Here it is, the next chapter. I hope you all like it. We've only got a one more chapter after this and then it's the FINALE. AHHHH :-DDD Thank you to every one who has review, favorited, or just followed this story. I can't tell you what it means to me. :-DDD Thank you all again :-D Spy game continues.
I do not own Sekaiichi Hatsukoi.
"Ahh, Onodera. I'm going to head back first, can I have the keys?" Seiji asked.
Onodera quickly forked them over before turning back to Masamune. "Listen Takano san I've been in the field and have followed the book. It helps to protect the people you are in charge of and allows for…"
"It's bureaucratic nonsense that does not allow for breathing room and is impractical and anyone who believes otherwise is an idiot." Takano interrupted as Seiji exited the café.
"You don't understand! It works. If you can't work…"
BOOM! Suddenly there were shards of glass flying everywhere. A wall of heat slammed Onodera and Takano further into the booth disorienting both of them. Onodera was the first to recover.
"Oh no! Seiji no," he breathed.
Masamune looked up. Where the Mercedes had been there was simply a flaming car with a blacken and charred corpse in the driver's seat.
Seiji and Ritsu finally made it to Ritsu's apartment after about an hour and a half of driving. They drove for so long to ensure that no one followed them. Seiji had been unable to find Kimiko at the warehouse. He kept looking sadly at a picture of his family in his wallet.
Ritsu meanwhile was still furious about one not knowing Seiji had a family, two that he didn't tell Ritsu he was going to 'die,' and three just because of everything else that had happened to him as of late. The only reason he and Seiji were able to get into his apartment was because he had given a spare key to Seiji in case of an emergency. He didn't have his key because he couldn't find his clothes as he exited the warehouse.
As they entered Ritsu's apartment, Ritsu made a beeline for the bathroom to take care of his injuries. Seiji meanwhile, went to the fridge, grabbed a beer and sat down on Ritsu's sofa. As he did he thought about the conversation he and Onodera had just had in the car.
"You know if you weren't going to tell me you had a family, you should have at least told Shade so they could put into effect their contingency plan," Onodera screamed at Seiji when he finally decided to speak to Seiji.
"Do you even know what Shade's contingency plan is," Seiji asked looking over at Ritsu to see him furiously shaking his head. "There contingency plan is to remove operatives with families from the field to desk work! I couldn't do that!"
"Why not? There are many field operatives that have made the jump to desk work. You just liked the thrill!"
"No… I assure you it wasn't that."
"Then what was it?"
Seiji took a deep breath before answering, "Field operatives make twice as much as desk jockeys."
"What?"
"Field operative make twice as much as the desk workers. I couldn't afford to take a pay cut."
"Why?"
"My wife has… had Huntington's Disease. When we married it was starting to get worse and the medication she was taking for it… her body stopped tolerating it. The only way we could afford the new treatment was if I stayed a field operative. When we had Kimiko, there was a 50/50 shot she too would have Huntington's Disease. You know the mandate though. If a field operative starts a family, he or she must leave the work or take a desk. So… I hid the fact that I was married."
"Okay, I understand that but why fake your death and how?"
"Who drove the Mercedes to the café," asked Seiji.
"That's easy, I… you did."
"We always met at that café in the morning. I knew that no one would doubt my death if I 'died' when I was with you. So the night before I parked a rental behind the café and I stole a body that was about my height and weight from the morgue and put it into the Mercedes. I knew I would need you to forget that I drove so I slipped the keys into your pocket as you were sitting down. When I walked out of the café, I knew you would be distracted by Takano san and wouldn't see me move the body into the driver's seat and walk away."
"Why did you do it?"
"Somehow, Haitani figure out about my family and killed my wife and took my daughter. He turned me into a double agent. But… I couldn't, I couldn't betray you or Shade so I decided to 'die,' and try to track him down myself so I could find Kimiko."
"What makes you so sure she's still alive?"
"Because she is! She has to be," Seiji finished quietly.
Seiji was brought back to reality when Ritsu walked back into the living room fully clothed while there was someone banging on the door. Ritsu went to answer it.
"Ritsu, thank god," the man from the café said as he embraced Ritsu.
"I'm fine Takano san," Ritsu answered.
"Fine! You've been missing for two days!" That's when Takano san looked up and noticed Seiji. His face blanched. "You're suppose to be dead?"
"Sorry to disappoint you. We haven't been properly introduced. I'm Komamiura Seiji."
"He's the least of our problems," Onodera motioned towards Seiji. As he did this, the bandage around his wrist was exposed. Takano noticed this and grabbed Ritsu's arms to fully expose the bandage there. He then grabbed Ritsu's other arm and saw the other bandage.
"What happened," Takano asked dangerously quiet.
