Hello everyone. Sorry for the delayed chapter. Graduation is coming up and we had many Awards ceremonies. And the Memorial Day parade I'm part of is coming up so bleh, so much work to take care of. Still have exams in two weeks. XP
Anyway, I must be boring you with these pointless author's notes. Please continue and read the actual story. I hope people enjoy this one; I worked particularly hard on it.
Ah and just a quick note. Sumiko was thirteen. Taka is fifteen and Kid is seventeen.
"You're Nakamori-keibu!" Satou exclaimed and the man scoffed, closing the roof door behind him, crossing his arms in front of him.
"Yeah yeah, and what was this about a third group?"
"Why did you follow us?" She demanded.
"Teh, with that loud statement, you were practically inviting people to join you up here." Nakamori grunted, lighting a cigarette.
"S-satou-san, s-should we tell him?" Takagi whispered into her ear, glancing at the man uncertainly.
"Aa, he seems 'clean'." She whispered back and then turned to stare at the inspector.
"You know more about this case then you told the department, am I correct?" She narrowed her eyes at the slight posture change in the inspector.
"Why do you say that?" He coughed awkwardly.
"We could help if you gave us a few hints." She said casually.
"And why should I trust you?" Nakamori narrowed his eyes.
"Why shouldn't you?" She said with an equally lethal glare.
"Don't you play dumb, the missing body, it's obvious. Someone's been tampering around…." He paused and glanced around quickly and Satou and Takagi did the same, paranoia comes in helpful at times like this.
"You have a theory, Nakamori-keibu?" Takagi cleared his throat after the pause.
"I've been looking through reports. I was one of the few that were lucky enough to see the originals. I went through them last night….some details, they were missing. There were holes; someone had tried to cover up." Nakamori frowned.
"What's more….I eavesdropped on a conversation once….I heard they might try to classify his case and stop investigating. Something isn't right….there's got to be a mole…somewhere in the department." Satou and Takagi flinched at the man's deduction.
"A mole?" Satou mumbled, closing her eyes, this case was really starting to remind her of the mahjong case.
"You still haven't answered my question, what third party?" Nakamori glared pointedly, waiting for an answer.
"Ah right, remember how the tires were sniped and that's how the body was taken away?" Takagi asked and Nakamori nodded.
"A few months ago, during the Mahjong serial murder case, we were on our way to a victim's apartment….we were sniped. When we did reach the apartment….someone had already been there and it wasn't the culprit to the case." Satou sighed, running a hand through her hair.
"So, you're saying that the ones responsible for this case's sniping are the same ones that got you two?" Nakamori frowned and they nodded. The inspector sighed, putting out his cigarette, stomping on it for good measures.
"Well, it's getting late and the meeting is supposed to start again in…another five minutes. We need to bring this elsewhere. Give me your numbers and I'll give you mine. We could call and meet up somewhere another time." Nakamori reasoned and took out his cell phone. Satou and Takagi did the same. They exchanged numbers.
Takagi watched Nakamori press the numbers in, a song of beeps echoed out and he frowned. Why had that melody he heard before sound so familiar?
"Takagi-kun?" He looked up to see Satou looking at him questioningly.
"E-eh, nothing Satou-san, just thinking."
"Alright…"
"Okay, got your numbers down, the conference is starting again, let's get moving." Nakamori opened the roof door and the other two followed.
Time stopped instantly for the both of them. All they could see was the increasing puddle of crimson around the fallen girl.
They flinched when Snake looked up and grinned at them from the ground below before disappearing into the trees again.
Taka whimpered softly when Sumiko turned her bashed-in head one last time, looking up at them with pleading tired eyes.
She was trying to speak, her speech muffled by the sound of blood gurgling in her throat.
"S-Sumi…" Taka croaked with a weak smile trying to reassure her, even though he knew it wouldn't work. The girl's eyes froze, they did not close, her brown eyes kept staring at Taka and his smile broke. His lips quivered.
Kid closed his eyes and backed away from the window slowly, he really didn't want to see this anymore.
Taka was standing speechless; he continued staring at his sister's body, unmoving.
"Taka-kun…" Kid began, reaching forward to touch the other teen's shoulder. Before he could reach it, Taka turned around abruptly, his eyes screamed rage.
