Surrounded on all sides by six armed SWAT members with tasers levelled at her (and two prodding her side), Setsuna felt sick. Each time the van hit a speed-bump or a pot-hole her stomach did flip-flops along with the pain from her rib. She had to cover her mouth to stop from vomiting. It was nothing compared to how bad she felt for Konoka. The girl had committed murder. It had been on the man who had raped her and self-defence but it was still murder but Touji would have killed her. That kind of thing wasn't something someone could do so easily. Setsuna looked out the window. The police car that had arrived to take Konoka was driving alongside them. Setsuna could see her in the back seat, sub-dued and with-drawn. Her eyes were wet. Setsuna buried her face in her hands, shoulders heaving as she took a deep breath. It was too late to change things now. Way too late. At least Konoka had the option of-

"Sir we're under attack!"

Something broke, glass. The front window exploded into a million pieces and the van went into a tail-spin coming to a halt. It jerked, ramming into something before coming to a shuddering stop. Grey smoke filled the front seat. The driver was coughing. Thump. He slumped over along with the passenger. Before Setsuna could figure out what was happening more grenades shattered the window, rolling onto the floor. Gas was filling up the van fast, way too fast for them to counter. Coughing, Setsuna tumbled to the floor. Her eyes were streaming with tears and burned. The guards around her weren't doing better. They were already on the floor, wheezing and starting to cry. Then the van careened sharply, banging into something before stopping. The back doors opened and someone pulled her out.

Breaking the hand-cuffs with sheer brute strength Kaede gripped her shoulder and smiled at her, "You ok Setsuna-dono?"

"No," Setsuna wheezed, her eyes streaming.

Laughing Kaede pushed gently towards the car that was nearby, engine running.

"Let's move it Setsuna!" Mana honked from the driver seat. "I don't have all day!"

It was a sign of just how desperate Setsuna was that she was pleased to see Mana, sitting in a stolen car, as stoic as usual and just a little irritated, that she ran over without hesitation. Konoka was sitting in the backseat and some colour returned to her face when she saw Setsuna there.

"Let's move," Kaede said as she clambered into the passenger seat, shutting the door.

Mana hit the accelerator and peeled down the street, knocking aside the police car and swerving in between oncoming traffic. Kaede was opening the glove compartment calmly even as Mana almost side-swiped a Sedan from the left as she made a sharp turn into a familiar street.

Setsuna reached over taking the roll of bandages Kaede had pulled out and said, "Thanks."

"You two are all over the news. Radio, news headlines, god…you've given me more trouble these last couple of months than five years of our friendship," Mana grunted. "Don't tell me you fractured your ribs."

Setsuna tore the bandages into strips and said while glancing worriedly at Konoka, "Well I was dealing with my mother Mana. What else did you expect?"

As she finished she felt her throat constrict. Her mother…she'd shot her own mother.

Mana's eyes darted to the front mirror and she said in a softer voice, "Have you settled everything with her?"

"…More or less," Setsuna nodded.

Sirens blared in the air behind them, police.

"Take another route," Kaede told Mana.

Mana spun the car into a U-turn, making Setsuna almost fly out the window and drop the roll of bandages. Getting her bearings back she turned with her back to Konoka, slipping off her kimono and worked quickly, wrapping layers around her chest where it hurt quickly. Her back stung as the bandage touched the place where the bullet had hit her. Crunch. Mana barrelled through the oncoming police car with such force it spun side-ways before hitting a street-light. The other cars veered to the side. That was when Setsuna noticed two back-packs stashed underneath Kaede's seat, a passport book poking out.

"Mana…where are we going?" Setsuna asked.

"You'll find out," Mana replied. She added, "Konoe doesn't have to go. She's not that deep into this…yet."

"What?" Konoka finally spoke, her eyes shifting back into focus. "What do you mean?"

"You're clean unlike us," Mana said.

"Mana…she shot Touji," Setsuna said. "He's paralysed for life."

Mana's eyes flicked to the front-view mirror. She said, "Really?"