"Nothing important. Listen when I was leaving the warehouse I noticed some files. I went through them and found out there's a bomb set to blow up the Imperial Palace."
"Who is? The Scorpion," asked Takano.
"Haitani is the Scorpion," answered Ritsu.
"When," asked Seiji.
"You said I've been missing for two days," Onodera looked to Takano who nodded. "Then he's planning on doing it tomorrow at 1500 hours. We have to stop him before then."
"I'm sorry I can't help you. I've got to find my daughter," Seiji said quietly. Onodera simply nodded as Takano looked at both of them.
"Wait what?"
"I'll explain on the way," Ritsu answered Takano.
"On the way to where," inquired Takano.
"To Shade, you're driving me. We have to let Shade know about Haitani's plan," Ritsu replied walking out of his apartment. Takano glanced back at Seiji one last time before following Ritsu.
"When I find Haitani I'm going to kill him for what he did to you," Takano swore. He and Ritsu had just finished talking to their department head, Isaka san, when Onodera regaled them both with what had transpired in the last 48 hours.
"You can't do that," hissed Onodera.
"He hurt you; he should not be allowed to get away with that!"
"I will take him on; you need to find the bomb."
"You? He managed to take you once! Who's to say he won't do it again?"
"I am," Onodera replied firmly. "He took me by surprise once, he won't again. You worked in Afghanistan. You had to deal with IEDs there. You're our best chance at finding the bomb and disarming it. Let me worry about Haitani. Please trust me."
"Ritsu."
"Please Takano san." Takano san's face had a look of pure pain on it.
Takano looked deep into Onodera's eyes before replying. "Promise me this: promise me you'll come back to me. Promise me that no matter what it is, if things get bad you'll call me for help. Promise me that you won't disappear again," he finished quietly.
Onodera nodded, "I promise." Takano pressed a gentle kiss to Onodera's lips then.
"Any sign of Haitani, Luka," asked Onodera into his earwig.
"I've got nothing, and it's still two hours until Geronimo. Are you sure the file said today," asked Luka.
"I'm positive! Takano san are you having any luck finding the bomb," Onodera asked.
"None, the first, third, and fourth units did a sweep of the grounds while the second and fifths units swept the palace, but they didn't find anything," Takano answered through the ear piece. "We've got to think smarter about this. Haitani places bomb in places where it will ensure maximum destruction or coverage of the bombing. What place would ensure the bomb has the maximum effect?"
"The ball room," offered Luka.
"No, that was the first place we checked. Got to tell you the emperor and his family were not happy about it."
"What about the near the entrance of the grounds? It would certainly be noticeable," Luka asked.
"Again we swept through there, nothing."
"What about the boiler room," asked Onodera.
"The boiler room," asked Takano.
"Yah, there are pipes that lead from that room all over the palace," Onodera answered.
"Which would give the fire a path to follow and ensure the entire palace would be destroyed," Takano finished. "I'll head down now."
"I'll sweep the basement to see if Haitani is down there."
"Go get him, boys," Luka smirked.
"Kay, I've found the boiler room. I'm going to enter now," Takano told Luka. Takano cautiously opened the door before entering it quickly and sweeping around the room with his gun. "Area clear. I'll start sweeping for the bomb. Oh, there it is. It's a big," Takano said to Luka.
"Stand by, bomb squad is twenty minutes out," Luka answered.
"I'm going to see if I can get a better look at the circuits," Takano told Luka.
"Be careful," Luka cautioned. "I'll let Onodera know."
"Onodera, Takano san found the bomb he's looking into it now."
"Can't talk now," whispered Onodera.
"Why?"
"I found Haitani, and he brought friends. They're talking now."
"I believe I said 490,700,000 yen not 98,190,000 yen," Haitani said.
"I don't remember that, what you get is what you get," one of the two men answered.
"Either, you transfer the rest of the funds to this account," Haitani produced a piece of paper with an account number on it. "Or I'll blow all of us sky high. I mean after all, I still have the trigger," Haitani smiled as he produced a small black box.
"You wouldn't, you'll kill us all!"
"Oh you'd be surprised what I would do. I would rather die than be cheated. Wire the funds and you'll live otherwise," Haitani started lowering his thumb to the button.
"Wait, wait, wait," with that the man pulled out his cell phone and told the person on the other end to do as Haitani said. With that Haitani pulled out his own phone to observe the transfer.
"Alright I believe that concludes our business," smiled Haitani as put his phone away and pulled out his gun. He then shot both men in front of him. "Aww, today's been a great day! Don't you agree Ritchan." Haitani turned to the area Onodera was hiding with a smile on his face.
"You're going to kill hundreds of thousands, why," Onodera asked stepping out.
