Hugging the walls with Haru in front they reached the end of the corridor. Haru put an arm in front of her, closing his fist with one hand. It was their own private code they'd made up together when they were kids for "freeze, shut up and be quiet". He stuck his head around the corner while Setsuna tried to quell down the weirdness she felt. It'd been years since they'd been together for more than five minutes without breaking out into some kind of fight. It'd been even longer when they'd just been with each other and worked together. It felt nice.
"Guards all the way up the stair-case and the top. 20 altogether," Haru reported, ducking back around.
"That shouldnt' be a problem," Setsuna said.
"I'm not worried about them. It's what's inside her room. There's got to be something inside I bet there'll be traps inside," Haru shook his head.
Setsuna shifted the sword in her hands to the sharp side. It was difficult holding it in the state her hands were in right now. She couldn't afford to give anyone a chance to disarm or hurt her.
"We can blitz the guards, break the door. I'll take care of the traps," Haru told her.
"That's the best option," Setsuna said, considering.
"On three," Haru tensed, preparing to run.
"Where's Touji and Kiyoko?"
"She's with some Inuoue and a few of the others they're at Sawada's place. Touji's hit one of the clubs. He's not a problem," Haru said, "Really I think he's finally snapped."
"You couldn't tell?" Setsuna said in a low voice but she was smiling slightly, good-natured teasing in her tone.
Haru gave her a dry look, "Funny I thought you didn't have a sense of humour." Setsuna punched him. Haru reached out, ruffling her hair and said grinning, "Come on little sis."
He dove out from behind the wall into the foyer. Bullets peppered the air. Setsuna waited, counting five seconds inside her head before plunging after him into the landing. Yakuza members were already lying face-down or on their sides on the carpet near the bottom of the stairs, unconscious. Haru was halfway up the stair-case, mowing down men who were coming down at him with swords with swift sword strokes. His blade was a blur as he moved, taking them down easily one by one. He was using the blunt edge of his sword to attack vital parts like the neck, back of the legs, chest, their wrists to force them to drop their weapons and back of the head and vital nerve spots to render them unconscious.
The men behind the top banister were firing at him, having not noticed Setsuna yet and he switched his sword to the sharp side to cleave the bullets in two leaving broken shells littering the leapt onto the aisle of the stair-case, vaulting into the men who formed a line behind the banister. As she landed, she swung cutting the wrist off the man who was about to fire at her with his Magnum. Screaming as his hand dropped to the floor Setsuna hit him in the back of the head with the butt of Yuunagi. He crumpled to the floor. Setsuna parried the bullets that were fired from the other men, deflecting them with one second swings that Kiyoko had taught her and Haru. Within seconds the rest of the men were on the floor, still and unmoving from the bullets that had either penetrated their brains through their eyes or drilled straight into their heart when they'd ricocheted off Yuunagi. Further down the hall was a room. That's where Konoka would be.
"Haru let's move!" Setsuna called, glancing down at him quickly.
One last man who was standing had managed to get him in a headlock. His lip was bleeding and blood was gushing out from one eye. Haru stamped on his shiny leather-shoe covered feet. Setsuna heard bones breaking, saw the guy loosen his hold just a little. It was enough for Haru to clasp one arm, haul him forwards and snap his neck like an eggshell. He fell to the floor, his head bent unnaturally. Cracking his neck Haru looked up at Setsuna, doing a quick scan of the dead yakuza surrounding her.
"You got all of them?" Haru asked. It was deadly quiet now so even though he wasn't speaking loudly she could hear him just fine.
Setsuna looked down at the man whose hand was lying two feet away from the rest of his body. Blood pumped out of his wrist, spilling out onto the carpet. Setsuna kicked the gun away, slashing it in half. He could wake up and if he still had the gun while they were inside it could turn out pretty bad.
"More or less," Setsuna replied.
"Great," Haru said. He made his way through the bodies, up to where Setsuna was, slipping his hand into his jacket pocket.
Setsuna was heading down to the door at the end of the corridor but she listened to what Haru was going to say. She'd be a fool to trust him completely. He was still loyal to the yakuza, to their mother.
"Whoa," Haru said.
"What?" Setsuna looked back at him, apprehensive.
"That was Inuoue. He screwed up got the attention of the police when mother was trying to kidnap Sawada by making the guy scream," Haru clicked the phone shut.
"How many hideouts does he know anyway?"
"Just one remember the shack down on 5th street near that cemetery she used when we were kids she got us to hide all the cocaine in?"
"Yeah and?"
"That's one of the major hit points. He knows about it and we're screwed if the police link it up to us."
"You're being pretty open here," Setsuna said, examining the door of the room. It was reinforced steel.
