A/N - I don't own these characters.

Chapter 14

While it wreaked havoc on her sleep schedule, Candace actually preferred flying the red-eye. There were fewer people to deal with and many on the plane, including disgruntled children, would drift to sleep. She found it far more peaceful. So when she found herself rushing back to Tokyo sooner than anticipated she had not hesitated to book a seat on the last flight out of France.

Just as she had anticipated, the son of the syndicate leader had been slimy, shady, and all too willing to play along with their ruse as long as his gambling debts were handled. The sneer that had twisted the young man's face had made her despise him the moment her eyes had met his. If he was an example of what his family was like, they were truly a despicable lot.

After messaging the kids to let them know of her safe return, she had retrieved her car from short-term parking and headed for the address Rei had given her. She had decided earlier that morning that she would go straight to Sachiko upon her return. She owed Yumi that much at least.

After a shorter than normal commute, thanks to the reduced flow of the very early morning traffic, she pulled in front of a clean and respectable-looking dojo. Confirming the location, she moved on, parked a block and a half away, and then walked back. It would only draw unwanted attention if a dark SUV parked in front of the dojo.

Hefting a small duffle, she rounded the dojo, crossed through an opening in some hedges, and made straight for the door to the residence hidden beyond. Knocking swiftly, she waited. The slap of slippers behind the door signaled someone's approach. Moments later, the door cracked open to reveal strands of mussed blonde hair and a wary eye peeking out.

"Candace-san!" Rei exclaimed, throwing the door wide and motioning for her to enter.

Stepping over the threshold, Candace instinctively surveyed the room. It was simple, clean, and clear of any obvious threats. A moment later, her eyes fell on a sleeping Sachiko, hunkered against an arm of the furthest couch. From how she was sitting it was obvious that exhaustion had been what drove her to sleep.

Yoshino was sitting quietly on the opposite couch, eyes set on Sachiko, completely unmoving. Stepping to her side, Candace lowered her duffle to the floor and then rested a comforting hand atop Yoshino's braided hair. "Don't you fret, Yoshino-chan. Sachiko-sama will be fine."

After a long moment, Yoshino looked up, uncertainty in her eyes. "If Yumi doesn't come back, she won't be."

Tapping her on her nose, Candace summoned the best smile she could muster. "Well, you needn't worry 'bout that. I'll be going to find her myself and I promise that I'll bring her back."

"What condition will she be in though?" Rei's words were a mere whisper from across the room, yet they all heard her clearly.

Feeling a twinge of guilt, Candace shook her head. "That I cannae say. There is a good chance that she'll be treated well since she's a bargaining chip for 'em."

"There is also a chance she won't even make it back." They all turned to Sachiko, who sat glaring at Candace from the couch. "Isn't that right, Candace-san?" She stood from the couch and slowly approached the older woman. "If they discover that she lied about her identity they will have no need to keep her alive, let alone safe. Isn't that right?" She stopped right in front of Candace and waited for her response.

Lowering her head slightly, Candace nodded and closed her eyes as she responded. "I won't lie. That is a possibility." Before she could say more, a loud crack sounded as Sachiko's hand collided with Candace's cheek.

Rei gasped in surprise while Yoshino sat wide-eyed without a sound. When Sachiko raised her hand again, it was Rei who stepped forward and restrained her. "No, Sachiko-chan. This isn't right."

"Isn't right?" Sachiko spat the words, looking between the silent Candace and Rei with fire in her eyes. "What's not right is the fact that Yumi is in danger because of me. What's not right is that Yumi and Candace planned this all behind my back! What's not right is that my damnable family continues to stampede over my life at every turn!"

Immense sadness showed in Candace's eyes as she motioned for Rei to let Sachiko go. "It's alright. I deserved that. Afta all, it was my plan that has placed the girl she loves in danger." Sachiko's eyes flashed in warning, but Candace continued. "Donnae be shy, Sachiko-sama. We all know it. You've admitted it to each of us with either your words or your actions." Rei opened her mouth to stop Candace, but Sachiko herself waved her off.

