Ikuto POV
I was positive this would all happen in a very cliché like manner. First we'd wander through the dark basement and then a series of events would happen causing either Amu or Kukai to fall prey into the hands of Kyou. I'm pretty sure if it was to happen, it'd be Amu seeing how Kukai has more experience in this type of stuff. Anyways, the bad guy, Kyou would somehow communicate with us telling us our friends are with him. Angry, we'd storm up and somehow easily find him, even though we'd spent hours trying to get a single clue to his whereabouts. Kain and I save Amu or Kukai and defeat Kyou. Then the four of us would find the kids – problem solved.
Okay, so it wasn't like I was acting like I knew everything or that I was the strongest on my team, which I'm not. I just know what the out come will turn out like because I've been on cases like this hundreds of times before. However, even though that thought circled around my mind, that didn't mean I could just relax on the job because I'd figured what would happen in the end. My top priority was to find Kyou.
It really was dark though, pitch black to be exact. The only light there was, was the flame from my lighter. And God only knew when the oil for that would empty out. I sighed; this was going slower than I imagined it would. Every step of the way, we would have to stop so I could circle our small light around the proximity of the area to make sure there weren't any traps or such.
"This is so stupid!" exclaimed Kain for the twentieth time since we'd gotten down here.
"Relax; you're supposed to be searching for anything that could lead us to Kyou quicker."
"Easier said than done, especially when it takes five minutes to search a little square of space."
I ignored his comment knowing if I answered back it was only adding fuel to the fire.
"You think they'd put in a light switch."
"There probably is one," I replied feeling a sense of annoyance perk up.
For a period of time it was silent, I continued to search around for any sort of hint and Kain – well I'm not sure what exactly Kain was doing. I'm not going to say I was tired at this point, but I wasn't all too enthusiastic at finding anything at the moment. Mainly, it was stacks of boxes filled with all sorts of props and costumes lying around just like how it would've been before the opera house became abandoned.
When I noticed the flame from the lighter begin to flicker and then dim I stopped. I continued to watch the flame grow smaller and smaller until it altogether ceased to glow.
"Do not tell me that the light just went out?"
"It went out," I answered in a monotone voice as I threw the lighter as I far as I could.
The only other option I really had was the bunny lighter Amu had gotten me. Seeing how I had no further option, I began to fish through my pocket for the lighter.
"Did you hear that?"
In his voice I detected some fear, but I decided not to really think about it. Was he scared of the dark or something?
"No."
Where the hell was my lighter?
"Ikuto, I swear I heard footsteps."
"You're imagining it, because if it was real I would've heard it as well."
He didn't answer letting me know he was somewhat satisfied with my answer. With much luck, I finally got a grasp on the lighter and pulled it out. My finger rested on the familiar dial and just as I turned it on something clamped over my mouth. The flame only lit up for a second before it was knocked out of my hand – and in that one second I could just hardly make out the face of a man.
Realizing what was going on and what must've happened to Kain I began to struggle. Anything I could do at the moment seeing how my hands were gripped from behind, I kicked at the knee of the person who had grabbed me. I felt him lose his balance, and if that was enough I'd be able to pull my hands free and get this cloth off. It didn't work, and I immediately felt my senses weaken and my legs give out.
"Goodnight."
So much for the cliché like manner in which these events were supposed to happen I thought grimly as my vision went black.
Amu POV
"What if we don't find him?"
"Stop with the 'What ifs'. We'll find him."
"Okay."
Slightly embarrassed, I closed my fingers over the handle of the gun tighter. Kukai's excitement had died out immediately after we parted from Ikuto and Kain. He was all serious now. I wasn't sure whether to be relieved or more nervous. Or, maybe he is excited because before we separated from them, Ikuto pulled Kukai aside and whispered something into his ear. Perhaps that's what caused this serious side of him to emerge.
"Seeing how this is your first mission like this, I'll fill you on some tips. Staying focused is key here. You have to search everything and hear for any tiny sound."
"Okay."
