Be prepared! It gets a bit more intense~
Haru hefted her suitcase into the car after refusing the help of her two escorts, two of Tsuna's men who were assigned to take Haru and Fuuta back. She did not need help; she was perfectly capable of pulling her own weight.
"Are you all right Haru-chan?" Fuuta glanced up at her, lifting his own suitcase into the car. "You seem… tired."
"I am." Haru sighed reaching up and grabbing the trunk lid, waiting for Fuuta to back away to close it. She had not gotten a good sleep; she had slept in the hospital ward after Belphegor had fallen asleep in her room. Hospital beds were not the most comfortable.
Or at least that was what she blamed it on.
"But I'm fine!" Fuuta frowned a little and slowly back away so she could close the door.
"All finished?" One of the men asked from the driver's seat, Haru could not quite tell if it were Yusei or Akito, she had not paid much attention when they were introduced.
"Yes!" Haru called cheerfully back up closing the trunk. Brushing off her hands she heaved a breath. "Well, I guess we'd better get going Fuuta-kun."
"Yep."
Goodbyes had already been said, though there were not very many people to say goodbye to. Many of the men Tsuna had brought Haru did not know, the only people there to say goodbye to were Tsuna, Gokudera, Yamamoto, Giannini and Basil.
Not Belphegor.
Belphegor had not come to say bye.
Haru opened the door sliding in the back seat and buckling herself in. Up front Yusei or Akito took his position in the driver's seat, Fuuta sled in beside Haru.
Of course Belphegor had not come to say goodbye, why would he? In his insane mind she was a servant, princes never wished their servants goodbye.
Or at least that would be what he thought.
Haru's thoughts dropped away when she realized who they were focused on. She wanted to slap herself.
"All right." The second escort (Haru really needed to get who was who…) sat down in the passenger seat, buckling up. "We should get going now."
"Right." The car started, slowly the trees slipped past. It was a beautiful forest really, but Haru had hardly seen it at all.
Haru's hands tightened as she refused the urge to look back, what would happen if she did look back? She was afraid to, in all the movies the heroin never looked back, unless it was a romantic film and she looked back and realized how much she loved a certain man.
No, Haru could not look back. But still… she craned her neck and tries and see out of the rearview mirrors…
"This is really weird." One of the escorts began in a friendly manner. Haru immediately sat normally, afraid his comment was directed at her. "With all the explosions and all, and then there was some other weird stuff."
"Are you scared, Akito-kun?" The second joked, elbowing the one who spoke, the driver, in the elbow. Akito (Haru was glad she finally had distinction, she felt bad she had not remembered) chuckled a bit nervously.
"Of course not!"
"It's not that bad to be afraid." Fuuta chimed in. "It makes you wary."
"What other weird stuff are you talking about?" Haru pressed, not really wanting to talk about it but interested in what other things the man was referring to.
"Well… just this whole situation in general." Akito shrugged, glancing up at Haru's reflection in the mirror. "The other exit points for the base were vandalized, the doors would not open. It was really weird, not to mention that Varia assassins appearance."
"Strangest part of it!" Yusei laughed.
Haru remained silent. She had hoped to gain more information but all of what Akito said she already knew.
Fuuta and the other two escorts continued talking, Haru no longer joining in, their conversation soon drifting from the explosions.
Haru looked out the window, watching the trees slip by, the forest grow thinner and thinner as they left it behind.
She would be home soon, back to her normal life. Her visit to the base had been futile, if anything it made her seem less needed. Though that was not completely true…
She had gifts that was what Belphegor said. His strange little speech of comfort (if it could be called that) seemed to say that she was a support. Haru was accepting that, she would never be a great fighter, or a spy, or a genius behind computers, and being an assassin was out of the picture, but she could support the others, taking care of the little things behind the scenes so they could focus on their work. It was a necessary if honorless duty.
She was getting that now, but where? Where could she be that person? The Guardians were out; Kyoko was taking care of them, and doing a good job at it. Sure it would be less work for her if Haru helped but when Haru helped Kyoko she felt like a third wheel.
Unnecessary.
Haru sighed, leaning her head against the window and closing her eyes. This trip had not gone at all as she had planned. She had wanted it to be slightly relaxing, a time to think, find where she belonged.
All that happened was arguing with Belphegor and in the end just being sent back to where she had begun.
Haru's head banged against the window as the car suddenly swerved. She jerked back up into a sitting position, looking wildly around.
"What happened?" Haru asked, eyes snapping to Akito who was trying to bring the car back in control. Fuuta was looking back.
"There was a man." He murmured. "In the middle of the road."
"I-I think it was Belphegor-san!" Akito stuttered, his face pale as he too looked back.
"Why was he standing in the middle of the road?" Yusei seemed more annoyed than anything else.
"Belphegor?" Haru turned around as well, squinting her eyes as she tried to see into the dim light of the forest.
Was he there? What was he doing then? What in his crazed mind was he thinking?
But.
There was no one on the road.
"Are you sure?" She glanced back at the men.
"Stop the car." Yusei ordered, Akito nodded.