"It's okay." Sachiko said, despite her continued glare toward the Scottish woman. "She's right. You all know how I feel about Yumi. Yet, despite what you may think," She pressed a firm and unyielding finger to Candace's chest, right below her neck. "I would feel just as angry and distraught if any of my friends had made this sacrifice for me. Yumi is special to me, yes. I am done denying that." She narrowed her eyes and moved away. "I'm also done with far more than that."

She didn't explain further, merely moved away toward the kitchenette and retrieved a glass of water. When she was finished she asked, "What is your plan to rescue Yumi?"

"I cannae explain at the moment." When Sachiko's shoulders tensed, she quickly added, "I simply don't have time. I only came to make sure you were safe in the meantime. Please, Sachiko-sama, try to have faith in me one last time. I will bring her home to you."

When Sachiko didn't respond, Rei quietly prompted her. "Sac-chan?"

Sighing in surrender, Sachiko raised a hand over her shoulder. "I know, Rei-chan." Turning back to the older woman she tried to soften her expression. "I know you were merely doing your job, Candace-san, but I would prefer in the future if no one else's life is placed on the line for me."

Candace hesitated, but then shook her head. "I'm sorry, young mistress, but I cannae promise that."

Sachiko's nostrils flared as her anger once again mounted. "You work for my family. I think you'll do whatever I tell you to do."

Once more, Candace shook her head. "I wouldn't follow this order even if it came from the chairman himself." Candace didn't give Sachiko an opportunity to speak before she continued. "And I'll go right on and explain to you exactly why that is. It's my job to protect ye, yes. But there are also people in your life that deem you worth sacrificing for."

"Sacrificial love." Sachiko's eyes drifted to Rei even as the words left the tall blonde's mouth, a look of knowing in her eyes.

Their conversation from the previous night had been playing in her mind ever since it had ended. She took turns meeting the gaze of each of the women in the room and in each she saw the truth. She saw understanding and pity there. They knew the fear she was feeling and the guilt as well. While she blamed herself, none of the others did. While she was angry with Yumi, the others all understood why Yumi had made the choices she had. It was her love. Her sacrificial love.

Closing her eyes and balling her hands into fists against her sides, Sachiko finally spoke. "I… I understand."

With a nod, Candace made to move for the door. Pointing to the bag she had brought she said, "That there is extra supplies you might need. Don't leave unless absolutely necessary. If you do, someone should stay with Sachiko-sama at all times here in the apartment. If you go to the market, be sure to return by a different path. Make stops along the way and do your best not to look like you're in a hurry." Rei and Yoshino both nodded their understanding as Candace reached the door. Before she could leave though, Sachiko spoke again.

"Ca-Candace, please…" She met Candace's eyes and tried to convey her message, one she couldn't put into words.

Words were not needed though. Candace knew exactly what the look in her eyes begged of her. Verbal sparring with Sachiko had always been an entertaining diversion for her, yet over the years it had gotten to the point that she understood the young mistress even without the battle of words flowing between them. While others had ignored who the girl actually was, in her role as protector and spectator, Candace had gained a clear picture. Those days when Sachiko had expressed her dreams to her grandfather only to be ignored. When the Chairman had bartered away Sachiko's future without a second thought, Candace had been there too. She had watched as that fighting, joyful spirit inside the girl dimmed. After those days it was only during those verbal sparring matches that Candace saw that flame flicker once more. It was this that always gave Candace hope. Hope that this girl, the princess of the Ogasawara family, would fight for the life she wanted to live.

Even now, as she stood in fear of losing the one most precious to her, Candace saw the flame ignite in her eyes stronger than it had been in years. She was ready to fight. A genuine smile accompanied the tear that trailed down Candace's cheek at that sight. Without a word, she bowed her head in a silent promise and left.