"Why not?" With that Haitani charged at Onodera after tossing the gun to the side. Onodera sidestepped Haitani just in time to knee Haitani in the gut.
Haitani hooked his arm around Onodera's waist and dug his fingers into the wounds from the whip. "Oww," Onodera screamed. Haitani punched Onodera in the jaw then. Onodera stumbled back a few steps back. Onodera then tackled Haitani to the ground and hit him on the side of the head several times before Haitani manage to roll over on top of Onodera and returned the favor.
Onodera managed to put his arm around Haitani's neck and dragged Haitani's head down while jerking his head up and striking his head against Haitani's. Haitani rolled over grasping his head. Onodera quickly got up pulled his right leg back and struck Haitani in the ribs repeatedly. Haitani spun his body, sweeping his legs so that Onodera's gave out from under him. Ritsu landed hard on his back, while Haitani rolled over and struck Onodera hard in the gut, causing Onodera to feel blood come into the back of his throat. Onodera wrapped his arm around Haitani's neck again and bashed his head into the floor three times.
"That's the last of the wires. I've deactivated the bomb," Takano sighed to Luka.
"That's good. You've better go help Onodera, he found Haitani!"
"I'm on my way! Relay me their position."
Onodera dodge the pipe Haitani was swinging. He sidestepped Haitani again and kicked Haitani in the knee, causing him to take a knee. Onodera then put Haitani in a choke hold. "Argh," strangled out Haitani. Haitani started grasping at Onodera's arms before latching onto them and standing up with Onodera still on his back. Haitani backed up hard into the wall behind him and Onodera. This momentarily stunned Onodera and before he knew it, Haitani swung Onodera over his head and onto the floor, before grabbing Onodera's neck and squeezing.
Onodera started to see black spots as he wacked at Haitani's arms. He turned his head ever so slightly; just enough to see the gun Haitani had tossed to the side. Onodera extended his arm towards it, trying to grab it. Onodera's fingertips could just barely reach the grip. Onodera reached even more until he had the gun in his hand and swung it as hard as he could at Haitani's head. Haitani instantly let go allowing Onodera to roll over to the side and gasp for breath. He quickly stood up and brought the gun crashing down against Haitani's head. Haitani's body went slack as he slumped on the floor.
"Onodera," called Takano as he ran towards him.
Onodera dropped the gun and stumbled over towards Takano. "Haitani's down for the count," Onodera gasped.
"Here sit down," Takano set Onodera by the wall opposite of Haitani. "The second squad will be down here momentarily."
"Good, good," Onodera sighed as he leaned his head forward against Takano's shoulder.
"You okay?"
"I'll be fi…. TAKANO LOOK OUT," shouted Onodera as he noticed Haitani regain consciousness and grab the gun. With that Onodera pushed Takano out of the way as the shots rang out.
"NOOOO," screamed Takano.
"Hands in the air," a man in a black commando suit cried out as two dozen men in similar outfits surrounded Haitani.
"GET AN AMBULANCE! SOMEONE CALL AN AMBULANCE," screamed Takano as he tried to suppress the bleeding in Onodera's chest and abdomen. "ONODERA DON'T YOU DARE LEAVE ME! YOU PROMISED ME, REMEMBER? YOU PROMISED YOU WOULDN'T LEAVE ME. STAY WITH ME! RITSU!"
The last thing Onodera remembered seeing was Takano's frantic face just as everything went black.
What do you think? So, now I've got two characters' fates up in the air :-D Kimiko, Seiji's daughter and now Ritsu (evil grin). Tell me what you guys think. Review Please.
HiguraSHi18990: thank you so much for the idea! I was trying to think of ways for Onodera to get shot and your idea was just so perfect :-DDD Thank you!
Mizookie: Thank you so much for the favorite :-D I don't think I've ever actually seen Mr. and Mrs. Smith. But I'm so glad you enjoy the story as is. I did borrow from Covert Affairs and Burn Notice, so if you like this you should check out those shows.
Hiyokocchi: Oh I hope Takano's reaction was satisfying. And yes Seiji is alive. When I was starting this story I was just going to kill him off, but when I read yours and SAYSAERI's comments about him, they first made me laugh really hard because first chapter I "killed" him and An Kohinata, and no one seemed to care I killed her off. But then I thought more about your comments and decided, yah he should live. So he's alive because of you and SAYSAERI :-D
Imaginativequeen101: Sorry, Kimiko is still up in the air to die, or not die :-( But I hoped you like the chapter :-D
SaySaeri: You are one of the two reasons Seiji is alive. Your very first review is what made me laugh, and then stop and think. Thank you for following this from the beginning. Well what did you think about Onodera, himself, avenging his body? I hope you liked it :-D Thank you again for everything :-DDD