DTB A Heart is not Black
Chapter Ten: Follow Your Heart
Misaki ran into a building where July had located November Eleven. The lobby was ten meters squared and had no ceiling, which showed the building's ten floors. A bright blue light highlighted the top level, informing Misaki BK201 was present. She quickly ran into an elevator with April and July behind her. She was gambling at reaching the top level using it, figuring his ability could knock out the power and trap her, April and July in it. However, it was the quickest way to keep anything from happening to November Eleven.
As soon as the elevator reached the top floor, she ran over to a door and flung it opened, surprised to see BK-201 kneeling on the ground with his head bent downwards. She wondered why he was kneeling there, but figured he might have been injured in a duel. Suddenly November Eleven's well being didn't matter to her anymore.
There was no way she would let him escape this time and aimed her rifle at him.
"Don't move! Lay flat on your stomach and put your hands slowly on the floor," she demanded.
BK-201 glared over his shoulder and stared at Misaki.
"NOW!" Misaki yelled.
Suddenly she noticed his mask was broken around his eyes, causing her to wince at them.
It can't be, she thought, as she slowly tried to approach him to get a closer look. It's not possible. Please tell me I'm only seeing things. I've stared at them plenty of times, but they can't be those midnight blue eyes.
Before she knew it, April had grabbed her arm to hold her back, as someone fired a flare. They looked away from the flash and held their hands above their eyes to keep from being blinded.
When the flash disappeared, BK-201 was gone. Misaki noticed Dr. Schrader and ran over to help him, but he seemed to be in a state of shock. Misaki started to look around for November Eleven, but there were no signs of him.
She glanced over at July, and asked, "Where is he?"
"He's not here anymore," he simply replied.
Misaki wondered where he had walked off to this time.
xxx
Yin spoke through an earpiece to guide Hei towards a back entrance with Mao trailing behind. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure they weren't being followed.
Placing his hand on his broken mask, Hei removed it since it was becoming annoying with pieces cracking to fall onto the ground, or into his eye. He almost had Amber, but the voice calling out to him stopped him. Was that his sister, or was it his imagination? Why did he have to let that moment affect him with Amber in front of him? He could have had her explain everything to him. Right now wasn't the time to think about it. The police department would be here soon in full force.
He arrived at the back door and came to a halt, causing Mao to plow into his right calf.
"Hey, what's the deal?" bellowed Mao. "We need to get out of here!"
"Yin, are the police here yet?" Hei asked through a microphone, ignoring Mao.
"No, Hei. They are not here," she answered.
Hei kicked open the back door to run out into the back alley and hurried down it.
He was happy that Huang had decided to help, because if he didn't, he might be in handcuffs and heading towards the Foreign Affairs escorted by Misaki. Thinking of the reaction she had showed while she pointed her gun at him, he believed she might have recognized him. Believing she would be making a personal visit to Li's place to slap on her handcuffs, Hei figured it would be best to stay away from it for a while.
"How's that hand, MR. 201-BK?" someone asked.
Jumping from surprise, Hei looked toward another alley where the voice had come from. Walking out of an alley was November Eleven. Hei quickly grabbed one of his knives and got into a fighting stance, as he glared angrily at him.
"Don't worry, Mr. 201-BK. I didn't come here to fight you. I have something more important I have to take care of."
Hei continued to stare at him with his piercing blue eyes while he readied for any kind of an attack.
"I can't believe I'm about to ask this of you, but I need you to do something for me," continued November Eleven. Hei's eyes twitched from confusion, as he held onto his composure. "Big things are going to happen, and a lot of people may be killed."
"What do you want from me?" Hei growled.
"I don't know if you realize this, but Misaki likes you a lot, the Li Shengshun side of you." Hei stared at him dumbfounded. "She is going to be heartbroken when she finds out that Li is a lie."
"I figured that on my own. What is it that you want from me?" Hei repeated.
"I don't know how, but I can tell perfectly well that you too have feelings for her. It's not logical for a contractor to act on his emotions, but I always thought there was something special about you, Mr. 201-BK, no, I mean, Li Shengshun. Please keep protecting her like you always have."
November Eleven smiled and walked off. Mao came up from behind looking at him puzzled.
"That's an interesting request from a contractor," commented Mao. "Maybe it's because of what Amber had told him?"
Hei watched him walk off into the distance, as he wondered what his true intentions were, but then thought he might know something about Amber's plans.
"Where is she, where's my sister?" shouted Hei.
November Eleven stopped to look back over his shoulder, and asked, "Sister?"
"You met with Amber. Did she mention anything about Bai?"
"Sorry, but she didn't," November replied, turning his head back around.
He walked off while holding his right hand up waving goodbye.
Watching until November Eleven disappeared around the corner, Hei turned on his heels and headed off in the opposite direction. He didn't know what kind of scheme November Eleven was cooking up, and he couldn't believe he was letting him go. He knew the MI-6 agent would tell Misaki he was BK-201, if she didn't already know after their last encounter. He should be running after him and putting a blade between those blue eyes.
While walking down back alleys, Hei heard something from above and looked up to see a staircase falling down towards him. He quickly rolled to the other side of the alley, as the emergency metal staircase crashed where he had stood.
