Click. Kotetsu stood, clutching onto the door frame for support. He had entered the Petrov manor with no resistance. In fact, he hadn't seen a single soul on his way through the house. It had been unnerving, sure, but it was nothing compared to right now, this very moment.

Kotetsu sank to his knees, unable to breathe. He clutched his chest, the ammo and his gun falling to the floor. Intense pain shot across his arm and deep between his lungs, his vision blurred and for a moment he thought he might be having an actual heart attack. They weren't here. No one was here.

The only thing that could have gotten him off the floor was the sound of police sirens. Kotetsu jumped up, steadying himself on the door frame. He walked into the empty room and snatched the note off the end of the neatly made bed.

Kotetsu tore open the envelope with shaking hands, scanning the handwritten note anxiously.

Dear Tiger,

I hope you haven't damaged my house too severely. Though, I suppose it won't matter soon if you did.

There's an African proverb, When the mouse laughs at the cat, there's a hole nearby.

You should hurry. I'm hoping you can catch me.

Yours truly,

Yuri

"Why?" Kotetsu wheezed, laying the note back on the bed. "Why aren't you here? Damn it! Where are you?"

Kotetsu yanked his wire off, laying it on top of the note. He turned around, grabbing the bag of ammo and his discarded pistol. He walked quickly through Petrov's house and back outside. He retrieved his cell phone and hung up the call. He climbed back in his car and threw it into drive.

He drove recklessly, speeding out of the drive just as the first police cars turned down the street. He dropped to the speed limit, buckling his seat belt. He drove past the units and exhaled in relief, dialing the cell phone.

"You are in so much trouble."

"Shut up, Antonio." Kotetsu barked. "No one's there. Petrov's not there."

"What?"

"I don't know where they are." Kotetsu admitted, the realization cutting him like a knife. "I have no idea where'd they be…"

"You know making a call like that makes it premeditated, right?"

"Are you listening? No one was there! I didn't shoot anybody! The entire house was empty…" Kotetsu snapped. "And I have no fucking clue where they could be!"

"Everyone in the city is looking for you."

"They should be looking for the three kidnapping victims." Kotetsu replied impatiently.

"Where are you?"

"Antonio, there was no doubt in my mind." Kotetsu groaned. "Where are they? He wants me to find them, but I have no fucking idea…"

"They could be dead."

"Don't say that."

"You need to come in to the station."

"I'm hanging up now." Kotetsu muttered, throwing his phone out the window.

Kotetsu parked on the side of the road, letting his head rest against the steering wheel. The letter was nothing, there was no information in it. He didn't have a clue where else Barnaby and Yuri could be. The Molotovs had hundreds of warehouses in Sternbild; it would take hours and hours to search them all.

Where could Yuri have the privacy to hold three grown men against their wills? Where would Yuri expect him to look next? If the Molotovs weren't holding Barnaby then who could have the power to- "Fuck."

Kotetsu regretted tossing his phone out the window. He threw the car into drive and pulled back onto the road. He passed a SWAT truck and he nearly laughed. Yuri was smarter than him. Yuri knew Kotetsu would show up, and most likely involve the police. Almost every cop in Sternbild would be at the Petrov residence, far away from Yuri's actual location.

Suddenly the earth shook, a large boom quaking the windows of the car. A large, black cloud erupted into the air, flames licking out from behind the treetops. A moment later Kotetsu pieced it together. The Petrov manor had just exploded.

Kotetsu turned on the radio, flipping through the stations impatiently until he found music rather than commercials. He blared the radio, trying not to speed. It was an impossibly long drive and Kotetsu couldn't calm his nerves.

He pulled up to the Brooks' property, stopping at the guard post at the gate. Kotetsu rolled down his manual window as the guard approached. "Oh, Tiger, Boss isn't-"

"Let me in." Kotetsu demanded. "And leave the gate open."

"Wha, well, uh, I can't do that…" the man insisted.

"Give me your phone." Kotetsu ordered, his hand held out expectantly.

"My phone?"

"Yes, give me your fucking phone." Kotetsu barked.

The guard handed Kotetsu his cell phone. Kotetsu dialed from memory, a little unsure if he had it right. "Goldsmith."

"It's me."

"Holy shit! What a wild night you're having…"

"Ryan, listen to me." Kotetsu interrupted impatiently. "I'm at Barnaby Brooks' house."