Without another second of hesitation he raised a fist and slammed it into Kid's face. The thief allowed himself to be hit, falling back against the wall.
A moment later, Taka pounced on him, knocking both to the floor.
"Taka-kun..." Kid said hoarsely, looking up at him with tired, empty eyes.
Taka's arms and body was trembling with anger.
"You…you…" He choked out, his hands around Kid's jacket tightened.
"I…I thought we done it. I thought we allowed Sumi to live, to escape. She almost made it! I trusted you, I went along with your plan and now…Sumi is dead, you bastard! She's dead….." Taka let his tears fall, slowly dripping down onto Kid's guilt-stricken face.
"I'm sorry…" Kid started to say.
"Sorry is not going to cut it! Sorry is not going to bring my dad or Sumiko back!" He interrupted with a yell and Kid winced.
"I know…." Kid's whisper was barely audible, he looked away from Taka.
"No you don't! If you did then my sister and dad wouldn't have died, you bastard!" Taka shouted and punched Kid again.
"Taka-kun." Kid breathed.
Another punch
"Taka-kun." He said again, a little more forcefully.
Another punch.
"TAKA!" Kid growled, grabbing the boy's fist tightly before pushing himself up, slamming his forehead into the other's. Taka backed away with a pained grunt, hands shooting up to nurse his head. There was blood on it and he frowned, he wasn't bleeding.
Looking up, he saw that cut on Kid's head had reopened and was slowly leaking out red liquid. He suddenly almost felt guilty.
"Taka…" Kid began, getting up slowly and moved closer to the other teen.
He slapped Taka across the face.
"Wha…" Taka gasped, slowly as the pain began to spread across his cheek. He looked up at the thief in disbelief.
"Taka-kun, you need to calm down. We won't be able to get anything done if you're going to be yelling and punching me every five seconds! We promised Sumiko-chan didn't we? Her last wish was for us to get out of here alive! We won't be able to fulfill that wish if we don't cooperate with each other!"
"..."
"Taka-kun…please, I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry about your father and your sister's death. I wish I could bring them back. I wish I was the one to die in their places. But I can't….the best I can do right now is get both of us out safely. Please…." He trailed of, biting his lips to keep them from quivering. He couldn't…no…he wouldn't let the other teen see him like this. See him look so defeated and tired.
"….I'm sorry." Taka gasped quietly and Kid looked up in confusion.
"What….?" The thief whispered, wiping some blood off his head.
"I said I'm sorry. This…whole time I was the one being the bastard. I was the one not cooperating. I-I'm so sorry…Sumi…tou-san...God I'm so sorry." Taka began to weep again, this time uncontrollably. He buried his face in his hands and sobbed loudly.
A pair of equally shaking arms wrapped around him awkwardly. He peeked through the cracks between his fingers and saw Kid embracing him; any expressions that could have been showing were shadowed by the thief's bangs.
"We're both sorry idiots…." Kid mumbled and Taka cried harder, mourning loudly. Kid's hug around him grew tighter.
"Sumi…" He whimpered softly as he cried.
"It'll be okay, it'll be okay." Kid whispered again, wondering if he was comforting Taka or himself.
"Heh, how cute." The two pulled away immediately in shock. They turned towards the new voice and paled.
Snake was back and was holding a revolver in one hand, smirking.
Kid could hear Taka growling besides him and automatically put an arm up and pulled the other teen behind him protectively.
"Kid, you said we'll work together." Taka whispered softly.
"Shh..." The thief replied.
"So you thought you could escape me again, eh Kid?" Snake growled and the magician only glared.
Snake sneered and shot.
"Kid!" Taka gasped as each bullet grazed pass the thief's body. One passing the cheek, another his temple and the last one pass his arm.
Kid barely moved.
"Kid, you dumbass, move." Taka pleaded desperately.
"Taka-kun, please be quiet." Kid glance back sadly, his arm firmly clamped on Taka's shoulder.
"But, he'll kill you and you said-"They both shut up as another few shots rang out. The gun was aimed at the ceiling and two bullets were embedded into it.
"Did I give permission for you to talk?" Snake growled, raising his gun again and noticed one bullet left inside. Damn, he would need to get out a new magazine.