Hearing another noise above, he looked up to see a second staircase falling and quickly ran forward as it crashed next to the other one.
"You're quick, BK-201," a female's voice commented above him.
Hei gazed upwards to see a petite woman standing on the roof. She was dressed in a red leather jacket and tight red leather pants with chin length black hair.
Snatching one of his blades, he threw it at the female, as she highlighted in blue and her eyes turned red. Hei watched as his blade turned into liquid and dripped like rain to the ground.
"I'm sorry, but your weapons are useless against me. Too bad my little surprise attack didn't work on you. I'll see you around, cutie," she flirted, walking out of Hei's view.
Flinging his wire to hook it to an electrical pole, he recoiled up onto the roof to see the petite woman was about to enter a door. He threw his cable and tried to wrap it around her neck, but it instead liquefied and dripped as blood along the ground.
The woman looked over her shoulder at Hei.
"You aren't very smart, are you?" she asked. "Didn't I tell you your weapons are useless against me?"
She turned blue again as her eyes burned red. Hei went to grab his other knife, but he felt it melt as he grabbed it.
"It's too bad I can't fight you one on one," she continued. "I know how much you would love to electrocute me. Bye, bye for now." She slammed the door behind her.
Hei ran after her and barged through the door where a metal staircase waited. He held up himself from charging down it, kneeled while placing his hand on the stairs, and sent an electrical shock through the metal. Unfortunately, he didn't hear her cry out in agony.
"Nice try," he heard her yell from below.
Hei gazed down and noticed a portion of the stairs was missing. The section below was drenched in metallic liquid, indicating she had liquefied that area to disconnect his ground source.
Hei cursed, knowing there was no way to get to her without his cable. Running back onto the roof, he prayed there was an emergency staircase she hadn't liquefied.
Finding one on the other side, he stepped onto the staircase, but looked around hoping that the contractor wasn't still around to liquefy it. Not seeing any signs of her, he decided to head down. As he stepped onto the second section the stairs turned into liquid. Hei cursed but quickly held out his arm to grab a hold of a window ledge.
"You really are quick," the contractor shouted in the distance. Hei looked around for her, but since her voice was echoing off the walls, he couldn't locate her. "Have fun trying to get down."
Hei cursed again while pulling himself up onto the window ledge. To his luck, the window was closed. He broke the window with his right fist, unhooked the latch, and entered to see a young lady blinking at him dumbfounded.
"NO, THIEF! SOMEONE HELP!" she screamed.
Suddenly she began to throw books, plates, lamps and anything else that wasn't bolted down at Hei. He dodged and ducked his way over to her front door, and as he was about to exit the apartment, a frying pan struck the back of his head and made a ding sound. Stumbling a bit out of the room, he slammed the door shut as a kitchen knife spun towards him, and poked through the door centimeters from his face.
Hei stared at it flabbergasted. It would have been embarrassing if a citizen had killed off the infamous Black Reaper with a measly kitchen knife.
Turning away from the door, he smiled to see these stairs were made out of concrete. After heading down it, he left the building and headed back towards his apartment while keeping a close eye out for trouble. He knew going back to his apartment would be a mistake, but he would rather take his chances with Misaki than try to fight another contractor without his weapons.
Hei made it back to his apartment without a hitch. He reached out his hand to open his door, but he found it unlocked. Slowly opening it, he cautiously walked into his dark room looking around it, and felt a sense of danger from behind him. He turned around to see a shadowed figure holding something above his head. As the intruder swung his arm downward, Hei quickly grabbed it to fling the person over his shoulder, and pushed his body against the floor face down. Hei held the intruder's arm behind his back and pressed upward on it to induce pain.
"Who are you?" Hei demanded.
"Hei, is that you?" said a female voice in pain.
He looked onward shocked, as he recognized the intruder. It couldn't be. He released his hold on her, stood up, and went to turn on a light to see whom it was.
"Kara?" Hei asked dumbfounded, wondering why she was still in Tokyo. He hoped she hadn't brought along any trouble with her.
"I'm sorry to intrude, Hei," began Kara, looking toward the floor while frowning.
"What are you doing here? You where suppose to get out of town," barked Hei.
His blood was boiling from Kara being in his apartment, and he hoped that one of the Syndicate's lackeys hadn't spotted her and followed her here.
Kara looked up and smiled, "It's good to see you too, Hei."
"Kara, stop stalling and answer me," he demanded, glaring angrily at her.
"Well, I couldn't leave without seeing Tokyo first," she smiled. Hei looked at her flabbergasted. "I mean, I haven't been here for ages and I just wanted to enjoy my homeland for awhile before I went back to the States."
"You've been risking your life just for that? What if the Syndicate finds you? They'll kill you, and not to mention, me as well for helping you."
Kara's smile turned into a frown again, as she stared toward the ground not answering him.
"Kara, what happened?"
Kara ran up into Hei's arms and began crying. "I'm so sorry, Hei."
Hei held her for a few seconds before he pushed her at arms length to look into her waterlogged eyes.
"Kara," he said softly, "what happened?"
Kara shied away from his eyes. "I'm so sorry, Hei, I've put your life in danger. They found me."
