," she ordered.
"Why, where are we going?" Kouno asked.
"To check on someone."
Misaki and her partners started to head for the stairs, but then heard an electrocution sound down the hallway. They headed towards it instead. Electricity filled it, causing Misaki to point her gun and flashlight at it.
"Everyone, don't fire, you might accidentally hit someone," yelled out Misaki, remembering her incident with Kara.
Misaki cautiously approach the scene to see if BK-201 was present, as the electricity diminished. She pointed her flashlight around, but saw no sign of him, which she believed he had left.
Suddenly something knocked her gun out of her hands, as a wire was flung around her waist, and then it pulled her into the pit of darkness.
"Chief!" Misaki could hear her partners yell for her.
Misaki felt an arm wrap around her waist to pull her tight up against another body. She could feel the person was male by his muscular build, and he was wearing what she believed was a thick coat. A cold-rounded item slightly touched her neck, which felt like a mask, and told her who her captor was.
Misaki's partners scuffled down the hallway, and shined their flashlights on them to illuminate BK-201's mask, making it appear eerier than usual. Saitou and Kouno's eyes frightfully widened from his presence.
"Tell them to drop their guns," he whispered into her ear, as BK-201 placed a knife to Misaki's throat and tightened his grip on her.
Saitou and Kouno locked their guns on him after his threat. Misaki glared at her partners and slightly motioned with her head for them to do what he had demanded. They looked at her baffled, but they nodded, and lowered their weapons to the floor.
"Where is she?"
Fear swarmed through Misaki's veins concerning her life, mixed in with anger that she hadn't developed towards him before. When he came to kill her the first time, there was this sense of uncertainty he had in him that made her feel safe in his arms, but now all she felt was betrayal.
"It wasn't me," cried out Misaki, not knowing why she would care what a brutal murderer thought of her?
"Where is she?" he repeated, pressing his knife tighter into her throat.
"Release me and I'll take you to her."
BK-201 didn't answer at first, but he slowly removed the knife from around her throat, as he kept a firm hold on her. She felt him reach in between them to grab something around his waist, fling what she believed was his wire behind him, and sent a volt of electricity through it. Someone behind them screamed out in pain and fell onto the floor.
He then flung the wire in front of him, wrapping it around Misaki's partners, and sent a volt of electricity through the wire. They shook vigorously before tumbling onto the ground.
"NNOO!" screamed Misaki, staring at them petrified. She detestably looked back at BK-201. "How could you?"
"They're just knocked out, Officer Kirihara. Now where is Kara?" he asked, releasing her.
Misaki stared at him flabbergasted. Believing that he was lying, she ran over to her partners, and kneeled to check for their pulses. She let out a breath of relief, as she felt blood pumping through their veins. Spotting Saitou's gun lying on the ground in front of her, Misaki quickly picked it up and aimed it at BK-201, but he was nowhere in sight. Suddenly an arm wrapped around her neck, and then another grabbed her arm holding the gun to shake it loose.
"Where is she?" demanded BK201.
Misaki cursed. "Two floors down. We can use the stairs nearby."
"This elevator will be fine."
BK-201 guided her over to the elevator. He placed his hand on the controls and sent a volt of electricity into it. Seconds later Misaki could hear the elevator approach and the doors slide open. BK-201 forcefully pulled Misaki into it and hit the close button.
"Yin, is it clear?" Misaki heard BK-201 say into a microphone on his collar. BK-201 pushed her to the ground, as the doors opened and two icicle stakes flew over their heads to impale into the back wall.
Misaki looked up and noticed the floor's emergency power was operating. November Eleven was standing in the middle of a hallway, as the sprinklers flooded the area. She guessed he had set it off so he could use his ability, and figured only a contractor would do such a thing in the police station. Misaki wondered how she would explain this to Hourai.
BK-201 stepped out of the elevator and kneeled to send electricity through the drenched floor at November Eleven, but he cancelled it out with his ice. Realizing the elevator door wasn't closing, she took cover under the control panel and peeked around the corner to observe the duel. The blond created a bunch of needle-sized icicles and threw them at BK-201. Opening an office door, the Black Reaper spun inside the office, as a few needles struck the door before it closed while the rest headed towards Misaki. She quickly ducked her head back, as the icicles barreled in and threaded into the back wall. Misaki looked back at them and cursed in her head concerning November Eleven's insanity, as the needles melted.
She cautiously glanced around the corner and noticed BK-201 hadn't stepped out from the office. November Eleven walked towards the door and placed his hand on the knob to open it up. Hearing an electric shock, she noticed November Eleven jerk back his hand. The MI-6 agent kicked the door open and entered the room.