The car came to an abrupt halt, the engine filling in the silence of the forest. Yusei looked around with calm eyes, searching for the mysterious figure on the road.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Fuuta shifted nervously. "Wouldn't it be better to just continue?"
"I think Fuuta-kun's right." Haru looked once more back through the back window, but saw nothing. If it had been Belphegor she did not really want to see him again and if it had not…
Either way they did not need to stop the car.
"I think they're righ-" Akito was cut off by a loud bang on the roof. Yusei unbuckled quickly, pulling out a gun from the glove compartment and cocking. He threw open his door, jumping out and turning quickly holding his gun up to the roof.
"He-" A glint of light swept past Yusei, then blood erupted from his throat.
"AHHH!" Haru clamped her hand over her mouth, eyes wide in terror as Yusei fell to the ground, the side of his neck slashed open, blood still pouring out, gun falling from his hands and clattering into the car as Yusei fell with a sickening thud to the forest floor.
A knife lay beside the fallen man.
It could not be Belphegor could it? He would never do that to ally's… would he?
"Yusei!" Akito shouted, unbuckling and lunging for the gun on the passenger seat floor. Another flash. A knife flew threw the open door slashing through his throat too, he fell with a thud against the seats.
A deep fear filled Haru's heart, for a moment she sat frozen, gazing at Akito who just a moment before had been joking and laughing with Yusei and Fuuta and who now lay dead on the seats, his blood staining them.
Fuuta…
"Fuuta!" Haru grabbed Fuuta's arm and pulled him toward herself. "Come on!" She unbuckled herself and fumbled with the door, opening it and stumbling out, still tugging Fuuta with her.
"Then gun!" Fuuta tried to pull back but Haru jerked him forward.
"Forget the gun!" She was being an idiot, they should have the gun, and they were defenseless without it. Haru knew that, but both Yusei and Akito had died with the gun, it was of little help to them, the knives were faster than they could shoot.
The fear that Fuuta would die with that gun too chilled Haru's heart.
There was a thud behind them but Haru dared not look.
"Haru!" Fuuta called before Haru felt him pulled out of her grip.
"Fuuta!" She screamed turning around, but there was no one there. No Fuuta, no assailant.
Haru wheeled the other direction, but there was no one; she turned around in a circle scanning the trees for any sign of Fuuta or the attacker.
No one.
Haru stood in the road, breathing heavily. Her mind told her to run, run! But she couldn't, she was froze to the spot afraid of what would come next, afraid of what happened to Fuuta.
"My, my." Haru stiffened at the voice. It was so familiar, a voice that she had heard everyday for the past few days.
"So troublesome aren't we?"
But it was slightly different.
Haru wheeled toward the voice, toward the car. Then she saw him, leaning against the car, an insane smile stretched across his lips, long straight blond hair covering his eyes, a crown set on his head.
"B… Belphegor?"
His smile grew larger.
But it could not be he was different than Belphegor. His body was the same build as Belphegor, his hair the same, they were around the same age and obviously they were somehow relatives as the crown proved. But he was not Belphegor.
He clucked his tongue at her. "Confusing a king for a lowly fallen prince?" He chuckled. "Please, you should know better Haru-chan."
"Who are you?" Haru slowly backed away, watching the man warily. "Where's Fuuta?"
"So many questions." He chuckled. "I'll answer the first. I am Rasiel, Belphegor's older twin brother, and heir to the thrown." Haru gasped eyes wide with fear.
"You're Belphegor's brother!"
He chuckled. "I just said that, do not make the king repeat himself." He pushed himself off the car, swaggering toward Haru.
Haru forced her eyes away from the man's hidden ones, forcing her feet and legs to move, turning and running back toward the base. But Rasiel was much quicker.
"Now, now commoner." Rasiel wrapped an arm around Haru's waist, pulling her up against his lanky frame. He felt so much like Belphegor, but his touch was cold and cruel. Venomous. "This won't take long. I just need you as a hostage for a little while as I extract revenge on my dear brother."
"Get off me!" Haru struggled, but Rasiel was just as strong as Belphegor.
"So impertinent, I wonder why my brother put up with such a wench for so long. I believe he's gone a bit soft."
Rasiel's hand clamped over Haru's mouth just before she was about to scream.
"Haru-chan, my brother is weak. But I am not. I will not hesitate to kill you." Haru stilled, eyes widening in fear, his words were cold and she believed him. A vision of blood spurting from Yusei's and Akito's necks flashed before her eyes, and the empty hand where she had been clenching Fuuta's hand testified to his words.
His breath blew across her neck, making her shiver in disgust. She wanted him to let her go but he would not, and she could not escape.
"Now be a good hostage, and I might let you live, or I might keep you as my slave… depends how good you are."
Haru elbowed him, renewing her struggle to get free.
"I see, you won't go easily. Very well."
There was a sharp pain at Haru's temple, blackness swirling in her vision. Her head was heavy, her limbs felt like lead. Her head fell back against Rasiel's chest, her eyes sliding shut.
"I can understand a little why my brother would fall for you." He chuckled, stroking her hair with his long fingers. "You're perfect bait."
Haru had found someone she hated more than Belphegor.