"Nani!"
"Two days ago I was attacked by a few agents while I was walking around my old neighborhood. I guess one of their agents had spotted me. I managed to escape and have been running from them since."
Hei looked at her astounded she was still alive. She was lucky they hadn't sent any of their contractors after her.
"Then why did you come here? It's too dangerous. They know I helped you and they will be coming after me now."
Kara looked toward the ground unable to answer him.
"There's something else going on, right?" Hei asked.
Kara continued to look at the ground.
"Answer me, Kara. What does the Syndicate know?"
Kara didn't look up, as she answered, "I don't know how they know," she raised her head up, "but your girlfriend's life is in danger too."
Hei stood there stunned and mumbled, "Misaki?"
"They know she has the stone."
Quickly running to his closet, he opened a loose board, grabbed a knife and wire, and then ran out of his apartment with Kara following him.
xxx
Wearing a brown jacket, a man sat on a bench surrounded by trees in a park while he adjusted his red and blue baseball cap. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
"She got away again, sir," informed the man into his phone. "She doesn't look it, but she is quick on her feet. Do you want us to go for the other girl?"
"We already made arrangements for her. They truly don't know the real power of that stone," came the voice on the other end.
"Are they sure she has it?"
"Yes, we saw Kara give it to her at the temple. BK-201 was there to help."
"BK-201? Should we send someone after him too?"
"We already sent someone to take care of him. He was always more trouble than he's worth. He was just muscle power for us, and the Syndicate has no further use for him or his partners. We also found out that he met with Amber, and who knows what she had told him. His power is what caused the tragedy in South America, and he's the only thing that can spoil our plans. He is to be terminated by tomorrow night."
"So they are putting their plan in motion?"
"Hai."
"Why wait till the last minute to get the stone?"
"We thought it was best Officer Kirihara kept it safe for us."
"Do you want us to continue our search for the other girl?"
"There's no need to, all we need is the stone to stop EPR's dolls. If we succeed with our plans, the information she knows will be useless anyway. But if you happen to see her walking by though, by all means, take care of her."
xxx
Hei ran over to Misaki's apartment still in his black coat, pants and shirt. He opened the door and entered it with Kara behind him to see there had been a struggle. There were pieces of paper and her couch cushions scattered along the floor. Cabinet, refrigerator and stove doors were left open with food and kitchen items thrown everywhere. In Misaki's bedroom, drawers were pulled out with clothes scattered around, her bed covers were torn off, and her mattress thrown from its frame.
"I'm sorry, Hei. I should have come here first to warn her," apologized Kara. "Because of it, Misaki's been kidnapped."
"It's not your fault," he assured. He was more upset with himself for getting her involved. He should have been here to protect her.
"Do you think they found what they were looking for, Hei?" Kara asked.
"I'm not sure."
"This is all my fault. I've caused you and Kirihara-san so much trouble. I hope she's still alive. Where do you think they have taking her?"
"I don't know," he said upset, as he hoped she was still alive.
They heard some noises outside Misaki's door. Hei moved to stand behind it while pulling out one of his knives from his weapons holster, as Kara entered the bathroom to hide. The door opened. A big man in a business suit entered the room with a black-skinned lady wearing a pink coat and a fuzzy collar, as she held a young boy's hand. Hei recognized the MI-6 agents and the Foreign Affair's buffoon, Saitou.
"Nani? What happened here?" Saitou asked dumbfounded.
Hei needed to escape with Kara, but the door was blocked, and the balcony would be a stupid move to try for. He thought about electrocuting them to knock them out, but the last thing he needed was the Foreign Affairs pinning Misaki's kidnapping on him. Instead, he calmly crept around to the kitchen area, and ducked behind the half wall next to her stove. Hei cursed at his stupidity for not grabbing another mask out of his closet before he had left his apartment. He removed his black coat and weapons and hid them in a cabinet. Incase Saitou did spot him; Hei could try to play things off as Li, figuring it would work on Saitou, but he wasn't too sure the MI-6 agents would.
"It looks like July was right about Misaki being in trouble," spoke April.
July squatted and placed his hand on a broken glass.
"Oi, don't do that, you'll cut yourself," cautioned Saitou.
A spectre popped up around the room on other shattered glass, and then appeared in front of Hei. Hei tried to ignore it, figuring July was going to give up his position.
"There's someone here," said July softly.
April and Saitou looked at each other shocked. Drawing his gun, Saitou scanned the apartment while walking over to the kitchen. April grabbed a lamp that was lying on the floor to use as a weapon, and headed for the bedroom. July stood still by the door.
Hei cursed July for being a Doll, and believed Kara and he would be caught because of the twit. Grabbing one of Misaki's kitchen knives, Hei sat in the corner to look scared that a burglar had broken into the apartment.
Saitou walked up the two steps to the kitchen and, at the corner of his left eye, saw Hei.
Saitou pointed his gun at him and yelled, "Freeze, Police. Slowly put your hands up and drop the weapon."
Shock overwhelmed Saitou's face when Hei raised his head and hands looking scared.
"Li-kun?"
"Saitou-san?" questioned Hei, looking at him with a blank stare.
"What are you doing here?" they said in sync, as April came back.