He was right; there was no need for me to fill my thoughts up with 'What if' or other things. But it's not like there was anything to search for as we walked through the aisles of seats. Ikuto and Kain got assigned the underground basement where they'd likely be hiding. If that wasn't enough, it was dark with the exception being a few flickering lights and a window or two that spared a ray of sunlight to shine through. We finished walking through the first seating section and climbed up the stairs to the second section. It was then, I heard a little chime.
I froze and slowly turned around expecting Kyou himself to be standing right there in front of me, his dark eyes smiling maliciously as he raised the gun to my chest. However, in reality I was only greeted by the darkness. My heart pounded within its cage. I sucked in a deep breath to calm myself; it was then where I noticed I couldn't see Kukai anymore. So much for my self calming session, because I could hardly breathe anymore. Did they take him? Or did he leave me?
"Kukai?" I whimpered.
There was no answer leading me to a state of panic.
"Kukai!" I screamed.
"Over here!" he exclaimed.
His voice was coming from above me, confused I looked up to see him on the third floor with a worried yet slightly amused smile on his face. I closed my eyes shut in relief, before running up the steps to catch up to him. He took a minute to analyze me, his gaze stopping on my hands which had gripped the gun so hard they were turning white and the fact they were shaking. Kukai brought his hand to mine to stop the shaking.
"Maybe you should stay outside-
"No!" I exclaimed pulling my hands out of his grasp. "I'm Amu Hinamori. When I was 10 I was known as a child criminal – and it's just that I've been out of this type of lifestyle for a while now. I'll be fine."
He stared at me right in the eye, as if contemplating his decision.
"Fine. One question though, did you even hear me when I told you we where heading to the third floor?"
"No, but I heard this chime."
"Chime? I didn't hear a chime."
Obviously I was imagining it, but it sounded so real.
"Never mind."
Kukai gave me a concerned look but I only smiled at him letting him know I was okay even though the sound of the chime was still echoing in my head. So maybe after hearing the chime, I was a bit paranoid keeping me on high alert the entire time. For example, when something brushed by my ankle on the fourth floor I nearly screamed and almost pulled the trigger to my gun. I must've also been hallucinating, the chime and the children's laughter. Well Kukai heard that sound too.
"Sit down and enjoy the show."
Both Kukai and I froze. I whirled around, checking for the presence of someone, but no one was there. An intercom maybe?
"Kukai what should we do?" I whispered as calmly as possible.
"We should probably sit down, but close to the exit."
We took the closest seats to the exit on the fourth floor.
"Oh no no," the voice chuckled. "I want our guests to have front row seats. Come on down, I insist."
Kukai cursed while we walked down the steps all the way down to the first floor.
"Don't you think refreshments would be pleasant right now?" he asked the minute we were seated in front of the large stage.
"Cut the crap!" shouted Kukai in full rage. "Where the fuck are you?"
He chuckled leaving me to search around the room for his figure. Instead what I saw were two small children with orange-brown hair carrying a tray full of food and drinks. When they were just a foot away from us, I saw their eyes – these beautiful hazel eyes that were dull and unhappy. Ichiro and Hikari.
"Kukai don't they look like-
"The kids from the orphanage? Yeah."
They held up the tray in front of us as if asking us 'What would you like?'
"They don't speak Japanese. Take your food."
Kukai grabbed a little bag of candy a bit cautiously but I was hesitant. What if he'd snuck drugs in them?
"For god sakes, will you just grab something?"
I grabbed the bag from out of Kukai's hand and opened the perfectly sealed package. I took a whiff, but it smelled perfectly of chocolate. The texture was how it was supposed to be, meaning it was rubbed in drugs and nothing was sprinkled over it – meaning… With my fingernail, I cut the small circular candy in open and instead of being greeted by the chocolate filling; it was filled with a powdery white substance. My suspicions had been confirmed.
"You drugged them."
"Silly girl-
"Don't lie, I know you drugged them. I'm not sure with what but they're drugged."