Belphegor slowly awoke, feeling more rested than he had in a while. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light he slowly took in his surroundings, a small smile tugging at his mouth.
He was in her room, her blankets wrapped around him. It smelled like her, a fresh scent that smelled like spring. But she was not there.
He frowned, that was right, she would be gone now. She had left, Tsuna had made her leave. He had not been able to say goodbye to the commoner. But it did not matter, he would see her again, that was for sure. Why say goodbye when he would just see the person again?
He slipped out from the bed, throwing the covers sloppily onto the bed. He yawned, then stretched out his arms.
Yes, today was the day he left. He would go to the town where his brother was rumored to be, and if he found nothing he would go back to Varia and try to find out more information.
After his brother was killed he would go back to Haru. She knew to much, had seen too much, and she was his slave now. She could not just live obeying Tsuna's commands.
Belphegor walked down the halls, avoiding the few people still in the base. The doctor was probably looking for him, but Belphegor could not be held up by that man. He needed to find the codes for the outside doors and leave that sunless base.
He was just passing the command room carefully when he heard him, breathlessly repeating something over and over again to Tsuna. He sounded desperate.
The little shrimp. Belphegor frowned, wasn't he supposed to be with Haru? Belphegor slowly came forward, careful not to be seen through the slightly opened door.
"I need to see Belphegor!" He was crying, hysteric.
"Fuuta-kun," Tsuna knelt by the boy, setting his hands on his shoulders. "What happened? Where are the others? Where is Haru?"
Belphegor clenched his fist. What was this? What had happened? Was Haru missing?
Fuuta's breath came out shaky. "I… I can't say. I'm not allowed to! I need to see Belphegor."
Belphegor clenched his jaw tight. He glanced down the quite hallway, he needed to leave, and he needed to find a way out. Haru…
"What is it?" Belphegor stepped into the room, glairing at the boy angrily.
Fuuta's eyes filled with tears as well as relief. "Belphegor!" He rushed forward, grabbing Belphegor's right arm, making Belphegor wince a little in pain. "I need to tell you something, I'm supposed to tell you alone or… or else Haru-chan will… Haru will…"
His voice cracked, Belphegor narrowed his eyes pushing away Fuuta's arm.
"What will happen to Haru?"
Fuuta glanced back at Tsuna and Giannini, who were watching them closely.
Belphegor glared at Tsuna then grabbed Fuuta's arm and dragged him out of the room and down the hallways a bit.
"There, now speak!"
"He told you to give you this message," Fuuta said immediately, seeming relieved to finally tell him.
"Who?"
"I-I don't know, he never said but… he looked like you."
Belphegor frowned, setting his hands on his hips. "Rasiel…"
"You know him?"
"What did he tell you?"
"He told me to tell you this, that he has Haru and is waiting."
"Waiting where?"
"He didn't say." The shrimp was useless, Belphegor sighed.
"And what will happen to Haru if you tell anyone else?"
"He said he would kill her if I told the others, and if you don't go and find him."
Belphegor smiled, chuckling. "The coward as always." He continued to laugh.
"Be-Belphegor!" Fuuta cried. "Please, please be serious, Haru-chan is in danger!"
"Are you joking?" Belphegor snickered. "I'll kill Rasiel for daring to even touch Haru."
Fuuta let out a deep breath, staring at Belphegor with wide eyes.
"Oi, shrimp, the code for getting out, give it to me." Belphegor demanded. Fuuta nodded.
"182941, is the code for the nearest door." Fuuta said and pointed down the hallway.
"All right." Belphegor started off, heading toward the door nearest to them, smile growing larger. "You'd better keep quiet about all this or I'll kill you."
"Of course." Fuuta mumbled while watching Belphegor walk away.
Belphegor chuckled before running forward, hurrying to the door.
His blood rushed in his ears, his adrenaline pumping. His brother, his brother had made contact. Their feud would finally come to a complete end.
With him the victor.
Of course his brother was being low, dragging in everyone around them. But he had always done that, Belphegor had lost track of the servants that had accidentally been killed because of his cowardice.
But how dare he drag Haru into it. Belphegor would kill him just for that.
He punched in the code, and wasted no time wriggling through the small gap as the doors took their grand old time opening. Once out in the open he started out again, not quite sure where to go.
He expected an underhand move, not one to kill him but one to put him out for a little while. His brother was a coward, he would want the fight to happen in his own terms, somewhere he was sure to have the upper hand.
And just as he predicted knives flashed through the air landing before Belphegor, making him stop. Then there came a thud from behind. Belphegor did not even care to turn, waiting for the blow to the temple.
Which came. Belphegor crumbled to the ground, rage, anger and annoyance growing with every second.
Rasiel would pay.
Hehe~ We're finally getting to the action of the story! Go Bel! Extract revenged on Rasiel!
Anyway...
Thank you for reviewing: Tsuki-chan93, Purple Psycho Fish (there, I didn't give you a nickname!), Mew of Fire, Ciry, Rudolf Rayquaza, jrlrock (too lazy again?), leogirl321, lemoncherrylove, Katsura2343, largofan and Twilight Emo Wind Goddess!