Standing up, he began to try to think of an answer and saw some takeout on Misaki's counter. "I was just here to deliver some takeout, but when I got here, the door was cracked open and I walked in to find this mess."
"Take out?" questioned Saitou.
"Hai," Hei replied, placing his hand on the back of his head, and looking down embarrassed.
"You work at a restaurant around here?"
"Hai?"
"You need to find some better jobs, Li-kun," chuckled Saitou, but then took in Li's appearance. "That's some unusual dress attire for a take out restaurant. If I didn't know you, Li-kun, I would have thought you were the burglar."
Hei embarrassedly smiled at Saitou while scratching the back of his head. April glared at Li, as if she was trying to remember were she had seen him.
"Li, Li? Ah, you're not by any chance Misaki's boyfriend, are you?" she inquired.
Saitou looked at her with a hurt expression, as Hei blinked at her dumbfounded.
"Boyfriend?" Saitou asked.
"November said there was a young man named Li that had stolen Misaki's heart. I thought he was just joking, but now that I have met you I can see he wasn't." Saitou looked towards the ground depressed, as Hei's cheeks burned red from embarrassment. "I'm a little surprised, though. She seemed to put her career above her love life. But I can see why, you are very cute." April went over to Hei to stare at his cherry-red face. "Ah, so cute, he's blushing."
"April, we don't have time for this," spoke up Saitou, jealousy now flowing heavily from his voice. "We need to find the Chief before something happens to her."
"Chief?" questioned Hei. "Is this Kirihara-san's place?"
"Hai," replied Saitou.
"Like you didn't know," April teased. "Come on, Li, we're cops, you can't lie to us. You were coming over to spend the night with her, weren't you?"
Hei's eyes widened, as his cheeks burned a brighter red and his heart pounded briskly.
"April, that's enough," said Saitou, as his jealousy grew more. He looked at Hei. "She's been kidnapped, Li-kun."
"Kidnapped?" asked Hei looking concerned. "Is there something I can help with?"
"No, Li-kun, just leave it up to the police," replied Saitou, patting Hei's head. He reached inside his pocket and pulled out his wallet. "How much for the Chief's food, Li-kun?"
"Eh?" questioned Hei looking dumbfounded.
"Here's 2000 yen, hopefully that will cover it." Saitou left the room with April and July following.
As April exited, she smiled back at Hei and commented, "Good luck, Li. Misaki's a tough one."
After she closed the door Kara barged out of the bathroom.
"That girl, April, is right, Li-kun," she teased.
Hei tried to ignore her but his cheeks turned as red as a rose. He quickly turned around, hiding his emotions, and walked back over to Misaki's kitchen to gather his stuff out of the cabinet. There was no way he could put his trust in the police locating Misaki. He was determined to find her himself.
Turning around, he gestured for Kara to follow him out of the apartment.
Kara smiled at him. "He's so in love."
She followed him out of the apartment. Things were going to be interesting for Misaki and Hei. She hoped they would be able to have a future.
Hei and Kara arrived back at his apartment to find Yin kneeling on the middle of the floor.
"Hei, I found her," informed Yin. Hei stared at her shocked while waiting for her to tell him where. "She's in a warehouse, 33554 Satori Street.
Hei winced, knowing that she was talking about the warehouse not too far from his apartment. The Syndicate had used it for their other jobs for storage. They took her there because there were no windows, mirrors, sinks or electrical lines to keep out observer spirits. The only thing that was powering the place was a generator.
"Yin, how were you able to find her?" he asked puzzled.
"A guard brought a can of soda with him," replied Yin.
He frowned. Apparently, they were stupid and getting careless, or they were trying to lead Hei into a trap. Hei went into his closet to pull out one of his masks.
"Kara, please stay here, you too, Yin," ordered Hei. "That place doesn't have enough water around there for you to help me."
"No way, Hei, I'm coming!" screamed out Kara.
"No, it's too dangerous."
"I can take care of myself. I'm the one who got her into this, I need to help her."
"Kara, no. Stay here," he repeated.
"And how do you plan on getting her out of the warehouse? She doesn't exactly trust you. She might even arrest you once you are in the clear, or maybe just simply grab a hold of that mask of yours and rip it off."
"I'll think of something. Just stay here."
Hei walked out of his apartment.
xxx
Misaki sat in a chair with her arms tied up behind it. A blindfold covered her eyes and her mouth was taped shut. She heard someone walking up to her, grab what sounded like a chair screeching along the floor, and sat down.
"Do you know why you are here, Officer Kirihara?" a man's voice asked.
Misaki shook her head.
"You have been entrusted with a certain item from a woman who worked for us. We would like you to return it to us. Tell us where you hid it, and no harm will come to you."
How did they find out she had it? Misaki cursed BK-201 in her head for getting her mixed up in all this. If she died here, she planned to haunt him for the rest of his life, and she hoped most of it was behind bars.
"Will you tell us?"
Misaki shook her head.
"Maybe your own life is not important, but how about your partners? Could you risk their lives for some stupid stone?"
Misaki's eyes twitched at his comment, as anger built up inside her. She began rocking back and forth in the chair while screaming, her voice mumbled from the tape around her mouth.
