Before I say anything else, I want honest opinions. Would you all participate in an interactive and reader-insert story, an anime spin-off of The Selection Series by Kiera Cass? I have it posted on Quotev and Wattpad already but I don't have any takers yet on either website so… If you'd like to know more about it, check out either of my profiles: Red-Velvet-Lover (Quotev) or R5getsLOUDER (Wattpad). Let me know what you think and if you absolutely want me to, I'll post it on here!
Okay, back to talking about the story! Many of you have been waiting for this chapter and I think it's the longest chapter that I've written so far. I'm sorry that it took so long but I got stuck at a certain part and didn't know how to proceed. Needless to say, I figured it out.
Review Responses:
Patricia Walker (Guest): I will tell you that the kidnapper(s) was/were not the people mentioned at the end of chapter 1. Those guys were just nosy paparazzi. Also, that's a very interesting idea you have about Tora in relation to the wedding planning. Don't worry about your comment being long! I love reading everyone's reviews because it makes me feel all tingly inside to know what you all think.
MystearicaBlaze: I'm so sorry I always keep you in suspense. XD Especially since it took me a while to post this chapter… I had a rough time developing it .-.
existaential: You know it.
Samara16: I love that you said Tora is finally "showing" concern for Kei because he did have his concerns but Tora being Tora wasn't going to show that he did.
Well, I'll let you all get to reading!
Barging through his office doors, she bolted to his desk and forcefully placed the note on top of the papers in front of Tora. Immediately, he glanced up at her with an annoyed look, seeing as she interrupted his work.
"What is this?"
Suzume stared at him, the expression on her face saying that she wasn't messing around and her tone containing urgency. "Just read it."
"'If you want your son back, you and your fiancé need to be at this address by 7 pm. Alone.'" Scanning his eyes over the short note for a second time, he paused. "Where did you get this?"
She recounted the event like it had happened just minutes earlier. During her explanation, she could only imagine the gears in his head turning. Only a hand in the air made her stop speaking.
"You said a man asked the waiter to give this to you?" Tora inquired, picking up the note between his fingers. After receiving a nod, he continued. "Did you notice anyone else while you were there? Anyone that looked suspicious?"
"No. When I got there, the only people I saw were Michio and the staff."
A sigh escaped from his lips. "Go get ready. We're leaving in an hour. I have a few calls to make before we go." Raising his cell phone to his ear after pressing a speed dial number, he watched his fiancée walk away and shut the door behind her.
The phone rang for a few seconds before the person on the other end picked up. "Maki, I need you to access a surveillance tape from one of your coffee shops for me."
Mere minutes later, Maki Kanade was able to address Tora's question of suspicious figures thanks to the wonders of technology. "They were alone the entire time. Although when checking before she arrived, there was a man that conversed with the waiter and handed him a slip of paper. He also kept his face hidden from the cameras, so it's clear that he's the one responsible for the note."
"Send me a picture and ask the waiter if he remembers anything about this man. Gather all the information possible as quickly as you can," Tora immediately responded, determination resonating in his voice. "This ends tonight."
Waiting by the front door, Suzume rubbed her sweaty hands together before beginning to twist her engagement ring around her finger absentmindedly. Her nerves were getting the best of her, especially since there's no way of knowing what's waiting for them at that address. Inside, her heart pounded as if she had just come back from going on a run.
Footsteps caught her attention and she found the Igarashi heir swiftly walking towards her, keys in hand. Eyebrows scrunched, she gave him a questioning look. "You're driving?"
"We were told to come alone. I don't want to risk anything happening that would cause them to harm Kei."
Letting out a deep breath, she gave an affirmative nod. "Right…"
Swiftly descending the small set of stairs towards the waiting vehicle, they got settled in the car. Holding the door open for her would've been the gentlemanly thing to do, but it takes up precious time. Time that Tora would rather dedicate to bringing Kei back.
The longer they sat in the car, the more Suzume's heart pounded in her chest. Meeting the person or people that took her son and going to an unfamiliar place are circumstances that don't exactly bode well. Mainly because the two of them have no back up whatsoever.
By the time they could see their destination in the distance, Tora decided it would be best that he turn the headlights off as they approached the seemingly old hideout. Parking the car, the two of them stepped out of the vehicle while on high alert of their surroundings.