Grabbing her gun she had strapped to her leg, Misaki headed over to the door and peeked around to see November Eleven carefully scanning the area. She slowly walked into the room to mirror his actions while pointing her gun.
Suddenly, a wire came from behind her and lassoed around November Eleven's arm, as a bolt of electricity ran through it to electrocute November Eleven. He grabbed at his arm and fell forward onto the floor knocked out. Turning to aim her gun at BK-201 who was standing near the door, she started to pull the trigger, but he threw one of his knives to knock it out of her hands as she fired.
"Where's Kara?" he growled.
"Four more doors down and to your left," replied Misaki. BK-201 turned around to head for the door. "Wait a minute!" BK-201 turned around to look at her. "This was all November Eleven's doing. I demanded he take her back to the hospital."
BK-201 didn't say a word, as he turned away to exit the office. Picking up her gun, she followed him to aim her gun at his back, but before she could fire, he wrapped his wire around the gun, and pulled it from her grip. After catching the gun, he put it into his pocket, then placed his hands on the remote entry to the room and electrocuted it to open the door. BK-201 closed the door as Misaki ran up to it. He sent a volt through the door and into the remote to lock it. Banging on the window, she gazed at Kara sitting curled up in a corner. Kara looked up at BK201, as her eyes widened and her body trembled in fear.
"They sent you to kill me, didn't they?" Kara asked.
BK-201 looked at her and nodded his head in reply. Misaki couldn't believe it. After all that effort he had gone through to protect her he had come here to kill her. Misaki wished there was something she could do, but she was powerless against him.
Walking over to Kara, BK-201 kneeled down in front of her and placed his hand on her head.
"Please, I don't want the Black Reaper to kill me," pleaded Kara.
With his back facing Misaki, BK-201 removed his mask, and set it by his side.
Kara smiled, "Arigatou."
Misaki watched in horror as BK-201 sent a volt of electricity through her body. Seconds later she collapsed in his arms. BK-201 put his mask back on, picked up Kara in his arms, and stood to walk over to the door. He unlocked it and carried her past Misaki.
"Wait," yelled Misaki, as BK-201 turned around to look at her. "Why? Why would you come to me and ask to help her, and then go and kill her?"
BK-201's haunting slanted eyes glared at her. She stared them down while she waited for an answer, but he didn't give her one. Turning around, he headed for the elevator.
"Answer me, damn it, or I'll hand the stone over to someone else."
BK-201 stopped to gaze back at her.
"Because I was ordered to," he simply replied, and turned around to hurry back to the elevator.
Suddenly a trail of ice approached BK-201 from behind. BK-201 sensed it coming and ran into the elevator out of the ice's reach. After setting Kara down, BK-201 put his hands on the controls, and sent a volt of electricity into it to shut the door, but it didn't. November had formed ice on the doors to prevent it from closing. Exiting the office, the MI-6 agent threw two icicles at the Black Reaper. After BK-201 dodged them, they impaled the back of the elevator. November created half a dozen small icicles and threw them at him. One struck the center of BK-201's mask, forming an angled crack. It split in half with the right portion shattering into pieces. BK-201 quickly jolted back and covered his face with his right hand. He cursed as he turned around to use the icicles as a step to punch open the top of the elevator and climb out of it while leaving Kara behind.
Misaki and November Eleven ran into the elevator and looked up to see BK-201 had flung his wire upward to recoil himself onto another floor.
"Did you get a good look at him?" Misaki asked.
"No," replied November Eleven. "Did you?"
"No."
Misaki and November Eleven looked down at Kara and noticed she was not breathing. Misaki's hand tightened its grip on her gun, as she cursed to herself regarding BK-201's continued executions. She swore she would bring him to justice for his immorality.
Something from above her altered her attention and quickly stepped sideways to avoid the other half of BK-201's mask plummeting towards her. It struck the floor and shattered into a few dozen little pieces. A strand of wire whipped downwards from a rafting above and wrapped around November Eleven's neck. November Eleven fought to get himself free, but an electrical current ran through it, and shocked him. It was only seconds, but it seemed like minutes before it stopped. The wire recoiled upwards, allowing November Eleven to fall forward.
Misaki panicked, believing he was dead, and checked for a pulse. To her satisfaction, he was only unconscious. She aimed her gun to where the wire retracted, but she didn't see any signs of him. She wondered if he had run off.
Like a bolt of lightening, the wire came storming down again to wrap around Kara and pulled her out of the elevator. Misaki jumped to grab her legs and mustered all her strength into yanking Kara towards her. Before she knew it, BK-201 dropped down behind her, placed his hands on her shoulders, and sent a slight electrical shock through her body. Before she passed out, Misaki turned around to get a look at his exposed face, but her vision was hastily dimensioning and her body became heavy. Within seconds, everything was engulfed in darkness.