"If that's not enough, how about your friends, what are their names. Let's see. Kanami and Li?"
Misaki's anger rose. There was a possibility Li was a lie, and that could be the reason why she was in this mess. He could take care of himself if that were the case, but Kanami was innocent. She had nothing to do with this.
"So how about it, Kirihara. Where's the stone?" The man's voice became crueler. She didn't respond, irritating the man. He punched Misaki across her face as she winced in pain. "Where's the stone?" he screamed.
Her silence infuriated the man. He continuously punched her while repeating the same question. To his frustration, Misaki still refused to tell him.
"Curse you, Officer Kirihara," he barked. "You want to play hard ball. Fine! Send JR-546 out to take care of her friends."
Misaki's eyes lit up, as she screamed out again while crying and nodding her head.
"Will you tell us where it is?"
She nodded again.
The man went to grab the tape on her mouth to rip it off. Suddenly Misaki could hear gunfire and screams coming from outside.
"What was that?" another voice screamed out.
"Go check it out," ordered the man's voice that was interrogating her.
Misaki could hear what sounded like the power going out in the building.
"Ah," he began, "it looks like your hero has arrived."
Misaki winced at the man's comment. Who could be her hero? If Saitou had found her, she would hear sirens and police officers shouting you're surrounded. If it were November Eleven, she would probably hear some kind of rainstorm from April's ability. However, she heard neither.
"Sir, it's the Black Reaper, isn't it," cried another voice, sounding startled with a hint of panic. "How did he find her?"
There was silence before the man asked, "Where did you get that soda?"
"I was thirsty so I walked down to a vending machine…"
"You idiot, I told everyone no beverages. That doll is working with him."
"Nani? It is the Black Reaper!" shouted the other man, his voice sounding more terrified. "What should we do?"
"We have our orders to kill him and his partners. The Syndicate has no further use for them."
Misaki couldn't believe BK-201 had come to rescue her. It couldn't be true. Why would he, a contractor, go against his own organization? It wasn't logical. Moreover, why would they kill their best contractor?
xxx
Hei ran towards the warehouse while men approached him, as they shot their guns. He threw up his left arm to deflect the bullets off his jacket. He flung his wire at a gun, wrapping it around the barrel, and sent electricity through it. The man screamed out in pain while shaking vigorously, and then fell to the ground as his eyes rolled up into his socket. Another man charged at him and kicked at Hei's face, but Hei grabbed it, and electrocuted him to have him repeat his partner's actions.
Other men continued to fire their guns at Hei from above him, as he ran down the side of the warehouse looking for an entrance. Hei swung his wire upward and recoiled up to the roof. He flung his wire at them, grabbing theirs arms that were holding the guns, and shocked them.
"Not bad, BK-201," commented a deep voice. Hei turned around to see a shirtless man three times his size, built out of nothing but muscles. He was bald, wore black sweat shorts, and boxing gloves. "How 'bout a round, fist-to-fist. No kicks."
Hei raised his hands up into a fighting gesture. The shirtless man grinned and jabbed with a right. Hei titled his head right, moved left to avoid a left jab, and then ducked from a right hook. Performing an uppercut, Hei connected with his opponent's jaw to have him stumble back. The shirtless man smiled as he swung with a right hook to cause a blue wave shock to sore at Hei. Hei rolled out of the way and stopped in a kneeling position, as the wave crashed into the back wall.
"I thought only fists?" stated Hei.
"I did use only my fist," defended the shirtless man. "My fist made the wave."
The shirtless man swung his left arm to create another wave. Hei ducked under it, and then rolled out of the path of another one that was formed from an uppercut. The ground shook slightly, as the waves pummeled the walls, and caused pieces of concrete or metal to fall.
Having enough of the game, Hei threw his wire at the shirtless man to wrap it around his neck, and shocked him. The shirtless man dropped to his knees while grabbing the line, and glared at Hei.
"You cheated," he protested.
"Nani? I used my fist to fling the wire," stated Hei, sending a higher voltage through the line.
Hei recoiled himself back down to the ground, found a door, and quickly opened it. When he opened it he saw Misaki sitting in a chair in the middle of the empty warehouse tied up. A man in a brown jacket with a red and blue baseball cap on stood next to her. Hei grabbed his blades and began to make his way towards Misaki while four other men appeared from around metal pillars and shot at him.
Hei rolled out of the bullets' path, whipped out his wire to wrap it around a guard's wrist, and yanked it to have him shoot his partner next to him. Using the distraction, Hei threw his blade to strike the fourth guard, and pulled on the wire to have the first guard shoot the third man. The first guard looked on flabbergasted, and then shook in agony after Hei shocked him.
xxx
Misaki heard more screams and gunfire that seemed to get closer. Electrocution sounds echoed in the distance and moments later she heard a door open, as more guns were being fired in the building and screams encircled her.
Someone came up from behind her and put what felt like a gun to the back of her head.
"That's far enough, BK-201," warned the man. "Put down your weapons or I will kill her."
It became quiet to where Misaki heard the man's finger pressing lightly on the trigger. Fear overwhelmed her insides concerning her own life. She figured BK-201 would do something rational, but she was startled to hear him drop what sounded like his knife.
