p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;" align="center"Chapter Twenty One/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;" align="center"A Death In The Family/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"The suit itched, the material rubbed against Takuto's skin as the jacket seemed to constrain his movement. Worse yet he found himself fumbling with the tie trying to get it to match the picture on the computer. He never much was a suit person, but today was a special day, today was the final day of production on Eternal Snow. Mitsuki had just finished recording the song a hour or two ago and now the crew was preparing a large party at a local club. Already rumors were circulating and he had began to hear reports from Kato that the media were already camping out as close as possible to get video of them walking in./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""If Aoi isn't coming then I get the first dance." Takuto teased playfully, fidgeting again with the tie as he spoke to Mitsuki over his cell phone./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"He could hear Mitsuki fidget in embarrassment on the other end of the phone. "Takuto, there is something special I want to tell you tonight." Her voice sounded uneasy, as if she was trying to find the right words to say it./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Alright spill it." He pulled the tie off and began again./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""No, tonight at the dance." Mitsuki insisted./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""How do I look?" Hikari asked from across the room, stepping out in a shimmering Champaign colored dress that seemed to sparkle in the dim light of the room, her hair was curled up in a bun, just how Takuto liked it and her face was highlighted with just a slight hint of makeup./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"One thing Takuto had forgotten to tell Mitsuki was that he had broken down and invited Hikari to the party. Over the past two weeks she had been doing her best to make up for past wrong doing, and no matter what happened, she was still his friend and he didn't want her to feel left out, besides it was just a harmless party./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Eh? Takuto? Who's that?" Mitsuki asked from the cell phone as Hikari came over, pressing her body close to Takuto as she helped him with his tie./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Takuto couldn't help blush at the closeness, his face turning several shades of red as he pulled away the second Hikari was done. "It's Hikari, I invited her to the party tonight." He said mater of factly, trying to pass it off as no big deal./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Mitsuki paused for a second before finally replying "Oh, I can't wait to meet her again!"/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Takuto knew she didn't like it, he knew that she was angry at Hikari for all the trouble she had caused him, but one of the many things, too many things to even count, that he loved about Mitsuki was that she would never come out and say that, she was too sweet to do that, instead she focused on the positive of the situation./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""I'll see you at the party squirt." He quickly put down the phone, the tension easing from his body. He would find a way to make it up to Mitsuki, maybe he would find a way to sneak her out on a date this weekend./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Hikari sauntered toward him, looking like a preditor who had just captured her prey in a trap. "Did I do something wrong?" She asked mischeviously, her finger trailing down Takuto's cheek./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Takuto shook his head and moved away, he had seen this trick before and while Hikari may not know it, his heart belonged to Mitsuki, not her. "We should get going, Kato will want to make a security check of the club with me before Mitsuki arrives." He said dryly before heading to the door./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Humming Eternal Snow, Mitsuki slowly applied the lipstick, her desk was littered with toilet paper where she had wiped off her make up to reapply it again. Tonight was special, tonight would be the night that she told Takuto her true feelings as they danced to her new song. But the thought that Hikari, Takuto's ex girlfriend would be there added even more stress to a already stressful night./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"In her mind's eye she could imagine the scene, they were at the club and Takuto would wave off her feelings, saying "Sorry Mitsuki, I only love adult women" he would laugh and then run off with Hikari, arm and arm./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"The lipstick slipped, leaving a deep red line trailing across her cheek as she shook her head in frustration, trying to banish the thoughts from her mind. "Takuto would never do that." She tried to reassure herself, as she cleaned off the excess lipstick./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"She glanced toward the corner of the room, where the dress that she was supposed to wear for her first concert for Eternal snow laid on the floor. It took alot of begging and pleading but she had finally been given permission from the staff to sneak the costume out and wear it tonight. She wanted to look beautiful for Takuto, and now with Hikari there she worried even more that she just wouldn't measure up./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Mitsuki?" Her grandmother opened the door curiously, before Mitsuki could cover up the makeup she was already inside, her eyes widening in shock as her gaze shifted back and forth from the make up to the dress in the corner. "What is the meaning of this?!" She asked, her voice raising in anger./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""I'm getting ready for the party tonight, everyone put it together because we finished Eternal Snow." Mitsuki explained as her grandmother glared down at the makeup./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""No grandchild of mine is going to go out wearing makeup, and dressed in that!" She pointed at the dress, her fingers shaking in anger./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""But Grandma!" Mitsuki pleaded as she followed the old lady down the hallway. "I won't look any different than when I am on stage!"