She never faltered in keeping up with her fiancé as they got closer to the entrance of the building. He gave her a look just minutes before that translated into an unspoken command for her to stay close. Although, the silent command wasn't necessary since she didn't want to be out of arms reach – afraid of what might happen if she was.
Wood making up the front porch creaked beneath their feet. That was the only noise until Tora kicked the door open. Their eyes readjusted to the orange-ish glow coming from several lamps placed around the rather barren room.
"Right on time," a voice called out from the darkness across the room where the light didn't reach. Suzume could have sworn she's heard that voice before.
A scowl formed on Tora's face as the owner of the voice stepped into the light. That's when it clicked in her head.
Miyabigaoka. He went to Miyabigaoka. One key moment from high school stood out to her. The election for Student Council President. During the campaign – when she started developing a crush on Tora – no one really paid much attention to the other candidate. Tora won by a landslide.
"Koganei… where is he?" Tora growled.
Being addressed by name seemed to inflate his ego. "Ah, so you do remember me."
"Where is Kei?" she immediately questioned, not in the mood to beat around the bush.
Another figure stepped out from the shadows. It came as no shock to her when her eyes landed on Akira, holding Kei. "I hope you don't mind me borrowing my nephew, baby sister. After all, he brought you both here, running."
"Why are you doing this?"
Her eldest brother let out a bout of mocking laughter. "You really don't get it, do you? You were exiled from the family and now you're engaged to him," Akira spat, nodding in Tora's direction. "I've been trying to keep you out of my way before Father ever kicked you out of the house and then your fiancé's family just had to threaten the business that I'm supposed to inherit."
"I never wanted to be involved in the family business anyway! Just give me my son and we can go our separate ways."
Dry laughter came from his mouth this time. "Oh, I don't think so, baby sister. It's too late for that. Besides, Koganei has a stake in this too."
Eyes narrowed, Tora's tone is harsh – just as he meant for it to be. "Mind telling us what that stake is?"
"This is my revenge for you taking away what should have been mine!" Koganei's hands balled into fists at his sides as he spoke. "You got the presidency and the girl! I was at the engagement party and I could see that you don't care about her like I do."
"If you cared about me at all, you wouldn't be doing this! I can make my own decisions."
A group of muscular men came out from behind the couple and two of them grabbed hold of Suzume, lifting her just a few inches or so off the ground. It was enough to leave her feet dangling. Thrashing around to get out of their grip didn't do much considering they were much stronger than her. They stopped in front Koganei while the others busied themselves with distracting Tora.
One of his hands started to caress her face while she tried to flinch away. "I do care. In fact, I love you, Suzume. I've loved you ever since I saw you in the halls of Miyabigaoka. That's why I'm saving you from this horrible mistake."
Suddenly, the door got kicked open a second time. Usui waltzed right in with Misaki, Michio, and plenty of reinforcements from Suzume's days at Seika High School. She wondered how they knew that she and Tora would be here.
"You two?!" Koganei's eyes zeroed in on Usui and Misaki, remembering them from years before.
"How about you keep your hands to yourself?" Usui suggested, feeling overprotective of Suzume as if her own brother, Michio, wasn't in the room.
Everyone assisted Tora with the men he had been fighting off on his own to the point where he could focus his attention back on the two ringleaders of Kei's kidnapping. Michio and Kanou were aided by a couple other people, managing to free Suzume and hold down Koganei.
"He's taking off with Kei!" Misaki shouted over all the commotion towards the parents who, in turn, followed Akira down a set of stairs that led to a basement.
Down a hallway and taking a left, Akira fled through a door to the backside of the old house. Tora being more athletically inclined than Suzume had an easier time keeping up, whereas his fiancée fell behind. They rounded the corner of the house, ending up out front where Maki could be seen standing with police standing all around him and a smile on his face that said 'you can't get away.'
Now she knew that he had filled Maki in on where they would be. So much for coming alone and not taking any risks.
"Give us our son." Akira didn't make any sort of movement, increasing Tora's anger. "This is the last time I'll repeat myself. Give us our son!"
She stared at her fiancé. 'Our son…' He really did say it.