"I didn't mean to," Konoka said numbly. "He-He was going to kill me."

"Self-defence. I think you'll be able to convince the courts of that. Nothing's going to happen ," Mana chuckled, "Listen just go back to your ordinary life and forget this ever happened. You don't belong here anyway."

Konoka's eyes seemed to burn with something bright, intense. Setsuna had an image of Minami, Konoka's mother from the photograph and suddenly she could feel a sense of déjà vu. A trickle of fear rolled down her spine. This was what she'd been trying to avoid. And now…

"That's not true," Konoka said quietly.

Something impressed Mana because her eyes glittered darkly.

"I…my father he…he and my mother. I'm not going to make the same mistake my mother did," Konoka said.

Mana started to grin slowly. It was one of the rare genuine grins that Setsuna saw only when Kaede had complimented her on her work or when they hugged each other.

"Very well then," Mana chuckled.

She fished something out from her pocket-a folded up slip of paper and passed it to Setsuna. The sirens disappeared into the distance. Setsuna opened it. It was an address.

"What's this for?" Setsuna asked.

"It's the address to a friend in Hawaii, Honolulu. Go there she'll be the only person in house. Just tell her I sent you both there for work. She's a CIA Agent ex-patriate of Italy Venice and goes by the name of Rainyday. If she's not around, just ask the locals where she is," Mana replied.

"How are you friends with a CIA Agent?" Setsuna asked.

"I helped her stop an illegal drug ring that was operating in Venice last year when you were in Osaka," Mana said. "It was in my best interests. Nevertheless, I had information she needed. We had some friendly meetings. She discovered what I do for a living. We stayed in touch."

"So you guys are…friends?"

"Sometimes," Mana said wryly. "It depends on how we meet."

"Then how can Konoka and I-?"

"Oh she won't mind. As long as you two say you were sent to work for her by me she won't ask any questions," Mana chuckled.

Setsuna wanted to ask her more questions but as the car hit a speed-bump, her stomach heaved. Setsuna covered her mouth feeling her insides wriggle.

When the nausea had passed Setsuna said shakily, "What kind of work would she have us doing?"

"Oh I don't know," Mana said, "Perhaps under-cover operative for you and something less dangerous where she won't be recognized for Konoe like a bar-tender or a maid."

Kaede passed something to her, two back-packs. Setsuna rifled through them. There were two pass-ports in one, two wallets and a long black wig, a container of gel and something that looked like contact lens in a plastic bag and a small bottle of cleaner in the other. Setsuna pulled out the passports and wallets. One had a picture of Setsuna on it but with her hair down and a regular pony-tail that was much curlier with spiky bangs sweeping her left eye. The other had a picture of Konoka but with black hair and light blue eyes. Beside the picture of Setsuna it had the name "Akira Ryoma" beside it and for Konoka the name said "Alessandra Esperante". With dawning realization Setsuna looked from the things inside the bag to the passports. They were tools for a complete makeover, a disguise. A whole new life.

"Mana you…" Setsuna said slowly, feeling a rush of gratitude.

"Don't think I'm helping you. Honestly you're getting far too expensive to keep around these days and I don't want think even your expenses from work from me will cover your living costs so I organized this to get you out of my hair. I'm not coming over there if you get into trouble again."

"They're setting up a blockade up ahead," Kaede said.

Mana hit the accelerator and veered sharply to the right, ramming into the police car that was coming dangerously close up beside them. It hit the lamplight and went into a tailspin, colliding with a parked car with a noisy crunch.

As she took an abrupt left turn into an empty street, Setsuna opened the paper, "So Hawaii?"

"Yep,"

"Why Hawaii?"

"Look up ahead."

Setsuna did. They were at the warehouse with the crates stacked in front. Mana sped for the side of the warehouse, screeching to a halt taking the key out and cut the engine. They were tucked safely in the shadows and near the ocean. There, docked at the pier was the freight ship that carried oil supplies en route from Japan to Hawaii and it was ready to go.

"No way," Setsuna said, starting to grin.