Trapped in her cell, Yumi had nothing but time to think and plan. While there were many important factors to consider and her survival depended on any number of them, her mind would not stop wandering to Sachiko. She almost wished for night to come already so that she could sleep and dream of her dark-haired angel once more. Picking up where the last dream had left off sounded exceptionally pleasant.

In an effort to drive such distracting thoughts away, she scavenged in order to find anything of use left in her room. She went as far as moving the mattress off the spring frame of the bed. All that this revealed was a rusted spring broken in half and dangling near the foot of the bed. Without a clear purpose, she extracted the spring and placed it in hiding with the fishing line she had found before.

Having repositioned the mattress on the frame, she found herself collapsing back onto the filthy bed, with nothing to do yet again. Absently, she glanced down at her arm and grimaced. How long has it been? The trace should be active by now, but will it be any help out here? Laying her head back, she tried to remember exactly what Candace had said about the tracer. It was chemical, but she hadn't been forthright on how it enabled others to trace her. If it had anything to do with proximity to cellular towers or anything else that emitted a signal, then being out at sea was a definite deal-breaker. If it left a chemical marker, a path for Candace to follow, she had no idea if the path would stay viable over the water. The only way Yumi thought the tracer would be helpful in this instance is if it could be tracked from a satellite. Given that this was special forces tech, that wasn't out of the question, but… Yumi growled in frustration. She wanted nothing more than to reject any help offered by Novia and her husband and simply wait patiently for Candace to show up. However, things were quite different from what they had expected. Yes, quite different. She had been unprepared for this. She hadn't asked enough questions. With a better understanding, she could have made a confident decision, but that was going to be impossible. Instead, she had to trust her gut. Her gut told her that she needed to get back to shore. Only then would she use the beacon in the back of her mouth. In order to get there though she would need help.

When the light through the porthole signaled that the sun was setting, Yumi heard footsteps approaching. Rolling from the bed, she stood quickly to her feet and faced the door. If it turned out to be Ajay on a quest to do his worst, Yumi wasn't sure what she would do. Of course, she had the ability to fight him off. Easily! She would effectively break her cover though by fighting back. Still, the thought of letting a weasel like him do what he wanted with her made her sick. Thankfully, she didn't have to decide that particular action quite yet, as it was Novia who opened the door and stepped into the room.

Closing the door behind her, Novia crossed her arms and studied the alert Yumi for a moment before speaking. "Have you thought about what I said?"

Yumi nodded. "Yes, but I have conditions." If she was going to partner with these people, she would make a deal that would be the biggest benefit possible.

"What exactly?" Novia narrowed her eyes and asked smoothly, angling her head so that she could listen for steps in the hall.

"I'll convince the Og- my family" Yumi caught herself as she spoke, remembering that Novia still believed her to be a daughter of the Ogasawara family. "to help you and Pirro start new lives and hide you from your family's syndicate. In exchange, you get me to shore and agree to testify against your family to the authorities in the Caribbean. Help them put an end to the syndicate's crimes."

Novia scoffed, throwing an arm above her head to emphasize exactly what she thought of that. "What good are new lives if we are dead before we can enjoy them?"

"My family is powerful," Yumi spoke straight-faced, praying that the promises she made would be honored. "We can keep you safe."

"Right," Novia smirked. "Like they kept you safe?"

Yumi's face flushed as she responded. "That's different. I refused security."

Novia narrowed her eyes, once more crossing her arms over her chest. "Why?"

"You must know that I'm not the blood daughter of the Ogasawara family." Yumi clung to her cover story, one she had repeated in her mind a thousand times before she had been taken. "They adopted me not too long ago."

"You're a little old to be adopted, aren't you?"

Yumi nodded. "Still within the legal age limit, but yes. It's uncommon for families to adopt children in their teens, let alone someone like me who is nearly an adult already. However, they didn't only adopt me for my own good. Yes, they wanted to provide for me, but they also had an advantageous marriage planned for me."

Disbelief crossed Novia's face. It was obvious that those higher than her in the syndicate had not enlightened her to all the rumors floating around about her. "So, you were part of a business deal?"