Haru swiped a crowbar that was lying on the floor near a room marked "Storage Room" and tossed it to Setsuna who caught it but only just, managing to hold it in between her hands. Shrugging he said, "Doesn't matter. I'm a traitor I'm probably going to die anyway."
"So this is self-preservation?"
Haru gave her a look, "Why do you have to call it that? I'm saving your lives here."
Setsuna patted his shoulder then jammed the crowbar inside the gap before it closed. Beside her Haru performed three quick slashes. The door and crowbar fell to pieces onto the floor. Setsuna scanned the room then she saw Konoka.
"Ojou-sama!" Setsuna ran to her.
"Wait Setsuna, the traps!" Haru shouted.
"It's ok there aren't any," Setsuna said. But as she got closer to Konoka, her hand touched the top of the dressing table and pressed it. It was a square button set inside the surface of the table itself
There was a hissing noise and smoke began to fill the room. Putting her hand to her mouth Setsuna hurried onto the bed. Konoka was on the bed without any clothes on, staring blankly at the wall.
"Get her and run Setsuna. It's tear gas!" Haru began to back out of the room, his arm to his nose and mouth.
"Ojou…Kono-chan?" Setsuna searched her eyes desperately. They didn't seem to see her. Swearing she pulled the bedsheet from her hands and started to drape it around her gently, tying it so firmly it covered her body, "It's going to be ok now. I'll protect you."
"Setsuna hurry up!"
Setsuna started to lift her up but as soon as she touched her Konoka shrunk away. When Setsuna tried again she lashed out wildly, catching her in the jaw with a fist. Setsuna's head snapped to the side. Konoka was backing away fearfully.
"Please, Kono-chan please we have to go now," Setsuna pleaded.
Her eyes were darting this way and that and she was whispering something over and over.
"Setsuna move it I can hear a car pulling up!" Haru shouted from the door.
Setsuna made her way around the bed, keeping a friendly look on her face, "It's me. Can't you recognize me? I'm not going to hurt you."
Konoka watched her terrified, clenching the bed-sheets. Setsuna reached out with a hand. Something clicked in her eyes and they began to clear then Haru was suddenly there, dragging Konoka off the bed.
"No!" Setsuna yelled as Konoka began to scream, pummelling him and scratching at him with her fingers. Shoving Haru away and clutching the front of his shirt she jerked him towards her Setsuna snarled low in her throat, "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"We're running out of time we have to move!"
Throwing him away furiously Setsuna turned back to Konoka and bent down to her. She was clinging to the bed-post.
"Any minute now she's going to come back with Touji and the rest of them. We can't take her on and the others at the same time. Just pick her up and go!" Haru snapped, getting up from the floor.
Konoka hit her as she pried her off the bed post, screaming. Setsuna slung her over her shoulder, trying to ignore her kicks that were getting her in the ribs and sides. Haru was already out the door. Setsuna followed, ducking so she didn't hit Konoka's head on the top. They ran down the stairs past the dead bodies. As Setsuna followed him through the living room into the kitchen Konoka bit her shoulder. Setsuna almost dropped her then but biting down on her tongue, crashed out through the screen door into the mansion grounds. They were outside where a row of pot plants lined the close to the wall Haru walked down, peering around the corner. Setsuna followed but when Konoka swiped at her face, close to taking her eyes out with her fingernails and pitched forwards involuntarily Setsuna lost her grip and dropped her. Hitting the ground, she picked up a pot plant and threw it at Setsuna as the latter tried to touch her. Dodging Setsuna tackled her up against the wall, an elbow against her throat. It was meant to bring her back to reality or stun her long enough for Setsuna to try to talk to her.
"I'm not going to hurt you. You're ok now you're with friends," Setsuna said, her face softening. She kept her voice cool, soothing. "Can you understand that?"
Konoka shoved her away but Setsuna held her arms, keeping her where she was.
"We're ok for now," Haru said, still checking for threats or danger.
Konoka was squirming harder so much that she was in danger of hurting herself as her hands and legs were lashing out everywhere.
"Ojou…Konoka! Konoka look at me! Listen to me you're safe, you're ok," Setsuna shook her, not letting go of her arms. "Listen, concentrate on my voice. Just concentrate, can you do that for one second?"
She thrashed harder, whining. Scared Setsuna let her go. Konoka tried to run but Setsuna grabbed her, pulling her back down to the ground towards her and held both her arms in place so she wouldn't get up again. She waited until she'd stopped moving, eyes locked onto hers. "It's ok. You're ok you're safe now no one's going to hurt you,"
Konoka stopped suddenly. Her eyes cleared then she buried her face in Setsuna's chest, breaking out into sobs. Setsuna hugged her close, feeling her insides twist as Konoka bunched up the fabric of her clothes in her hands. She stroked her back slowly.
"It's going to be ok," Setsuna said softly, closing her eyes.
"No it's not," Haru said, his face tight, "We got company."