He didn't respond, and I knew I was right. Even Kukai was staring at me with astonishment; he probably knew something was wrong but since I was a beginner at this he didn't expect me to get it so quickly.
"You're pretty sharp. Go back to your rooms children."
Hikari and Ichiro gave me an apologetic look that melted my heart before they silently marched up and disappeared into the darkness.
"Amu, how'd you know it was drugged?"
"You didn't?"
"Well, it's not like I'd started to check it or anything, but I was pretty suspicious. Now how'd you figure it out so quickly?"
"It wasn't that hard actually, I checked the smell and texture to make sure nothing had been sprinkled over it and if it hadn't been rubbed on anything. After that was done, I was slightly suspicious over the fact that something could be in it. And I was right, a white powder."
"You know, you're pretty sharp Hinamori."
"It only comes from being a child criminal. I just wonder, what do you think the powder could've been?"
"A sleeping drug."
"Sleeping drug? Why would you give us that?" I demanded.
"That isn't your concern."
"Whatever. Can we go now?"
"No. It's time for the show."
When the room went pitch black, I immediately tightened my hold over the gun, and then the lights on the stage, one by one turned on. A deep red, more of a wine like color curtain was drawn across the stage hiding whatever he had in store for us. It was faint, but you could definitely make out the sound of an opera playing in the background.
Okay, now I was curious. Just what was he hiding?
The lights slowly dimmed as the curtain began to rise, making it harder to make out just what was hiding in the darkness of the shadows. I could just barely make out two heads, and they were sitting back to back. Right or not, I wasn't sure, but I knew for a fact it was two people. When the lights snapped back on in a flash, I stared at the stage wide eyed.
"No fucking way," mumbled Kukai in shock as he slowly edged closer in his seat.
I was thinking along the same lines; Ikuto and Kain sitting back to back. They were tied up viciously by a thick rope, their mouths sealed with duck tape, and their eyes closed. And then my eyes fastened on the small rectangular prism that had a red flashing light blinking madly – the numbers were evident. Dynamite?
"Ikuto! Kain!" I screamed lunging out of my chair to get the device off them.
"Uh uh uh, sorry, there won't be any autograph signing till the end."
A small cage fell on top of them, trapping them inside their own prison until they died. My hands shook in anger, how could he be so evil and do this to them? Kukai followed me onto the stage, and just kept staring in disbelief.
"Why the hell are you doing this?"
"Because you have something I have."
"What?"
Only silence answered me.
"WHAT?" I screamed feeling the anger boil inside me viciously.
"Amu calm down," said Kukai laying a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"Calm down? Look at them, they've been drugged and they're going to die Kukai."
"They won't die, not until we do something about it. Let's go."
I nodded, but my focus was on the two of them.
"Remember, you promised me. And people keep their promises, okay? You have to."
I didn't expect them to answer, and I didn't expect them to hear me. It was just one of those things I had to say. One last glance at them I told myself; I'd told that to myself eight times in the last minute.
"Come on, the sooner we go, the sooner we can capture Kyou and get Ikuto and Kain out of there."
One last look and I turned my back, walking away from the stage.
Now it was a matter of finding him on time, which is kind of a difficult task at the moment. My heart is pounding so loud, I can hardly concentrate on where I'm going – all I can do at this point is trust Kukai. Well at least I could, that was before we separated. It's still fairly dark, resulting in a couple fumbles and trips from me. Not to mention it feels like I'm stuck in a maze.
No kidding.
We go all the way up through the aisle and enter this door. It was a pretty straight forward path at first, until we came to an almost dead end. There was a left and there was a right. Kukai decided it would be best to split up from here. So he takes the right, leaving me to go left.
It's at this point, I feel like I'm going in circles. Hell, I'm not even sure I am right now. It almost resembled the larger stage where Ikuto and Kain are currently being held but not entirely. There were also two mirrors that took up the entire wall. This was also the only room that had full and complete lighting, which is what tempted me to go in it in the first place.