/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Her grandmother wasn't listening and was already dialing the phone number for Hazuki and Aoi. "Where is this party at?" She asked, her voice crackling in anger as the phone continued to ring./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""A club called Maggianos." She spoke softly, lowering her head as she prepared for the outburst of anger that she knew was about to come./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""A club?!" Her grandmother voice rose even higher, her body shaking in anger. "No little girl is going to go to a club dressed like some... some street girl!" She hung up the phone in frustration. Both of her parents were busy at work putting together the album, having entrusted Takuto to protect her at the party./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""I'll speak to my daughter about this!" She added as Mitsuki's eyes widened in shock./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Grandma, mom won't be back till past midnight! The party will be over by then!" She pleaded as her grandmother left the room for her study, her arms crossed as if the entire situation was finalized./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""You can wait in your room until she gets home." Her grandmother added./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"With tears streaming down her face, Mitsuki balled her hands in frustration. Everything was ruined, she wouldn't be able to confess to Takuto, worse yet he would be at the party, the party for her, with his ex girlfriend! "I HATE YOU!" She screamed./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"The music from the oversized speakers vibrated across the club, shaking the black walls, and causing glasses of liquor to tremble on the bar. Neon lights and various spot lights swung across the room, dancing across the floor and illuminating the tables. Most of the band had already arrived and cheers rang out with each entrance, the liquor had already been flowing for a hour and with the music now blaring out of the speakers the atmosphere had become filled with excitement./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Where is she." Takuto mumbled leaning against the bar, his eyes focused on his cell phone. Mitsuki hadn't called, and she hadn't shown up. So either something had happened at the house, or something had happened enroute to the party. Either way he would not even begin to relax before he saw her face enter the room./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""C'mon Takuto it's a party! You can't be a sour puss all night!" Hikari grabbed his arms, the smell of alcohol already on her breath. He guessed she had already had two glasses of champeign already by how quickly the staff was serving it. "Lets go dancing and make the other boys jealous."/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Takuto pulled his arm away in frustration and dialed Mitsuki's house number, he had swore he would give her another five minutes but he knew that even in Hikari's drunken state she would know not to bother him while he was on the phone./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""I'm sorry sir, but the number you dialed seems to be experiencing problems." The operator came over the phone./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Takuto's heart leapt into his throat, sweat began to bead on his forehead out of fear of what that could mean. He slammed the phone shut and was already half way out to the door when Hikari noticed he was leaving. "Takuto? The party is just getting started!" She tried to follow him out, nearly tripping numerous times on her way out./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"By the time she got outside, Takuto was already out of sight, having borrowed Kato's motorcycle and sped off toward Mitsuki's house./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"The lights in Mitsuki's room flickered, once and then twice, and then went out entirely plunging her room into darkness. Nearly tripping over her chair she made her way to the door and opened it. Somewhere on the other side of the house she could hear the small sound of a window being broken. "Whats happening? The lights went out?" She called out./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Mitsuki? Mitsuki are you okay?" She could hear her grandmother's voice as she raced down the hallway, having already heard the broken window. br /br /Seeing the outline of her shape in the darkness, Mitsuki ran toward her, hugging her in fright. "What's happening? Everything suddenly went dark."/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"She grasped Mitsuki's hand and began to hurry her through the pitch black hallways of the house toward Aoi's room. When they had first built the house, Aoi had insisted on a fake wall for the closet that could be bent back and so that a child or young adult could be hidden away in case of a emergency. "Grandma where are you taking me?" Mitsuki asked, her voice filled with fear and panic as Fuzuki threw open the door to the master bedroom./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Mitsuki, you must keep quiet, no matter what happens, keep quiet." Fuzuki whispered, opening the door to Aoi's closet and began to feel around. After a moment the wall slid aside revealing for the tiny space hidden behind it. "Stay in here until I come for you."/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Mitsuki put one step in before pausing, realizing the size of the space she began to push back. "It's too small for both of us, it's too small for both of us!" She shook her head, tears running down her face./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""I'll be fine." Fuzuki tried to calm her, in the distance both of them could hear glasses and tables being overturn, whoever was in the house they were searching for someone, or something. "Just stay quiet until I come for you." She repeated before guiding Mitsuki into the hiding space and forcing the door shut before she could object./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Not even bothering to come to a full stop, Takuto leapt from the motorcycle, causing it to go spinning out of control and fall onto it's side with a loud thud. With the helmet still on he rammed his shoulder into the front door splintering it as it cracked and fell against his weight. He could have fumbled around for his keys, but at this moment all he could think of