"What are you doing there?"

"This is the only other place I can think of to look." Kotetsu murmured.

"Loyalty isn't that cheap, is it?" Ryan scoffed.

"It's a big house." Kotetsu replied. "And Albert Maverick is the most powerful man in Sternbild."

"Everyone's at the Petrov place."

"I need them here."

"You sure do ask a lot."

"You wanna be the hero of Sternbild or not?"

"The Brooks aren't the same as the Molotovs."

"Are you scared?"

"Aren't you?"

"I don't have a choice."

"What if they aren't there?"

"There's nowhere else."

"But why would Maverick team up with…"

"I don't have time to talk." Kotetsu snapped. "I don't have my wire. I don't have a phone."

"You don't have a prayer."

"It would be great if I could get some police support." Kotetsu said simply before hanging up. He handed the phone back to the guard, who stood in stunned silence. Kotetsu forced a smile. "Do you work for Barnaby or Maverick?"

"Barnaby…" the guard breathed.

"Then leave this gate open." Kotetsu requested. "And go home."

Kotetsu drove through the open gate, pulling in front of the Brooks house. He grabbed his bag and once again climbed out of the car. He jogged up the steps and knocked on the front door.

The door opened and two men answered almost immediately. "What do you want?"

"I want inside." Kotetsu replied.

"He's not here." The older one answered.

"Didn't ya hear? He's missing." The second added.

"Shouldn't you be out looking for him?" Kotetsu mused, pushing through the door.

"Hey! Wait!" the second man called after Kotetsu.

"It's okay," a third man said, leaning against the wall. "Maverick's expecting him."

"Where is he?" Kotetsu demanded.

"Surrender your weapons." The man ordered. "Then I'll take ya."

Kotetsu dropped the bag of ammo at his feet. He handed his gun to one of the men, lifting his arms and spreading his legs as he was searched. "He's clean."

"Take me to Barnaby." Kotetsu ordered.

"Barnaby? He's missing!" the second man insisted.

"You two stay here." The third man barked, nodding in gesture for Kotetsu to follow.

Kotetsu followed the man through the house and up the stairs. They entered Barnaby's wing of the house and stopped in front of the familiar door. This was the room Kotetsu had spent months in, healing from Jake's attack. The man gestured Kotetsu forward and Kotetsu turned the knob; it was locked.

"Where's the key?" Kotetsu whispered. He looked around as a group of Molotovs walked up. They watched Kotetsu with interest, murmuring to each other in Russian.

"I don't have it." The man said before walking off, leaving Kotetsu alone with the Molotovs.

Kotetsu searched his pockets, his fingers fumbling from nerves. He finally procured the loose key, a gift from Yuri, and pushed it into the lock with shaking hands. The knob twisted and Kotetsu opened the door a fraction of an inch. The key worked.

Kotetsu took a deep breath and swung open the door. He walked into the room, stepping over the man lying on the floor. He crossed the room quickly, everyone's gaze felt so heavy.

"Mr. Tiger!" Keith exclaimed, unsure of whether to stand or not.

"Ti-ger." Yuri murmured, his olive eyes widening in delight. "You're here."

"What're you doing here?" Barnaby breathed out weakly.

"I came to save you." Kotetsu answered, leaning over Barnaby.

"You're late." Barnaby teased, closing his eyes as Kotetsu pressed his lips to his forehead.

"Yeah, well," Kotetsu groaned. "I had the wrong house."

"I'm so glad you're here." Yuri declared. "We have so much unfinished business."

"What are you doing, Yuri?" Kotetsu asked, turning to face the older man. "Why are you involving these kids?"

"Would you have come if I asked?" Yuri questioned.

"How did you get involved with Maverick?" Kotetsu wondered, shaking his head.

"Are you asking me why we're holding Junior in his own house?" Yuri probed. "Because that's what I think you really want to know."

"Sure. Answer that first."

"The police can't touch the Brooks." Yuri explained. "I would have a battering ram at my door in an hour…" Yuri laughed. "Maverick wants Junior dead. He's too high maintenance, too willful, too obsessed with Wild Tiger."

"And you're helping?"

"I have things I want too." Yuri said simply.

"And you'll get them? This is what you want?" Kotetsu shook his head.