There was a box sitting near the stage labeled 'TRASH' in big, red block letters. With curiosity taking over, I peered into the box to find a whole collection of dolls – just like the one I'd found in Kyou's house and had Noelle's name at the foot of it. I began taking off shoes like it was some mad frenzy, checking the sole of every doll's foot. And sure enough, my suspicions had been confirmed, these were all Noelle's. Why were her things here too?
With suspicions hovering, I grabbed one of the dolls and left the room.
"Tell me Amu, what would you do if I started the timer on the dynamite?"
"I'd shoot you right in the face."
"My, I do love your sense of humor."
"Prick."
He chuckled menacingly, but it had no effect on me especially in my current state of rage.
"I'll keep them alive for a bit longer – just for you."
"Thanks."
"You know, I've been dreaming of you lately."
"Pedophile."
"Most people wouldn't dare insult someone who could kill their friends in an instant."
"Again, I'm not like most people."
"Don't worry; I'll let you off the hook. You interest me."
"Lucky me," I answered, sarcasm dripping from my voice.
"I'd been dreaming about how I would finally take your life."
"You must have a lot of spare time."
I stopped at the dead end – once more it was a tough decision between left and right.
"Hardly – it's right."
"You can see me?"
"Of course. You see that flickering light in the corner, that's a camera."
I turned around to spot the flickering light, unable to wrap my mind around the fact that it was a camera. Knowing he was watching me for a fact, I decided on an impulse to flip him off before pulling out my gun and shooting the thing down.
"I love violent women."
"Good, because this woman is going to very violent when it comes to you," I growled.
There was a pause, allowing me to think out my next moves.
"Do you even know what I look like? Because if you don't, it'll prove tough to find me."
"Please, I know better than anyone else what you look like."
"Studied my picture?"
"Please, it practically made me sick the way you started to flirt with me at the brothel. And the fact that I practically wanted to punch myself in the face when I flirted back. We were literally inches apart."
"When?"
"At the brothel, in the elevator."
"That was you?"
I had to say, it felt pretty damn good to know I'd outsmarted him in something. Feeling very pleased, I smiled into space.
"Yeah. Hard to believe?"
"Very. I mean you're practically flat chested."
I frowned, I mean I know I wasn't the 'bustiest' woman out there. I was hardly a 'B' cup but I wasn't insecure about my body. Sure I wish the girls were a bit bigger, but I have what I have. Now having some pedophile creep of a criminal tell me what I had and what I didn't – well that didn't suit well with me at all.
"It's called a push-up bra, bastard."
"I honestly don't think there's anything to push up."
"Fuck off."
"Gladly."
Knowing the son of a bitch was finally gone, I finally breathed in a breath of relief. Now for this little game of hide and seek.
Author's Note
Hello my lovely readers ~ I hope you've been feeling well because well I feel like shit right now. I promise quicker updates, and the day after I get a stomach flu. And if you've ever experienced one before you know it feels like the worst thing imaginable. I won't say I get them regularly because I don't, but they do come every once in a while – but I've got to say, this was beyond the worst one imaginable.
I decided I'd type up this chapter as quick as I can before the pain comes back, because I swear the pain is a bitch :/
Lalalala~ Yes okay so I drugged Kain and Ikuto on a whim. Kyou's a prick. Kukai's gone for the moment. And Amu is pissed. I'm not too keen on the idea of having Kyou communicate through an intercom type of thing, but it just happened, and it just happened to turn out pretty well. So yes.
Thanks so much for the reviews. I couldn't have asked for such better reviewers. I was actually reading a story on fictionpress and this author had this really cute idea where she listed all the people who reviewed in the last chapter, and so I decided to do that as well :DDD I'm actually going to make this a permanent thing on all my chapters from now on, and I kind of wish I'd found this story earlier so I could've done it from the start of Scars Hidden.
But thank you to:
Kuro Hime Mitsukai, XeMi-ChIx, kisshu-ichigo, alchemistlover14, aznpride16xxx, alyssangel15, and Foxgrl18
Thanks a bundle :DDD
Read~Review~Enjoy
Neko-Meme