"I believe Honolulu is a nice place to go at this time of the year," Mana remarked, gazing out across the sea. "Of course, you two are going to have to hide and steal some food. It's a one week journey. Be smart, stay out of trouble because you're on your own."

"Have I ever told you how much I love you Mana?" Setsuna grinned at her.

"No actually and frankly I'd prefer you not to," Mana replied with a wry look. "Now get lost."

Setsuna climbed out of the car, pulling out the two back-packs and pushed the pass-ports inside. Leaning in she said, "Thanks….for everything."

Mana waved her hand lightly, glancing at Setsuna with a ghost of a smile, "I can't let you two run out on me after all when you both have debts to repay me. Konoe still owes me a bike and you owe me a new computer."

"You're a mercenery all the way huh?" Setsuna laughed. She shut the door, knocking on it and helped Konoka out.

"Oh Setsuna, I've changed my mind. Get me a laptop instead of a computer once you've settled over

there. I'll send someone to pick it up," Mana said.

"I'll get you the best one," Setsuna grinned. To Konoka she said, "Come on."

The sirens were getting closer. Konoka looked scared, nervous. Setsuna stopped at the edge of the pier near the metal chains that were dropped from the port holes, one on each side, in the hull. They were connected to the two anchors below that docked the ship.

"We got to climb up the chains," Setsuna told her. As she jumped into the water keeping the back-packs zipped and out of the water, Konoka looked back over her shoulder, apprehensive.

Setsuna was climbing up the left chain like a pro holding the two back-packs over her shoulder. Within seconds she'd reached the top and getting a steady grip on the edge, swung over. There was a thud then Setsuna poked her head over the edge, gazing down at Konoka waiting.

"Konoka, hold on a moment!" Kaede called, jogging over to her. She was carrying something in her arms, a simple yellow dress with straps, really short shorts, a short-sleeved blouse and sandals, "I took some clothes for you and Setsuna. I assume that you both need a change in order to fit with your disguises."

Konoka didn't know what to say, stunned. Then she hugged Kaede, "Thank you Kaede for everything. You and Mana."

"Konoka, are you coming or not?!" Setsuna yelled.

The cargo ship was starting to move. They heard a grinding noise which must have been the anchor being hoisted up.

"Konoka!" Setsuna was looking at her desperately. "If you're going to come, now's the time!"

"You're going to be trialled for first degree murder no matter what. There is no turning back now," Kaede told her gently.

Setsuna kept on checking over her shoulder for any sign of the crew on board. In the distance she heard the wail of police sirens. '

"Your grand-father would want you to live," Kaede placed a hand on her. She kind of looked sad but before Konoka could ask her why Mana whistled from the car.

"Kaede…" Konoka started. "Thank you."

Kaede patted her back and disentangled herself from Konoka saying, "No need. Now go quickly before you run out of time."

Konoka hesitated just for a split second then Setsuna shouted her name again as the ship began to groan. She jumped in, trying to keep the clothes out of the water as much as possible and swam towards the chain. Putting her hands on the chain of the left anchor she began to climb up as fast as she could.

"Just hold on don't let go!" Setsuna disappeared over the edge.

Konoka felt the chain jerk and heave upwards. She almost slipped as she glanced down. The anchor was hauling upwards, creaking. Setsuna re-appeared over the edge, holding a coil of rope and threw it down to Konoka while holding onto the other end. The ship groaned then started to move, sailing away. By the time it'd gone further out Mana and Kaede had disappeared into the distance. Her clothes clinging to her body and water running down her face Konoka wiped her eyes with her sleeve then holding onto the coil climbed the rest of the way up. Helping her over the edge Setsuna gently pulled her towards a group of crates and sat down behind them. Silently Konoka buried her head in Setsuna's shoulder and cried, choked sobs rattling her body. Setsuna whispered soothing words in her ear, stroking her back with slow, gentle strokes and they stayed like that, together just the two of them with the black night shrouding them in comforting darkness.


A.N: As I said there will be an epilogue. Cheers guys. I'll see you guys in the epilogue. Blue out-