Hei took Misaki into his arms, cradling her so she wouldn't land violently, and set her gently on the floor.
"I'm sorry, Misaki," he apologized, kissing her on the lips.
Quickly picking up Kara, Hei stormed out of the elevator to barge through one of the offices, and shattered a window so he could wrap his wire on a telephone pole to scale downwards. Hei landed moments later, retracted his wire, and quickly ran over to a nearby park.
He laid Kara under a tree, as Mao approached him looking flabbergasted.
"Mission complete," informed Hei to Mao. "Go report to Huang and I'll handle the rest."
"Thank gosh!" breathed out Mao relieved, and then ran off.
Hei watched Mao until he disappeared.
"Yin, is the area clear?" Hei asked through the microphone, looking down at Kara.
"Hai," replied Yin.
Hei placed his hand over Kara's heart, as he muttered, "This better work."
Hei sent a brief electrical shock to her heart, causing her body to jerk and bobble, but nothing happened. He wondered if he had spent too much time fighting with November Eleven, and there was no way to revive her now. He started to perform CPR. After pumping her heart continuously, and breathing into her lungs, she still didn't respond. He cursed at what to do when suddenly Hei felt her heart beating. He let out a sigh of relief and hoped he didn't cause any brain damage. Hei took his coat off to wrap it around Kara, picked her up, and carried her out of the park.
xxx
"Misaki-san, Misaki-san," Misaki heard a voice calling for her. "Wake up."
Misaki slowly opened her eyes to see a figure standing over her. As her eyes adjusted to the lights, they widened from the presence of the person in front of her.
"Li-kun?" she questioned, trying to sit up. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard at school that you were hurt so I came here to see how you were doing," he smiled.
"What?" Misaki thought, as she began to look at her surroundings and noticed she was in a hospital. "Why am I here, where's November Eleven?"
"November Eleven?" Li questioned. "Who's that?"
Misaki realized whom she was talking to and couldn't believe she let that name slip.
"Um, just another officer in our department," she corrected herself.
"Sorry, Misaki-san, I don't know," replied Li. "All I know is that you passed out here in the hospital."
"What, I passed out?"
"Hai."
"Then BK-201 coming to kill Kara was a dream," mumbled Misaki.
"What was that?"
"Oh…ah…nothing," replied Misaki. She became curious about his friend Kara, wondering if she was still alive and in the hospital. "Li-kun. Have you heard anything about your friend, Kara? Is she still all right?"
"Kara? No…she's dead," he said, looking down depressed.
"Nani?" Misaki looked at Li flabbergasted. "What happened?"
"I killed her," he confessed.
Misaki stared flabbergasted at Li, as she saw his eyes turn from an innocent schoolboy, to that of a cold-blooded killer.
"What?"
Li's hand grabbed Misaki's neck, startling her. Clamping his hands tight, he started to squeeze the life out of her as she slowly closed her eyes from lack of oxygen.
"Li…kun?" she questioned heart-stricken, while gasping for air.
She slowly fought to open her eyes and stared at a man with a white mask and a purple lightning bolt. Her eyes widened as she passed out.
"BK-201?"
"Misaki… Misaki…Misaki… wake up," Misaki could hear November Eleven saying, as she slowly opened her eyes to see him before her.
"Novem… ber… Eleven?" Misaki asked, trying to stand up, but fell over fatigued. November Eleven caught her in his arms.
"It's a little exhausting after getting electrocuted. You should rest for a little bit."
"Electrocuted?" Misaki questioned, realizing she was still at headquarters. "BK-201? It wasn't a dream, he really killed Kara?"
"Hai," acknowledged November Eleven. "But it appears you were having a nightmare while you were passed out. You called out for 201-BK."
"Really," said Misaki, relieved that that was just a nightmare, but wondered why she would dream of something so horrible. Li-kun couldn't be BK-201. However, if he was, could he kill her? She wanted to prove Li's innocence. "Did anyone capture him or get a good look at him since his mask broke?"
"No, Misaki. No one did."
Misaki felt around her neck and was surprised she didn't have any cuts from how tight BK-201's blade was up against her throat. She was even more surprised that he didn't kill November Eleven and her.
Saitou and Kouno entered.
"Chief, are you all right?" Saitou asked.
"Hai, I'm fine," assured Misaki. "Saitou, Kouno, you two should go check out the surveillance cameras. BK-201 is bound to be on one of those, and hopefully there's a shot of him not wearing his mask."