"Don't talk to me that way." Yuri cautioned. "Who do you think you are? Do you notice a theme? You just can't keep your hands off the pretty, little mafia princes?"

"You and Barnaby are completely different." Kotetsu reasoned.

"In years, yes…" Yuri drawled. "But please, tell me how else…"

"What do you think will happen if anyone finds you?" Kotetsu breathed. "You're in his fucking house! It doesn't matter if you seal this section off… If anyone who supports Barnaby walked in on this…"

"Aw, are you pretending to worry about me?" Yuri scoffed. "Please don't."

"I'm here." Kotetsu declared, holding his hands out. "I have no weapons. I don't know what you want from me, but I am here, Yuri."

"I want you to atone." Yuri said. "Ten years ago you… you picked Barnaby Brooks Junior over me. You shot me, Tiger. You fucking shot me."

"I didn't want to shoot you."

"That shitty fucking brat… You would go so far for him? What was he to you?" Yuri growled.

"He was just a kid." Kotetsu said simply.

"And I was just nothing?" Yuri breathed.

"Let Keith go." Kotetsu pressed.

"The vet tech?" Yuri furrowed his brows, momentarily too surprised by the question to be angry about the interruption.

"Yes. Let him go." Kotetsu repeated.

"I need him." Yuri refused.

"For what?"

Yuri pulled his gun from his waistband and fired, hitting Kotetsu in the stomach. Kotetsu staggered backward, his hand to his abdomen. "For this." Kotetsu held his hand over his stomach, pressing firmly. Yuri sighed, "You're not bleeding."

"Kevlar." Kotetsu replied with a pained grimace.

"Ah." Yuri nodded solemnly. He brushed his hair out of his face and groaned.

"You said you wanted me to atone." Kotetsu began. "That has nothing to do with Keith or Barnaby. Let them go."

"Maverick wants him dead." Yuri argued. "It's out of my hands."

"Since when does a Molotov cater to a Brooks?" Kotetsu demanded.

"Since Wild Tiger disappeared and destroyed half the underground doing so!" Yuri shouted. "You knew I was in danger but you left! You left me to die, Tiger!"

"You left me to die in that room!" Kotetsu shouted. "Do you have any idea how horrible that was? For fuck's sake, Yuri! You had an ambulance within forty-five minutes of when I shot you…"

"I took care of you…" Yuri growled.

"No. You tormented me and a ten year old boy…" Kotetsu spat.

"Oh? Is that how you feel?" Yuri bellowed.

"Yeah. That's why I fucking hid from you for ten years!" Kotetsu returned.

"You weren't very good at hiding then!" Yuri shouted. "I knew where you were!"

"Everyone fucking knew where I was!" Kotetsu continued.

"You've really got some nerve talking to me like this when you need a favor, Tiger." Yuri challenged.

"What do I need from you?" Kotetsu barked.

"You need my forgiveness." Yuri replied.

"What the hell would I do with that?" Kotetsu muttered, quieting down.

"Save your precious little Bunny." Yuri suggested.

"I thought you said it was out of your hands?" Kotetsu questioned.

"Well, what can I say? You know how willful I can be." Yuri retorted.

"This is a fucking mess." Kotetsu spat. "You're a fucking mess."

"Barnaby's a fucking mess." Yuri snarled. "And he's going to be a dead mess if you keep pushing me, Tiger." Yuri crossed the room, the pistol muzzle pressed to Barnaby's sweaty head. "A big fucking dead mess."

"No, please." Kotetsu breathed, holding his hands up peaceably. "I'm sorry."

"For what? Sorry just isn't going to cut it." Yuri explained, his eyes wide.

"I'm sorry." Kotetsu repeated, dropping to his knees. "I'm sorry I shot you. I'm sorry I left when you asked me not to. I'm sorry."

"Keep going." Yuri drawled, pushing his foot against Kotetsu's shoulder. He pressed roughly until Kotetsu was on his chest on the floor.

"I'm sorry." Kotetsu continued. "I'm sorry that I pissed you off. I'm sorry."

"It's just not enough." Yuri decided, walking away from Kotetsu.

Kotetsu remained on the floor, his eyes following Yuri's movements. Yuri returned, dropping a typical kitchen block butcher knife on the floor in front of Kotetsu. The knife bounced and clattered. Yuri smiled wretchedly, "Atone."

"What's going on?" Barnaby murmured faintly, trying to sit up.