No…wait…he paused before grinning. Maybe he wouldn't.
Kid and aka jumped slightly when the revolver landed within arm's reach in front of them. They looked up at Snake with questioning eyes. What the hell was the hitman planning?
"Pick it up." He glared at Taka threateningly, reaching into his jacket for another handgun.
Taka obeyed immediately, holding it in trembling hands, unsure what to do.
"What are you getting at Snake?" Kid growled, glancing at Taka with narrowed eyes. The boy was shaking terribly, his fingers around the trigger was tight.
"Taka-kun, calm down." He breathed softly and Taka took a deep breath and obeyed.
"Making this much more entertaining, I'm sure you boys are familiar with Russian roulette."
The two gasped loudly, staring at the gun.
"One gun, one bullet, five empty, and two boys. Perfect combination eh?" Snake chuckled at the shocked expressions.
"No…" Taka shook again and Snake growled some more.
"Either you do it or I'll kill you myself and I'm sure your mother would love to join us too."
"N-no! Don't you bring my mother into this!" Taka stammered in fear.
"Then you two better get started."
Taka trembled and spared Kid another glance before picking the gun up and placing it against his temple.
"Stop!"
Taka froze at Snake's order and looked up in confusion, what was he doing wrong? He had seen many movies; this is how you play Russian roulette…right?
"Put it in your mouth. The results will be more…entertaining."
"You sick-" Kid snarled and stopped when Snake walked up to him and pressed his gun against the cut on his forehead with force, pushing him back with a wince.
"Shut up, unless you want that failure of an inspector to be here too…along with his family." That immediately made Kid quiet. However he continued glaring at Snake silently, hands clenched into fists.
"Continue." Snake turned back to Taka, backing away to lean against the door, gun in hand.
Taka gulped before opening his mouth, staring at the gun in his hands. He lifted his hands and stuffed the muzzle and barrel in his mouth, wincing at the slight taste of gunpowder.
He closed his eyes and placed one finger on the cylinder and another on the trigger.
Spin
Click
He pulled the gun out and shuddered. The bullet hasn't killed him yet.
"Good boy, now hand it to him." Snake smiled.
He did and Kid took it in his hands.
"Don't try anything funny or you'll regret it….like last time. " Snake sneered and the image of Sumiko and her father popped into his mind. He bit his lips before opening his mouth, sticking the gun in.
The barrel tasted like gunpowder and saliva. He prepared to spin the cylinder and glared at Snake one last time.
Spin
Click
"Tch, seems like you still have that god damn luck. Well, we'll see how long you'll stay lucky." Snake muttered
"Now pass it back!" He ordered. Kid did so.
Taka placed it in his mouth yet again, shivering violently; he could feel tears beginning to creep into his vision.
Spin
Click
He handed it back to Kid quickly, as if the revolver was on fire.
Spin
Click
Kid handed it back.
This went on for a few minutes; the only noise present in the room was the sound of the cylinder being rotated and the sound of a heavenly click signaling that both players were still alive.
Snake leaned further back against the door, his gun moving to aim each time the revolver was handed to the other person.
Kid took a deep breath, trying to keep the panic from his face. He felt a drip of sweat trail down his face as the gun was thrust back into his hands.
Taka had silent tears streaming down his face. Kid closed his eyes and wished this would just end.
Spin
Click
He held in a sigh and hesitantly handed the gun back to Taka. He couldn't stand seeing the other teen like this.
"Taka-kun…" He said softly as the boy spun the cylinder.
Clack
The two froze at the slightly different sound.
Taka looked up at Kid with wide eyes; the thief mirrored the same expression.
"Taka-kun…" Kid whispered softly, with a panicked tone and Taka stared at the gun in his hands.
Taka turned to Snake, who was smiling, gun aimed at his chest. He looked away and his grip on the gun grew tighter.
He looked at Kid and smiled sadly.
"Live….for me and Sumi." Kid looked confused for half a second, then his face paled immediately in understanding, but by that time, the gun was already shoved into Taka's mouth. He gave Kid one last apologetic look.
"TAKA! Don-"
BANG
Excuse me while I go cry in a corner. Taka... T.T Sorry for any grammer or spelling mistakes, please tell me if you spot any.
Review if you want to, me work hard on this one.