"Hai," Saitou and Kouno replied together.
"I can't believe he killed her," muttered Misaki, wishing today's events were a nightmare.
"That's the way these organizations work. They saw her as a threat and they didn't want her to leak information," commented November Eleven.
"Li-kun is going to be upset about her death. He seemed to be really good friends with her."
"Misaki, I don't want you going near that boy anymore. He's dangerous."
"Dangerous? Li-kun? Oh, don't tell me you still think he could be BK-201?" she asked, but doubted herself while remembering her nightmare and the recent encounter she had with him.
"Hai. To begin with, he is a friend of this Kara girl. He also injured his hand after I had gotten into a fist fight with BK-201."
"He's not him!" she screamed, not wanting to believe Li would kill anyone. "I saw them together at the electronics store, or have you forgotten that?"
"No, I haven't. I'm still pondering over that. However, you have to agree with me that he is more than a Chinese transfer student, Misaki. Not to mention his Japanese is flawless."
Misaki looked at November without replying to his comment. Why did he keep bringing this up? Li-kun can't be BK-201. Not her sweet, charming and handsome man that she was falling for. She began to think about the kiss she had shared, and wished she could go back to that moment.
"Misaki, you love him, don't you?"
Misaki's eyes widened, as her cheeks burned bright red, and her heart pounded briskly from embarrassment. She looked away from him and babbled, "St—stop… joking."
"I'm not joking, Misaki."
She stared up at him dumbfounded that he wasn't playing one of his games, and averted her eyes from him as she muttered, "We—we're just… friends."
November Eleven stared at her for a second, and then warned her, "Be careful around him. If you'll excuse me, I have to pay my contract."
November Eleven exited the room. Misaki pondered on November Eleven's words, then thought about Li, and imagined him smiling.
Li's not a killer; he's not a dangerous person, she thought to herself.
"I know you think he is a bad man, but he is the kindest person I have met in my life, even if he is a contractor," Misaki remembered Kara saying.
"No. Li's not BK-201," she repeated. "Li wouldn't have killed Kara."
xxx
Kara woke up the next morning while putting her hand on her aching head.
"Where am I?" she wondered.
"You're in a safe place," replied a female voice.
Kara looked towards the voice. Sitting on a chair was a young girl with silver long hair wearing a black dress. She then realized she was in the same hotel room that Hei had brought her to earlier.
"Who are you?" Kara asked.
"Yin," replied the girl. "Hei is sorry he couldn't be here with you. He wanted to make sure the Syndicate didn't get suspicious, so he asked me to stay with you while he went back to his normal routine."
"Asked you? Who are you? Are you a friend?"
"Hai," she replied, holding her lip up with her finger to form a smile. "Hei helped me, and now I'm returning the favor. I'm happy he didn't kill you."
Kara looked down and noticed she was wearing Hei's black trench coat over her hospital gown. "I still need to repay the favor."
Pondering on what she could do in return, she thought about possibly getting Misaki and him to realize they liked each other.
"Hei and I are happy to see your wound is all right," added Yin. "Hei didn't want to have to take you back to the hospital incase a Syndicate member found out. He bought some clothes for you. They're in the closet."
Yin stood to leave the room.
"Thank you," replied Kara, as Yin opened the door. "Wait, Hei's jacket."
"He's at the park by his apartment," informed Yin, as she left.
xxx
Hei sat on the round bench at the park thinking about last night. He felt bad about having to hold Misaki hostage, but he was grateful he had spent the time dulling out one of his blades incase he would have to. If Misaki found out the truth about his identity, would she forgive him for the torture he had put her through?
A part of him wished he could just rip the mask off in front of her so he could stop pretending, hold her in his arms again, and kiss her. The other half felt she couldn't forgive him and hoped that Misaki hadn't seen his face when November Eleven smashed his mask. Every time he saw someone walk by he imagined it was Misaki aiming her gun and holding her handcuffs to slap on his wrists.
"Hello, Hei," came a female voice at the entrance.
Hei looked over and saw Kara smiling at him. She was wearing a short black miniskirt, a dark blue form-fitting jacket over a white graphic t-shirt, and black knee high boots. Her long black hair was tied back in a ponytail with a few strands hanging in front.
"What are you doing here?" he asked displeased, as she walked over to him. "It's too dangerous. If the Syndicate…"
"That Yin girl told me where I could find you," she interrupted. "She said it was clear."
"Yin did? Why?"
"I never got a chance to really thank you," she smiled, as she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. Hei looked at her shocked. "Thank you. I really wish there was some way I could repay you for your kindness."
Hei smiled.