Yumi paused to think about that for a moment and then shrugged. "I guess that's one way to look at it. It's not actually that uncommon in Japan, so stop it with that disgusted look."

Raising her hands as if to ward off Yumi's anger, Novia backed down. "Okay, okay. It's just that things are different where I'm from."

"The Caribbean?"

"Florida." Yumi blinked in surprise as Novia barked a laugh at her reaction. "Of course, I was born in the Caribbean, but grew up with my mother for a time in the states. I went to high school and college there before being forced back to the islands by the family business." She rolled her eyes and Yumi could see the irritation rolling off of her in waves. "By that time I had already met Pirro, but I left him behind when I returned to my family."

Slightly confused, Yumi pointed toward the door as if Pirro were directly behind it. "Then how?"

This time a bit of joyful amusement shone from behind Novia's rolling eyes. "The fool followed me to the islands. You see, I left him because I didn't want him getting dragged down by my family." Her cheeks flushed as she thought of the man that loved her so much. "He risked it all just to be with me. When he showed up on that pier, bag slung over those broad shoulders and white teeth flashing in the biggest smile I ever saw-" She fanned herself and bit her lower lip. "I would have taken him right there if it had been an option. You know? Ever been faced with something like that?"

Pale skin in the moonlight, midnight strands of hair dancing in the breeze, and heavy breathing invaded Yumi's senses. That last night… How Sachiko had looked with her shirt riding up, her bare skin shining with an ethereal glow. Swallowing hard at the memory, Yumi nodded, drawing a laugh from Novia.

"Oh, ho, ho! It's written all over your face! So, you know exactly what I mean." Novia waggled her eyes in amusement.

Yumi couldn't help the tiny smile that played across her lips. With a half shrug and a lift of her eyebrows, she silently conveyed the message, "Oh yeah, I know what you mean alright."

Novia laughed again and then grew a bit more serious as she continued. "He sacrificed to be with me, so I need to get him out. I vowed to free him from my family, but he won't go without me."

Yumi nodded her understanding. "I understand. The only reason your family was able to get to me is because I refused the family security. Not being used to it, I just…" She shrugged, hoping her performance was convincing. "I just couldn't handle it. But our security forces are better trained than most of the military. If you are open to the protection, no one will get within a foot of either of you." When Novia still didn't look convinced, Yumi added, "I swear it! On my life and the lives of my family, I swear it!"

Yumi didn't know exactly what Novia saw in her face that changed her mind, but whatever it was worked. Finally, the older woman nodded. "Alright, I guess if it means Pirro and I will be able to live freer, more peaceful lives afterwards… Okay, you have a deal. We'll get us to shore and then find a way to get you back to-"

Yumi stopped her with a hand. "Just get me to shore." She smiled at Novia's confusion. "I may have rejected security, but that doesn't mean I rejected every precaution."

It was obvious that Novia didn't understand what she meant, but she nodded anyway. "Okay then, we'll get you back to shore."

"That won't be a problem, will it?"

Scoffing once more, Novia turned for the door and spoke over her shoulder. "Pirro is the ship mechanic. Believe me, we've got this."

Novia was true to her word. Later that night Yumi was startled from her bed by angry yelling from above deck. Early she had discovered that she could open her little porthole, which had afforded her a small breeze and reprieve from the stuffiness of the sealed room. It also allowed for occasional snippets of conversation to float to her. In the dim light of the moon and stars, she hunkered by the open porthole and listened to the two voices yelling from above.

It was obvious that the two were Ajay and Novia.

"What do you mean we have to go back?" Ajay was saying, anger evident in his raspy voice.

"I mean exactly what I said. Pirro is working on a patch job right now, but we need to go back to the pier for the appropriate parts to repair the issue." Exasperation dripped from Novia's every word. Yumi found herself being thankful for her own brother, as this sibling relationship seemed nothing but toxic.

"You tell that lumbering oaf to fix it right now, with what we have. We aren't going anywhere! My orders were for us to stay here and that's exactly what we are going to do."

