Chap 14: Danger
Kinoko happily walked along the street around Tokyo's University, a small box held carefully in her hand. She had spent almost the whole morning to make a matcha cake and now she was going to give her fiancé a surprise lunch.
'Her fiancé' Kinoko giggled embarrassedly when she thought about it and wondered what Tezuka's reaction would be when he saw her. Lucky she had managed to get rid of her bodyguards or else Tezuka would be very angry if he spotted any of those black men near him. The stoic boy had always wanted to keep his personal condition a secret and studied like a normal student since the first day he went to school.
Kinoko nearly bounced in her step as she rounded the corner. Just a short way more and the university would be within her vision. Overwhelmed by eagerness and excitement, she missed to notice the black car following her all the way.
Fuji slowly walked out of the huge gate of Tokyo's University. He had no class this afternoon due to his teacher's illness and normally, he would spend his time to hanging around with Eiji in his classes or sometimes with Tezuka too but today the stoic boy and his team had left school early, saying about some clan's works. So Fuji decided to go home.
He was on his way when he spotted a familiar figure on the other side of the street in the distance. Thankfully the streets around school were shaded by trees so Fuji could easily hide himself behind a big trunk. He watched the girl pass by and idly wondered what she was doing here before he realized she was heading to his university. Fuji rubbed his chin slightly, contemplated whether to call her or not when he caught sight of a black car driving up and abruptly stopping beside Kinoko.
Fuji blinked. That wasn't...
Kinoko tried to step away, but the car's door opened. Within the blink of an eye, a man dressed utterly in black stepped out and grabbed her arms. The girl tried to shake him off, opened her mouth to scream, and Fuji could only watch in frozen shock as the man put a gag on her and dragged the struggling figure into the car.
As the car began to drive away, Fuji was awake from his stun and he immediately ran toward the place where Kinoko was kidnapped just a moment ago. He saw the car driving farther and farther and the blue eyed boy trembled as he looked around to find if there was any taxi near here. He wasn't much hopeful, the streets around Tokyo's University were often deserted in noontime.
Luckily, there was one running toward him from behind and Fuji quickly stopped this car, got in and ordered the driver to follow the black car ahead but reminded him to keep a reasonable distance as well.
As the taxi drove away, something in the pavement caught Fuji's eyes.
It was a matcha cake, crushed and ruined, lying abandoned.
The car's speed was quite normal, not too fast but not slow either. It seemed the kidnappers didn't want to draw unnecessary attention . Or they must be very confident about the success of their plan. Kinoko didn't know. She just knew she was tied up, gagged and blindfolded. She could only feel darkness around her and sometimes the slight shake as the car turned.
The farther they drove, the more panic she became. She tried to calm herself down by exhaling and inhaling deeply but it didn't help even a bit. She couldn't get rid of the thought that these men kidnapped her not for ransom but for some darker purposes instead. Like revenge...
Kinoko shuddered at the thought of what was coming to her but her heart raced more wildly when she reflected on the the possibility of them using her as a bait to trap her fiancée.
It would be all her fault if anything happened to Tezuka.
Fuji stared at the cell phone in his hand. He intended to call Tezuka at first but stopped right the moment he was about to press the button. When they left this morning, Eiji accidentally mentioned something about a purge and judged from the rare serious expression in his face, it surely must be a tough mission.
Fuji clenched his fist around his cell phone. He couldn't call them now. He couldn't distract them from the real battle they needed to focus at this moment. The image of an injured Tezuka was still vivid in his mind and he couldn't bear to see it once again. But Kinoko was waiting for rescue as well...
A name popped up in Fuji's mind and he hurriedly pressed the number. That person would be perfect. His residence was in this area and his prowess had always been something that Fuji's impressed. The blue eyed boy only hoped that he wouldn't get disconnected.
The other line picked up and then a familiar greeting "Suysuke."