was Mitsuki's safety./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"For a moment he thought it could have just been a simple blown fuse, but his second step in brought the distinctive crack of his foot stepping onto the remains of the broken vase. Immediately his training kicked in and Takuto dropped into a crouch, he slid his helmet off and began to scan the surroundings. Even with the darkness limiting his vision he could begin to make out the broken remains of various objects that littered the floor./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"His first objective was to reach Mitsuki's room, if she wasn't there he would check Aoi's room and then begin to work his way through the house, he couldn't risk making a phone call as any sound could alert whoever was still in the house. His eyes trailed back to the broken door as he realized the noise would have carried throughout the house. "Great." He muttered before returning to his focus to making his way to Mitsuki's room./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"It seemed like a eternity, but he finally made his way to Mitsuki's room. Inside he found the room trashed, the mattress ripped, her mirror and desk over turned and broken, but most important of all he couldn't find Mitsuki in the room./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Takuto stepped back out into the hallway, trying to remember if Aoi had briefed Mitsuki about the panic room. If she wasn't in there he would have to risk alerting whoever else was in the house by calling the police./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"With one hand on the wall to guide him, Takuto began to make his way down the hallway toward Aoi's room. Nearly half way toward his goal, his foot hit something warm and soft. For a moment his blood froze in his veins. Mitsuki couldn't be dead, she couldn't be dead./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"He reached down and touched the body, the skin was cold and soaked in blood. Instantly he knew from the feel of the face, that the person had been beaten to death, and that it wasn't Mitsuki. For a moment he was filled with relief, until he realized who's body it was. "I'm sorry." He whispered./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Rising from the body, he made sure to step over it before continuing down the hallway and into Aoi's room, just like Mitsuki's room it was trashed, not a single object left in place. Who ever had been in the room they had made sure to check every single object for what they were looking for./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"For what had to be the fifth time of the night Takuto held his breath in fear, as he reached into Aoi's closet and unlatched the fake wall. As it slid away he could hear the soft sound of Mitsuki sobbing. "Ta-Takuto." She sobbed, he didn't know or care how she knew it was him, he was just glad she was safe./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""I was quiet, I didn't say a word, no matter what happened I did.." Her voice caught in her throat as she was reduced to sobs. Takuto scooped the little girl up into his arms and held her close as he realized that she had heard the entire thing, she had remained in that tiny hole and listened to her grandmother die./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;" align="center"A Death In The Family/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"The suit itched, the material rubbed against Takuto's skin as the jacket seemed to constrain his movement. Worse yet he found himself fumbling with the tie trying to get it to match the picture on the computer. He never much was a suit person, but today was a special day, today was the final day of production on Eternal Snow. Mitsuki had just finished recording the song a hour or two ago and now the crew was preparing a large party at a local club. Already rumors were circulating and he had began to hear reports from Kato that the media were already camping out as close as possible to get video of them walking in./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""If Aoi isn't coming then I get the first dance." Takuto teased playfully, fidgeting again with the tie as he spoke to Mitsuki over his cell phone./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"He could hear Mitsuki fidget in embarrassment on the other end of the phone. "Takuto, there is something special I want to tell you tonight." Her voice sounded uneasy, as if she was trying to find the right words to say it./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Alright spill it." He pulled the tie off and began again./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""No, tonight at the dance." Mitsuki insisted./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""How do I look?" Hikari asked from across the room, stepping out in a shimmering Champaign colored dress that seemed to sparkle in the dim light of the room, her hair was curled up in a bun, just how Takuto liked it and her face was highlighted with just a slight hint of makeup./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"One thing Takuto had forgotten to tell Mitsuki was that he had broken down and invited Hikari to the party. Over the past two weeks she had been doing her best to make up for past wrong doing, and no matter what happened, she was still his friend and he didn't want her to feel left out, besides it was just a harmless party./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Eh? Takuto? Who's that?" Mitsuki asked from the cell phone as Hikari came over, pressing her body close to Takuto as she helped him with his tie./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Takuto couldn't help blush at the closeness, his face turning several shades of red as he pulled away the second Hikari was done. "It's Hikari, I invited her to the party tonight." He said mater of factly, trying to pass it off as no big deal./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Mitsuki paused for a second before finally replying "Oh, I can't wait to meet her again!"