Novia scoffed as she had a habit of doing. "Right, because father will be so much happier to see you ignored a critical issue and got all of us stranded at sea? You really are an idiot. If your head mechanic says to head inland, you head inland. That's the first rule grandfather taught us about leading a crew. Or would you rather go down and handle the engine repairs on your own? Oh, wait! I forgot. You're completely inept when it comes to machines! So why don't you do us all a favor and stop trying to compensate for all you lack with an overbearing, childish, and obnoxious attitude. It's about as impressive as anything else about you." She chuckled, not needing to explain just how unimpressive she found him.

A loud scuffle sounded and more men were yelling for Boss to stop. By that, Yumi could only assume they were talking to Ajay. He must have been trying to attack Novia again. His crew, knowing Pirro's abilities, held him back.

"You better thank whatever divinity watches your back that these men are holding me back right now. Otherwise, I'd drop you overboard and leave you to rot." His voice was menacing, full of evil intent, but Novia didn't sound as though it phased her in the slightest.

"Not if your precious boat is dead in the water." Novia laughed at Ajay's angry grunts and it sounded as though she were moving away. "On that note, Pirro will let you know when the repair is complete. At that point, we will be returning to the pier. This discussion is over."

Yumi had mixed feelings about Novia and how she chose to handle things. On one hand, she found her tenacity and boldness admirable. On the other hand, she found her brazenness and sharp tongue regrettable, as it seemed to only inflame the emotions of the enemies surrounding her. When Novia had retreated from above deck, she heard Ajay and his men spouting off about her. It seemed more than Ajay disliked the syndicate princess, but so far fear of her father and grandfather, both of whom treasured Novia, kept them all at bay. Yumi silently wondered just how long that would last with her jeering at Ajay at every turn. She also couldn't help but wonder whether she would get mixed up in their brawl before this escapade came to an end.

She didn't have to wonder for long...

Yumi snapped awake as rough hands grabbed her from her bed. Alcohol permeated the air surrounding her assailant. That and his noxious stench of cigar smoke told Yumi exactly who this person was. Ajay, drunk by any measure of the word, was mumbling incoherently to himself as he dragged Yumi from the bed. It was dark, despite the lantern Ajay had brought along with him. "You sorry little bitch! She thinks she can keep you from me? Safe from me?"

Yumi cried out as he pulled her roughly by her hair, slamming her to the steel floor hard enough that she heard a crack and felt a searing pain travel up her left arm. Damn it! She fought back the tears that sprang to her eyes and the urge to cradle her now aching, most likely broken, wrist to her chest. In that instant her mind was made up. She would be damned if she let a drunk bastard like Ajay get the better of her. Not today! Not ever! To hell with this damn plan!

"I'll take you and do whatever the hell I want! One day soon this syndicate will be mine to run how I please! No sniveling little shrew like Novia will order me around."

Yumi heard a zipper and knew exactly where he was. Directly behind her. With hands and knees braced on the steel floor, wrist screaming in protest, Yumi drove her foot back and up straight into his groin. He howled in shock and pain as Yumi dropped her foot and pivoted her body around, sweeping his right foot out from under him. He screeched all the more when this resulted in a sudden and painful drop into the splits.

She let her momentum turn her on her knees, back around to face him, his face twisted in drunken anger and undeniable pain. Bracing herself with a leg up, she knelt beside him and unflinchingly drove her right fist forward in an arch straight for Ajay's chin. Her fist connected with her target, sending him sprawling backwards, head colliding with the bulkhead on his way down.

Breathing deeply, Yumi rose to her feet and cradled her left wrist against her chest. Grimacing, she moved toward the still open door even as she heard the frantic voices and steps coming toward her from down the corridor. A quick glance back at the porthole revealed that she had indeed forgotten to close it, so anyone on deck would have heard Ajay's cry of pain. Meaning, his cronies were on their way.