"The other one too," her captor demanded.
Misaki heard the other knife drop, as she felt the man release his hold on the trigger. The man began to untie the rope that held Misaki to the chair, but left the rope tied around her arms alone. Wrapping his free arm around her neck, he kept his gun pointed at the back of her head. He forced her to her feet and guided her out of the building.
"Don't make any sudden moves, or I will put a bullet in her pretty head."
"Let her go!" screamed BK-201. "Take me instead."
"Oh, it sounds very tempting, BK-201, but I think I already have the prize I want, and I don't need you electrocuting me."
"I won't let you get away with this! If you kill her, I will hunt you down."
"I think you should worry about your own life since the Syndicate will come after you. You better watch your own back."
Misaki couldn't believe what BK-201 was saying. Was that really him? He was about to give up his life for hers. Was that really Li-kun under that mask? She wanted to scream out his name, but feared the man might get startled and actually pull the trigger.
Li-kun, please save me.
Misaki could hear the man open a door as they carefully backed out through it. Hearing a banging noise, she felt the man let go of her and fall to the floor.
"Kirihara-san, are you alright?" Misaki heard a female voice respond, as someone removed the blindfold. Turning around, she saw Kara standing before her while she put her hand on the tape and ripped it off her mouth.
"Ouch!" cried Misaki. "Kara, what are you doing here? I thought you were going to the States?"
Kara smiled, "I'm glad to see you're alright."
Turning around, Misaki looked at her surroundings and noticed many bodies lying on the floor inside some dark warehouse. BK-201 stood in the middle of them staring at her.
"BK…2...0…1?" muttered Misaki flabbergasted. She quickly regained her composure and glared at him. "Why would you, a contractor, risk your life to save me?"
"I had asked that too," mentioned Kara.
Misaki looked toward her stunned. "You did?"
Kara repeated what she had told BK-201.
"See, I told you he wasn't a bad man," smiled Kara.
Misaki glanced back at BK-201 to see he had disappeared. She thought about their encounter a few hours ago. That beautiful and bright midnight blue eye; there was no mistaking it since she had stared at it countless of times. It was Li's.
"Li-kun," she muttered, as she noticed Kara looked at her with a smile.
That explains why she came to her with the stone, and why BK-201 had saved her. She couldn't explain it, but she didn't feel hurt or betrayed. She didn't understand the reason why, but she still wanted to run up and embrace him. He's a contractor who had obviously been lying to her and she should be heartbroken. There were many questions to ask him now. Did he truly have feelings for her, or was everything an act?
Misaki heard police sirens off in the distance. They must have tracked BK-201's star.
"Kara, you need to get out of here," stated Misaki.
"But, what about you?"
"I'll be all right."
"Thank you, Kirihara-san."
"No, Kara. Thank you very much for coming to help me."
"It's the least I could do since I got you into this mess in the first place." Kara smiled. "Take care."
"Kara. If you see BK-201, could you please thank him for me?"
Kara looked at her flabbergasted, but then smiled at her again. "You can tell him the next time you see him. And don't forget to tell him how you feel."
Misaki looked at her baffled.
"But he's a contrac…"
"Tell him, Kirihara-san," smiled Kara, as Misaki stared at her stunned by her words. Kara then turned around to leave.
I need to see Li, Misaki thought.
xxx
The next morning Misaki had received a call from April that November Eleven had passed away. She quickly put on some make up to hide the bruises that had developed on her face from her captor striking her, and headed over to the scene.
Once Misaki reached the scene, she awed at it and began to think of the last words he had mentioned to her.
Don't go by anyone's appearance, friend or enemy. Act solely on your own instinct.
She believed there was something he found out about the mysterious organization that had kidnapped her last night. She was pleased that April had mourned for November Eleven, and Misaki believed that that was enough for April to be human.
When April and July left Misaki, she realized she didn't have any flowers for him.
Later that day, after meeting with Hourai concerning about November Eleven's loyalty to EPR, and dealing with Saitou and Kouno tailing her, Misaki returned to November Eleven's last stand to set a bouquet down next to some of April's beer cans beside a brick wall. She thought about how much she was going to miss his wise wisdom and jokes. It wasn't fair for someone like him to leave this world when she was getting to know him.
After saying her last goodbye, she began to walk down a set of brick stairs that zigzagged to a sidewalk below. She stopped about halfway down the first set when she noticed Li-kun passing by on the sidewalk. She was happy to see him since she had many questions to ask him, but as she took in his feature, she noticed he seemed depressed. If he were BK-201, why would he look like that? Contractors don't act on emotions, and yet she could tell that something was troubling him. Noticing her, Li looked up at her, gave her a quick unsettling nod, and then continued on his path.
"Li-kun?"
Misaki quickly ran down the stairs to catch him. She has wanted to see him since last night and she wasn't about to let him go.
"Wait!" she cried out, grabbing him by the arm. Half of Misaki wanted to take her handcuffs and slap them on his wrist to bring him in for questioning, and the other half wanted to slam him up against the wall, hold him in her arms, and kiss him again.
The shock in his eyes when he turned around caught her off guard, and she found herself asking instead, "Ah, um. Are you hungry?"