/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Takuto knew she didn't like it, he knew that she was angry at Hikari for all the trouble she had caused him, but one of the many things, too many things to even count, that he loved about Mitsuki was that she would never come out and say that, she was too sweet to do that, instead she focused on the positive of the situation./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""I'll see you at the party squirt." He quickly put down the phone, the tension easing from his body. He would find a way to make it up to Mitsuki, maybe he would find a way to sneak her out on a date this weekend./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Hikari sauntered toward him, looking like a preditor who had just captured her prey in a trap. "Did I do something wrong?" She asked mischeviously, her finger trailing down Takuto's cheek./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Takuto shook his head and moved away, he had seen this trick before and while Hikari may not know it, his heart belonged to Mitsuki, not her. "We should get going, Kato will want to make a security check of the club with me before Mitsuki arrives." He said dryly before heading to the door./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Humming Eternal Snow, Mitsuki slowly applied the lipstick, her desk was littered with toilet paper where she had wiped off her make up to reapply it again. Tonight was special, tonight would be the night that she told Takuto her true feelings as they danced to her new song. But the thought that Hikari, Takuto's ex girlfriend would be there added even more stress to a already stressful night./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"In her mind's eye she could imagine the scene, they were at the club and Takuto would wave off her feelings, saying "Sorry Mitsuki, I only love adult women" he would laugh and then run off with Hikari, arm and arm./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"The lipstick slipped, leaving a deep red line trailing across her cheek as she shook her head in frustration, trying to banish the thoughts from her mind. "Takuto would never do that." She tried to reassure herself, as she cleaned off the excess lipstick./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"She glanced toward the corner of the room, where the dress that she was supposed to wear for her first concert for Eternal snow laid on the floor. It took alot of begging and pleading but she had finally been given permission from the staff to sneak the costume out and wear it tonight. She wanted to look beautiful for Takuto, and now with Hikari there she worried even more that she just wouldn't measure up./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Mitsuki?" Her grandmother opened the door curiously, before Mitsuki could cover up the makeup she was already inside, her eyes widening in shock as her gaze shifted back and forth from the make up to the dress in the corner. "What is the meaning of this?!" She asked, her voice raising in anger./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""I'm getting ready for the party tonight, everyone put it together because we finished Eternal Snow." Mitsuki explained as her grandmother glared down at the makeup./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""No grandchild of mine is going to go out wearing makeup, and dressed in that!" She pointed at the dress, her fingers shaking in anger./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""But Grandma!" Mitsuki pleaded as she followed the old lady down the hallway. "I won't look any different than when I am on stage!"/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Her grandmother wasn't listening and was already dialing the phone number for Hazuki and Aoi. "Where is this party at?" She asked, her voice crackling in anger as the phone continued to ring./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""A club called Maggianos." She spoke softly, lowering her head as she prepared for the outburst of anger that she knew was about to come./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""A club?!" Her grandmother voice rose even higher, her body shaking in anger. "No little girl is going to go to a club dressed like some... some street girl!" She hung up the phone in frustration. Both of her parents were busy at work putting together the album, having entrusted Takuto to protect her at the party./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""I'll speak to my daughter about this!" She added as Mitsuki's eyes widened in shock./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Grandma, mom won't be back till past midnight! The party will be over by then!" She pleaded as her grandmother left the room for her study, her arms crossed as if the entire situation was finalized./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""You can wait in your room until she gets home." Her grandmother added./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"With tears streaming down her face, Mitsuki balled her hands in frustration. Everything was ruined, she wouldn't be able to confess to Takuto, worse yet he would be at the party, the party for her, with his ex girlfriend! "I HATE YOU!" She screamed./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"The music from the oversized speakers vibrated across the club, shaking the black walls, and causing glasses of liquor to tremble on the bar. Neon lights and various spot lights swung across the room, dancing across the floor and illuminating the tables. Most of the band had already arrived and cheers rang out with each entrance, the liquor had already been flowing for a hour and with the music now blaring out of the speakers the atmosphere had become filled with excitement./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Where is she." Takuto mumbled leaning against the bar, his eyes focused on his cell phone. Mitsuki hadn't called, and she hadn't shown up. So either something had happened at the house, or something had happened enroute to the party. Either way he would not even begin to relax before he saw her face enter the room./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""C'mon Takuto it's a party! You can't be a sour puss all night!" Hikari grabbed his arms, the smell of alcohol already on her breath. He guessed she had already had two glasses of champeign already by how quickly the staff was serving it. "Lets go dancing and make the other boys jealous."