"And thanks for the clothes," chimed Kara. "You did a great job picking them out. I really like them."
"A lady at the store helped me," mentioned Hei, pleased to see they fit.
Kara dropped a backpack on the ground, opened it, and pulled out Hei's trench coat to hand it to him. "I also wanted to return this to you. It was very warm."
Hei looked at it baffled. "I asked Yin to bring it back to me once you changed."
"She's a very sweet girl," commented Kara. "Hei, I know the Syndicate gave you the order to kill me, and I really thought you did, but why didn't you?"
"I couldn't kill someone who asked for my help," he simply said.
Kara smirked. "You really are a strange contractor, Hei."
"So where do you plan on going from here?"
"I'm thinking about going back to America. I really like it over there. Though I won't be able to see any of my old friends."
"I wish you a safe trip."
"Thank you. Don't forget to tell Misaki how you feel," she smiled.
Hei returned it.
"Li-kun!" Hei heard someone shout at the front of the park.
Craning his neck around, he stared on shocked to see Misaki walking towards them and quickly sat on his trench coat, praying she hadn't seen it. Kara rounded the tree and sat on the bench with her back to them to hide her face from view. Hei shivered with fear that she might have seen his face last night, and his visions of Misaki coming to arrest him were coming true. If she interrogated him, he worried about her noticing his coat.
"Misaki-san? What brings you by?" he asked, trying to put on an innocent and happy face.
Misaki walked up to stand before him. Her facial feature showed an unpleasant expression, as she kept on gazing away from his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Li-kun," began Misaki. Hei tensed with paranoia. She had indeed come to arrest him, and it was hard on her to do such a thing. "I'm sorry but… but I…"
"What's the matter, Misaki-san?" Hei asked, as sweat poured down his face.
"It's… It's about last night," she continued. He and Kara readied themselves to run. "You're friend…"
Misaki glanced over at Kara; finally noticing someone else was present. She looked back at Hei, but then her attention shifted to Kara again, as she became overwhelmed with shock.
"KARA!" said Misaki flabbergasted. "How on earth…?" Misaki shut her mouth quickly, so that she wouldn't ask her how she was still alive, and appear as a buffoon in front of Hei.
"What are you doing here?" she asked instead, trying to hide her shock.
"I've come by to say goodbye to my friend. I'm going back home," she replied. "Thanks again for all your help at school, Li."
Hei smiled back at her. She returned it and hurried out of the park.
"Wait, hold up!" yelled Misaki, and chased her around the corner.
Misaki caught up to Kara and reached out her hand to grab her by the arm to stop her. Kara looked back at her startled.
"How are you still alive?" demanded Misaki. "You had no pulse. How? Why didn't he kill you?"
"I told you, Kirihara-san. He's not a bad man."
Misaki stared at Kara lost for words as she let go of Kara. Kara turned around and began to walk away. BK-201 really did care for this girl in order to help fake her own death so that this Syndicate wouldn't hunt her down. No doubt that if they found out they would kill him.
However, all of it didn't make sense? He was a contractor, a killing machine. It wasn't logical for him to stick out his own neck for her.
"Oh, Kirihara-san. Li likes you!" yelled Kara over her shoulder.
Misaki blushed at her comment as she watched Kara walk off in the distance. Did Li really like her? He never spent that much time around her. The only other time they had been alone had been erased from his memory, and whenever she thought about it, she felt like the Syndicate had stabbed a knife through her heart.
Misaki, I don't want you going near that boy anymore, he's dangerous, November Eleven's words barged into her mind.
Misaki frowned, as she pondered on the day when BK-201 stood before Li, and wondered if perhaps it had been planned out. It was possible, but she didn't want to believe it.
She shook away the thought and headed back into the park to see Li was lying on the bench with his hands behind his head. He sat up and smiled at Misaki, as she approached him.
"Misaki-san, you seem a little upset? Are you all right?" he asked.
"Hai, I'm fine."
"So what were you going to tell me?"
Misaki looked at him lost for words. She had come here to tell him that his friend had passed away, but she was still alive and she had come by to chat with Li. She worked her brain drastically at what to say, as she thought of the simplest things; like nice weather, he was looking good today, or how was school, but she didn't know what to ask first.
Suddenly Li's stomach growled loudly. Li looked at her embarrassed, which caused Misaki to stare at him flabbergasted. As she burst out into laughter, Li looked at her shocked, but he too began to chuckle. At least she knew what she was going to say to him now.
"How about that rain check," she smiled.
"Hai, I would love to."
It can't be true. Misaki thought, as she walked out of the park with Li.
To be continued...
A/N: Thanks to everyone for reading. Hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. :)