Li blinked at her wordlessly.
"Ah, huh?"
Hei was stunned by her question, but he felt relieved that she didn't recognize him from yesterday, and she wasn't throwing her handcuffs on him.
He knew it was a big mistake to be in her presence, and he should run like hell, but he couldn't pass up a meal with Misaki.
Misaki and Li were sitting down at a table eating teriyaki beef and rice. Li was on his twenty-fifth serving, while Misaki was close behind on her eighteenth.
"Did I really look that hungry to you?" Li asked.
He held his chopsticks in his right hand with a bowl of rice in the other, and began downing his food.
"Well, a little. The truth is you look like someone I know," said Misaki, as she stared into Li's eyes, remembering how much they resembled BK-201's eye.
Li stopped eating and widened his eyes at Misaki.
"Not a suspect you're chasing, I hope," he asked.
Misaki chocked on her food, as she placed her hand over her mouth and kept coughing. She couldn't believe he thought that, and began to wonder if he knew she knew he was BK-201.
"I was right?"
All of a sudden, Misaki felt she was a suspect.
"No, well…" Misaki began laughing, and started eating her food rapidly out of embarrassment.
"Don't move," ordered Li, trying to be serious. Misaki looked up at him startled. "Someone behind you is pointing a gun at your back."
Misaki was in a pinch, as her mind worked frantically to avoid saying he looked like BK-201. Suddenly she found herself laughing hysterically at the sight of a piece of rice on his face. Her thoughts about him being BK-201 diminished.
"Come on, that wasn't convincing at all," chuckled Misaki. How could this man before me be BK-201?
"Is that so?" said Li with a softer tone and tilting slightly forward.
"Because…," Misaki couldn't stop laughing.
Picking the piece of rice off his face, Li stared at it upsettingly, but looked back up at Misaki laughing, and then smiled.
"It's a strange feeling, when you have chased suspects for as long as I have. You develop an attachment to them," commented Misaki.
"Always working aren't you?" Hei asked.
"Yes, I put in a lot of time, but after awhile you become just another face to the organization. It feels like I've lost my identity."
"Every organization is the same. They treat you like a pawn, and then dispose of you when they have no further use for you," said Hei. He had said that because he figured Misaki knew he was BK-201. He began to wonder why she hadn't thrown her cuffs on him. Was it because of how she had felt about him, but that hadn't stopped her last time. Then he remembered they had kissed after the whole incident, and maybe that was why. He put that thought behind him to enjoy the moment with her since they might not have a later.
"You might be right," said Misaki, and then ate a teriyaki steak. She looked back up at Hei. "Um, Li-kun, why did you look upset earlier?"
Hei looked up at her a little stunned by her question.
"If you don't want to talk about it, it's all right,"
"Um, it's nothing. I was just remembering the good old times I use to have with my little sister."
"Your sister? I didn't know you had a sister, Li-kun. Is she still in China with your parents?"
Hei didn't answer her, as he sat in his chair looking depressed. He missed his sister, dearly and even though she became a contractor, he wished she were still here with him.
They finished their meal as a waiter came by with their check. They grabbed their stuff and went to go pay the bill and leave. Unfortunately, a stupid detective and a hysterical stalker who called Misaki old met them.
Misaki and Li headed over to some batting cages located on top of a building.
Misaki swung at a ball and hit it as Li went to swing at his, missed it, and did a 360 to drop onto his butt. She started laughing hysterically at his ballerina act, causing Li to look up at her dumbfounded, and then smiled. Li had to have missed on purpose, but she didn't care since she was using it as an excuse to show him the proper way.
After exiting her cage, she entered his, and helped him to his feet. She stepped behind Li to brush her body up against his, took his hands with hers to hold the bat, and moved his body into batting position. His body was warm and he smelled wonderful. It felt intoxicating to be pressed up against him, remembering the last time was when they had kissed.
After the baseball fired from the machine, Misaki helped guide Li's arms to connect the bat with the ball. They performed the exercise six times, and on the last ball, they missed it. Li and Misaki spun around as Misaki mumbled words and tried to keep her balance. Pulling him back too far, she landed on her butt, with Li falling forward on top of her. Their faces were inches apart due to his arms outstretched beside Misaki to break his fall.
Li didn't move while he stared into Misaki's eyes, as Misaki laid silent looking into his. She believed he was going to kiss her, making her heart pound heavily against her chest. It felt like déjà vu all over again. A second kiss shouldn't feel like this, but ever since Li supposedly lost his memory, it seemed like it would be their first kiss again. Her cheeks began to blush as she waited patiently for him to make his move.
All of a sudden, Li stood up and glanced down at Misaki, his cheeks as red as a rose.
"Sorry, Misaki," he apologized, holding his hand down for her to help her up.
She gladly took it, but felt heart-stricken that he hadn't kissed her, and that they might not get another chance. As he lifted her up, she let the momentum push her against his warm body to where she could feel his heart rapidly beating like a drum. Their eyes locked as Misaki drew closer to kiss Li.
Just as their lips were about to touch, another ball was shot out and came storming at Li's head. Misaki and Li screamed out in panic, and pushed each other away, as it passed by and missed them by inches.
"Are you all right?" Li asked.