/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Takuto pulled his arm away in frustration and dialed Mitsuki's house number, he had swore he would give her another five minutes but he knew that even in Hikari's drunken state she would know not to bother him while he was on the phone./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""I'm sorry sir, but the number you dialed seems to be experiencing problems." The operator came over the phone./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Takuto's heart leapt into his throat, sweat began to bead on his forehead out of fear of what that could mean. He slammed the phone shut and was already half way out to the door when Hikari noticed he was leaving. "Takuto? The party is just getting started!" She tried to follow him out, nearly tripping numerous times on her way out./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"By the time she got outside, Takuto was already out of sight, having borrowed Kato's motorcycle and sped off toward Mitsuki's house./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"The lights in Mitsuki's room flickered, once and then twice, and then went out entirely plunging her room into darkness. Nearly tripping over her chair she made her way to the door and opened it. Somewhere on the other side of the house she could hear the small sound of a window being broken. "Whats happening? The lights went out?" She called out./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Mitsuki? Mitsuki are you okay?" She could hear her grandmother's voice as she raced down the hallway, having already heard the broken window. br /br /Seeing the outline of her shape in the darkness, Mitsuki ran toward her, hugging her in fright. "What's happening? Everything suddenly went dark."/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"She grasped Mitsuki's hand and began to hurry her through the pitch black hallways of the house toward Aoi's room. When they had first built the house, Aoi had insisted on a fake wall for the closet that could be bent back and so that a child or young adult could be hidden away in case of a emergency. "Grandma where are you taking me?" Mitsuki asked, her voice filled with fear and panic as Fuzuki threw open the door to the master bedroom./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""Mitsuki, you must keep quiet, no matter what happens, keep quiet." Fuzuki whispered, opening the door to Aoi's closet and began to feel around. After a moment the wall slid aside revealing for the tiny space hidden behind it. "Stay in here until I come for you."/p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Mitsuki put one step in before pausing, realizing the size of the space she began to push back. "It's too small for both of us, it's too small for both of us!" She shook her head, tears running down her face./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""I'll be fine." Fuzuki tried to calm her, in the distance both of them could hear glasses and tables being overturn, whoever was in the house they were searching for someone, or something. "Just stay quiet until I come for you." She repeated before guiding Mitsuki into the hiding space and forcing the door shut before she could object./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Not even bothering to come to a full stop, Takuto leapt from the motorcycle, causing it to go spinning out of control and fall onto it's side with a loud thud. With the helmet still on he rammed his shoulder into the front door splintering it as it cracked and fell against his weight. He could have fumbled around for his keys, but at this moment all he could think of was Mitsuki's safety./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"For a moment he thought it could have just been a simple blown fuse, but his second step in brought the distinctive crack of his foot stepping onto the remains of the broken vase. Immediately his training kicked in and Takuto dropped into a crouch, he slid his helmet off and began to scan the surroundings. Even with the darkness limiting his vision he could begin to make out the broken remains of various objects that littered the floor./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"His first objective was to reach Mitsuki's room, if she wasn't there he would check Aoi's room and then begin to work his way through the house, he couldn't risk making a phone call as any sound could alert whoever was still in the house. His eyes trailed back to the broken door as he realized the noise would have carried throughout the house. "Great." He muttered before returning to his focus to making his way to Mitsuki's room./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"It seemed like a eternity, but he finally made his way to Mitsuki's room. Inside he found the room trashed, the mattress ripped, her mirror and desk over turned and broken, but most important of all he couldn't find Mitsuki in the room./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Takuto stepped back out into the hallway, trying to remember if Aoi had briefed Mitsuki about the panic room. If she wasn't in there he would have to risk alerting whoever else was in the house by calling the police./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"With one hand on the wall to guide him, Takuto began to make his way down the hallway toward Aoi's room. Nearly half way toward his goal, his foot hit something warm and soft. For a moment his blood froze in his veins. Mitsuki couldn't be dead, she couldn't be dead./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"He reached down and touched the body, the skin was cold and soaked in blood. Instantly he knew from the feel of the face, that the person had been beaten to death, and that it wasn't Mitsuki. For a moment he was filled with relief, until he realized who's body it was. "I'm sorry." He whispered./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"Rising from the body, he made sure to step over it before continuing down the hallway and into Aoi's room, just like Mitsuki's room it was trashed, not a single object left in place. Who ever had been in the room they had made sure to check every single object for what they were looking for./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;"For what had to be the fifth time of the night Takuto held his breath in fear, as he reached into Aoi's closet and unlatched the fake wall. As it slid away he could hear the soft sound of Mitsuki sobbing. "Ta-Takuto." She sobbed, he didn't know or care how she knew it was him, he was just glad she was safe./p
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 115%;""I was quiet, I didn't say a word, no matter what happened I did.." Her voice caught in her throat as she was reduced to sobs. Takuto scooped the little girl up into his arms and held her close as he realized that she had heard the entire thing, she had remained in that tiny hole and listened to her grandmother die./p