Keith placed his hand on Barnaby's chest, gently persuading him back to the bed. "Nothing. Don't mind it."

Kotetsu nodded, grabbing the butcher knife. He pushed himself onto his knees, his left hand placed on the floor in front of him. He closed his eyes, his tongue trailing along his teeth nervously. "I'm sorry that I failed you, Yuri."

He spread his fingers as far apart as he could manage and without another second of hesitation, he brought the knife down on the upper knuckle, in the middle of his middle finger. The carpet beneath was too plush, too yielding. He had to cut three more times before he completely severed the joint and sinew.

"Kotetsu! What's wrong? Let me up…" Barnaby groaned in mental and physical anguish.

Kotetsu cried out, the bloodied knife still clutched in his right hand. He murmured in agony, trying his best to collect the finger with his slippery hand. Finally, he held the amputated digit against his palm, offering it to Yuri obediently. "Taihen moushi wake gozaimasen deshita. Please accept my atonement."

Yuri's face brightened, he took the finger and held it to his chest. He kneeled down, taking Kotetsu's hand in his. He pressed his lips to the injured finger, sucking the tip ravenously. Kotetsu hissed in pain, pushing Yuri away.

"Keith! Shut the door! Shut the door!" Kotetsu shouted, reaching forward, toward Yuri. Yuri's eyes widened in realization as Kotetsu's hand wrapped around the gun handle.

Keith leapt to his feet, slamming the door closed with his shoulder. He threw his weight into it, bolting the door. Unfortunately, Kotetsu had left the key in the lock. Keith dropped to the floor, doing his best to barricade the door.

Kotetsu had both the gun and the knife, but only for a moment. The gun slipped out of his blood-slicked hands and onto the floor. It discharged on its own, firing a stray bullet God only knows where. "Fuck!"

"You… you… fuc-ker…" Yuri choked, holding his hand to his throat.

Kotetsu could only stare in bewilderment. He didn't understand why there was so much blood on Yuri. Yuri staggered backward and then collapsed, choking loudly. "Tiger, I can't hold the door!" Keith shouted.

"Y-Y-Yu-Yuri?" Kotetsu stammered, bending over Yuri in shock. He brushed the hair from Yuri's face, his bloodied hand smearing scarlet across his cheek. "What happened?"

"You sh-shot me…" Yuri choked out.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." Kotetsu murmured. "Are you alright?"

"No…" Yuri laughed feebly.

"Tiger! They're coming in!" Keith shouted. "I can't hold this door!"

"I loved you…" Yuri whispered.

"Yuri…" It all felt surreal to Kotetsu.

"I'm gl-glad it was you." Yuri murmured.

The door splintered and two Molotovs came bursting through. Keith shouted, covering his head defensively. Kotetsu moved quickly, grabbing Yuri's gun and firing. He shot expertly, hitting them each twice in the chest. But there was no time to breathe; two more men were pushing their way inside. Kotetsu was hit, he sucked in a deep breath, raising his gun and firing again.

"Keith, move away from that wall!" Kotetsu shouted, firing again.

"I c-can't!" Keith cried, his hands wrapped around his head.

"Crawl!" Kotetsu ordered, the room suddenly growing quiet. He searched Yuri's pockets, grabbing his cellphone. "Get in the bathroom."

"Are they dead?" Keith asked, looking around the room.

"Move, Keith." Kotetsu barked, tossing Yuri's phone to the terrified young man. "Lock the door. Get in the bathtub and call 911."

"Kotetsu…" Barnaby groaned.

Kotetsu searched the dead Molotovs' jackets, gathering their guns and magazines. Kotetsu snarled in irritation, wrapping his injured hand around Keith's collar. He dragged the shaken man across the room and dumped him unceremoniously against the porcelain tub.

"I know you're scared, Keith." Kotetsu breathed, kneeling in front of Keith. "But I need you to follow directions. Call 911. Tell them you're at the Brooks' estate. Tell them everything you know. Keep talking."

"O-Okay, T-Tiger…" Keith stammered.

"I'm locking this door behind me." Kotetsu explained gently. "Don't unlock it for anyone that the 911 dispatcher can't identify."

"Yes, Mr. Tiger." Keith nodded in understanding.

"Kotetsu…" Barnaby called, trying to sit up as Kotetsu reentered the room.