"Hai," she replied while trying to calm her nerves.
After leaving the batting cages, Misaki sat on the bench exhausted while Li went to go grab a couple of Sweat waters out of a vending machine. He walked back over to her and handed Misaki one.
"Arigatou," she thanked, taking the drink and then holding it against her face.
"What a nice view," commented Li.
"Yes," Misaki agreed. "What do you think of the city? You like it?"
"Well, I don't dislike it. It's moderately indifferent, yet moderately warm. I wasn't planning on staying as long as I have, but now I wish I could make it my home."
"I see, but this city is getting more violent by the day."
"This city is at peace compared to the tragedy my sister and I lived through."
Misaki began to think of his unsettled expression from earlier when he had said he was thinking about his sister. She wondered why he hadn't told her what was wrong with him.
"Did you live in a war zone?" she asked.
Li nodded.
"Where's your sister, is she still there?" Misaki hoped she was safe somewhere in China, but from his expression, she knew his sister wasn't.
"No, she..."
"She passed away? I'm sorry, you must have been sad."
"I wonder about that," said Li, as Misaki looked at him concerned. "A part of me might have felt relieved."
Misaki stared at Li stunned. The feelings he was emitting made her think that this was the real Li. He wasn't pretending or trying to fool anyone. She could tell he had loved his sister, and he still did, but she wondered exactly what had happened to them for him to say that.
Li saw that Misaki was done with her drink and held out his hand for it. Misaki handed it to him. Li walked over to the recycling bin and threw them away.
"Would you like to go for a walk, Misaki?" Li asked. Misaki nodded her head in reply.
They left the batting cages and headed down to the street.
"Li-kun, how long ago did your sister pass away?"
Li looked at Misaki, not answering her question at first since it seemed he didn't want to talk about it, which made Misaki feel guilty for asking.
"I'm sorry, Li, I didn't mean to bring up old memories."
"Um, it's all right," he replied. "It was about five years ago."
Misaki winced, knowing that it had happened around the time when Heaven's Gate had disappeared. She couldn't help but think that if Li was BK-201, then his sister was also involved with the Syndicate. However, if he was indeed a contractor, she found it awkward that he could feel anything about a past loved one.
"You really miss her, don't you?"
"Hai," replied Li, looking up toward the sky.
Misaki was happy to spend time with him, even though he seemed lost. She had wanted this moment so she could confirm the feelings she was having for Li. She was lost and didn't know if she should follow her heart, or do her duty as a Foreign Affair Officer. However, the strong feelings he had toward his sister, and the strong feelings she could tell he had for her, made her realize that she was going to follow her heart.
Misaki turned down a small alley that led to an open area with a wire fence separating it from homes. She walked over to a bench by some apartment buildings with the fence behind her, sat down, and looked up at the stars. Li sat next to Misaki on the bench as he too looked upward.
"Have you heard the rumor about the stars?" she asked.
"I've heard it, but I don't believe it," replied Li.
"I don't either. I didn't think anyone would."
Misaki looked up as she saw something.
"Look," she said, pointing towards a building as all its lights went out. "Is everyone going to look up at the sky until it clears up?"
"Do you want to see the stars of the past?"
"I do, but I want to show them to others even more. Then again, we won't be able to see the old stars while the new ones shine."
"They're just fakes anyway."
Misaki began to think of November Eleven and how unsettling she had felt when he had passed away. She didn't want to see that happen to anyone else, especially BK-201.
"True, but if all of those stars were to fade away, that would be sad too," commented Misaki.
Misaki and Hei's fingertips were inches a part, separated by a crack in the metal, presenting that their relationship could never become a reality due to their situation.
Her phone began to ring. She picked it up and looked at the screen to see Matsumoto was calling her. She jumped off from the bench and looked over at Li.
"I better get going," informed Misaki. "Thanks for listening, I was feeling really lost. I think I was just over thinking things."
"When you're lost, you should just act on your own instinct."
Misaki winced at Li's comment, remembering November Eleven had said the same thing to her, and she was surprised to hear Li say it.
"Is something the matter?" Li asked concerned.
"Eh, no. You're right," she replied, shaking her head.
Misaki really wanted to give him a kiss goodbye, but she thought it best not to since she might not leave, and Mastumoto was calling her on the emergency line. She instead held out her hand and said, "Thanks for taking me out, I had fun."
"So did I," he smiled, taking her hand to shake it.
"See you later," she said, as she grabbed her purse and left.
Before she entered the small alley, she turned back around to look at Li who was staring up at the stars. She could see the same sad expression he had earlier in the day, and knew he was thinking about his sister again, knowing they were not happy thoughts. She was flabbergasted to see his eyes begin to water as a single tear dropped down his face.
To be continued…
xxx
A/N: I hope you enjoyed my version of their date. I believe Misaki knows that Li is BK-201 at that point and that is what she is thinking in the anime anyway. I tweaked it to fit my story though.
Thanks again to everyone for reading. Especially those who commented, alerted, favored, and left me a P.M.
The next chapter is going to take place after the Hell's Gate incident. I have all my chapters after that brainstormed and it looks like there will be around 15 total.
Thank you again for reading,
Haruko :)