Atobe always sounded genuinely pleased to hear from him. Since they met they had often talked to each other on the phone, mostly chatting and sometimes having nonsense conversations. The arrogant heir had insisted on being on a first name basis and seemed very satisfied with calling him Suysuke. Not that Fuji minded though, he had soon considered Atobe as his close friend, just like Eiji.
"Keigo, I need your help." Fuji said urgently and he quickly told Atobe everything that happened in a small voice. He also told his friend that he was in a taxi, following the kidnappers at that moment and from Atobe's exasperatedly sigh, he knew the diva was very disagreeable with his action.
"I'll gather my men now and we'll come as soon as possible."
"Thank-" Fuji's words was cut off by Atobe's serious voice "Remember Suysuke, if there is any sign that they notice you follow, run. And if you reach their place safely, find somewhere to hide, wait for me there and DON'T do anything. Understand?"
Silence followed. "Suysuke?"
"...Yes, Keigo."
The black car slowed up and then turned into a small and desolate lane. Knowing that he couldn't continue following in this taxi without being found out, Fuji paid the driver before got off and quickly walked in the direction of the black car.
The lane led him to a deserted factory and his instinct told him he had reached the right place. Fuji began to walk along the barbwire fence, wanted to find something to confirm his assumption but instead of spotting the black car, he saw a small hole in the fence. A hole that only fragile person like him could creep through.
"...find somewhere to hide, wait for me there and DON'T do anything..."- Atobe's words echoed in his head.
Fuji bit his lips.
Rationality dictated he did what Atobe had said. It's not like he could do anything. He was just...a normal boy, he hadn't been trained to handle this situation nor did he have any desire to be a hero, solved a crime on his own.
Then again...
Fuji looked through the fence. He saw wooden boxes, some machines, sackloths, wooden bars...and then an old house with iron door.
Kinoko most probably was there.
A shiver ran down his spine. He was pretty sure she was alive, killing her was not those men's purpose otherwise they must do it right at the beginning. But that didn't mean they would not do other things to her, especially when this didn't seem like a kidnapping for ransom.
Besides, Kinoko was kidnapped probably because of Tezuka. If there was anything happened to her...
The image of that matcha cake flashed in Fuji's mind.
The boy closed his eyes for a brief moment and when they opened, determination shone brightly in those blue orbs.
Carefully crept through the small hole, Fuji then took out his cell phone and placed in on top of a wooden box nearby where it could be spot quite easily from outside but still hidden from people inside the factory. He knew Atobe was tracking GPS signal from his cell phone to come here so he couldn't risk losing it if he was captured. And this was also his sign to the arrogant heir, telling him that he had decided to do something.
Fuji could only hope his friend would not be too mad at him when everything was over. If he was still alive, of course.
Someone was calling him. Fuji shifted slightly and groaned as he felt the pain at the back of his neck. Where was he? He remembered trying to sneak into the house through a broken window when...
Fuji's blue eyes snapped open. His eyes took in the sight of walls in bad state, wet ceiling, cobweb everywhere...and then Kinoko's worry face.
"Fuji, you're awake! Are you alright?" She asked happily, a relieved expression on her face.
"Ah..I'm fine." Fuji said while observed her carefully. It seemed she had no injury yet, just scared and panic. Let out a relieved sigh, he tried to sit up and then realized his hands had been tied with ropes behind his back. 'At least they didn't tie my legs, I can still run.' the boy mused as he quickly looked around. There were two men in black standing nearby, looking down at them with sadistic gaze and a man standing at the half-open main door, guarded.
Before he could think about any escape plan, a man totally dressed in white appeared, following by five black men. Just his aura and presence was strong and powerful enough to let Fuji know he was the leader of all those men here. The boy unconsciously lowered his eyes a bit.
The leader strode toward him with graceful movement and Fuji forced himself to look up straight at the other's face. The man was wearing a silver mask so Fuji couldn't see his expression but he was able to sense the amusement and somewhat...irritation in those light brown eyes.
"Well, well." The man said when he was finally stood in front of Fuji, his voice was low and deep "Let's see what we have here." A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"A prince?"