"Hold on, Bunny." Kotetsu murmured, changing out the magazine in his clip.

"Kotetsu." Barnaby repeated more urgently.

"What?" Kotetsu asked, looking up.

"It's Maverick." Barnaby said quietly.

"Oh?" Kotetsu replied kindly. "Sorry to hear that, Bunny."

"Give me a gun." Barnaby requested, finally pushing himself up into a sitting position.

Kotetsu walked the pistol over, handing Barnaby some extra magazines. "Let's flip over the bed. I can help you to the floor. Unless there's somewhere closer that you can hide..."

"I'm not hiding." Barnaby snapped, standing up, his knee cracking audibly.

"Lay back down, idiot." Kotetsu breathed. "We've probably only got a minute or less until Maverick sends people up here to kill us."

"In that case," Barnaby murmured. "I was on my way to stop you from leaving when they hit my car." Barnaby kissed Kotetsu, desperate to relay his feelings.

"Really?" Kotetsu exhaled.

"I love you." Barnaby declared, his legs shaking from the strain.

"I love you, Bunny-chan," Kotetsu whispered tenderly. "And I'm sorry, little moon rabbit."

Kotetsu knocked his hand roughly against Barnaby's neck. Barnaby crumpled into Kotetsu's arms. Kotetsu carried him around the bed, dropping to his knees. He pushed Barnaby under the bed, blocking him from view with pillows. He left one of the guns beside Barnaby, hopefully where he'd find it.

Kotetsu gathered the guns and mags and jogged from the room. He ran down the hall, sliding to a stop beside the window. He paused, squinting out the window in disbelief. Outside was a single slick-top. Ryan leaned against his car, a cigarette in hand as he chatted with one of the Brooks in charge of security.

The security guy gestured to the house and Kotetsu groaned. What the fuck was Ryan doing and did he want to fucking die? Kotetsu had no time to think, he kicked his foot through the glass, shattering the window.

The Brooks employee and Ryan looked up in surprise and Kotetsu leaned out the window. Ryan squinted, blocking his eyes from the sun with his hand. Kotetsu waved his gun around his head, firing twice and shouting, "Probable cause?"

There was another gunshot, much closer and Kotetsu lurched against the windowsill. He groaned loudly, and he knew that this bullet had pierced his Kevlar vest. Kotetsu turned around slowly, blood trickling down his back.

"Put your gun down, Tiger." Maverick ordered, waving the gun at Kotetsu threateningly.

Kotetsu exhaled heavily in frustration. "You're gonna kill me either way. I think I'll keep it."

"Yes." Maverick admitted with a nod. "I appreciate you taking Yuri out for me first. You were always a great cleaner."

"Why Barnaby?" Kotetsu asked. "Why do all of this to him?"

"He was always the one who was supposed to die." Maverick murmured. "With Junior out of the way, I would legitimately be the most powerful man in Sternbild."

"Why didn't you kill him on Christmas Eve, then?" Kotetsu pressed.

"I sent him to the Molotovs so I wouldn't have to do it myself." Maverick grunted. "And those fucking useless Russians couldn't even manage to kill a child."

"But you killed Barnaby and Emily, who trusted you." Kotetsu muttered in disgust.

"This is the mafia, Tiger." Maverick drawled. "You can't trust anyone."

"Drop your weapons." One of the Brooks' men shouted.

Kotetsu was now outnumbered and under-gunned. Kotetsu dropped his pistol, raising his hands into the air. "You should be ashamed of yourselves. There is nothing worse than mobsters who have no loyalty. Barnaby Brooks is your boss…"

"You know too much." Maverick said with a shrug. "Just die quietly."

Kotetsu reached behind, pulling another gun from the waistband of his pants. But he wasn't fast enough, not with Maverick's gun already trained on him. Kotetsu panicked, closing his eyes in expectation of the forthcoming pain.

There were two rapid shots, and then, a third. Kotetsu opened his eyes as he dropped to his knees. He'd been hit. He gasped, blood pumping through his vest and between his fingers. The pain was intense but then it waned and Kotetsu knew it had hit in a bad place.

Maverick and the other Brooks member fell to the ground, blood dripping between their eyes. They'd been killed, a single, perfect head shot. Kotetsu looked up in confusion, a heart-wrenching gasp escaping his lips. "You…"