Thinking quickly, Yumi retreated to the bed and withdrew the fishing line and broken spring. With quick, yet trembling hands, Yumi doubled the line, wrapping the center around one of the pieces of spring and tying it off there. The two drifting ends of line she tied together and then around the end of the second piece of spring, ensuring that the sharp end was left exposed. This hadn't been exactly how she had considered using the items, but in her condition it would have to do.

Cries of anger grew louder as a group of drunken men staggered hurriedly into the corridor at the far end of the boat. Deciding she preferred the bottleneck provided by the corridor, Yumi stepped beyond the door and slammed the door shut on Ajay. Without taking her eyes off the approaching mob, she slid the lock too with a decisive whine of grinding metal. No point in risking an attack from behind if he happened to wake up.

Steeling herself against the pain radiating up her arm, Yumi glared at the group of men. Five in total. The odds weren't horrible. She smiled to herself, an action that had the men stumbling to a stop a few feet away, confused by her lack of fear. Unperturbed by their stares, she motioned for them to continue their approach and assumed a fighting stance.

With a growl of annoyance, the first man, larger than the others, charged her. She had hoped for that and was ready. With one step forward to meet him, she jumped and kicked her right foot straight up and out, the ball of her foot colliding directly with his nose. With a loud crunch, the man was on his knees with blood spurting down his face and chest and tears spilling from his eyes. To finish him quickly, she shifted to the side and kicked again, this time from left to right, driving the man's head straight into the buildhead. He went down. The biggest and strongest of them had fallen to her within seconds and they all witnessed it.

Thankful didn't begin to describe her feelings when she noted that none of them pulled a gun on her. She knew they were under strict orders not to hurt her, so she was fairly certain even if they did attack that it wouldn't be fatal, but she wasn't going to give them an opportunity. Before they could rally their courage to charge again, she let the spring fall from her hand, holding onto the other half as a makeshift handle. Swinging it in a quick rotation, she stepped forward between the next two men. Swinging it up, she caught the one on her right under his chin, sending him careening backward into the next man.

Continuing her swing in a full rotation, she switched targets to the man on her left. Coming in at an angle, the man was able to dodge the underhand blow. However, he didn't foresee her swinging her makeshift weapon in a quick circle above her head and bringing it back down into his shoulder. The man screamed as the spring dug into the exposed flesh between his neck and shoulder. Without a moment of hesitation, she spun with a backwards step, ripping the spring free with a gush of blood.

The one who had caught the spring in the chin, jerked free of his friend's arms with an enraged growl and charged Yumi. Dropping her spring, Yumi prepared for him, bending her knees and waiting for just the right moment. When he right in front of her stepped to the side and leaned out in front of him. Wrapping one arm around his shoulder and the other between his legs, she used his own momentum to flip him head over heels, slamming him back first into the steel floor.

The impact to her wrist had her biting her lip to the point of bleeding to stop herself from screaming in pain. She couldn't show weakness.

Two men left. Picking up her spring once more, she faced them and worked it into a rotation in front of herself. They looked at each other, both uncertain about how to proceed with this unexpected foe.

Without a word, she beckoned them forward with a taunt of the hand and a smirk she had to force to her lips. She didn't feel all that arrogant or confident, not with the throbbing that now radiated up to her shoulder. She didn't let them see that though.

When one of the guys took a tentative step backward, his friend elbowed him in the side. "Don't be a coward. She's just a little girl. She got lucky, that's all!"

Encouraged by his foolhardy friend, the other guy stepped back to his side and grinned like it made total sense. Yumi had to stop herself from rolling her eyes in response. These guys really were a few fish short of a school.

Following that thought, she took a step backward, effectively luring the two in. As they stepped past their fallen comrades, Yumi reversed course. Jumping, she rebounded off the wall of the corridor and completed a roundhouse kick. Her foot connected with the first guy's head, sending him tumbling sideways toward his friend. The second guy was able to step forward out of his friend's path, but directly into Yumi's as she landed, pivoted on the ball of her foot and brought her foot around and down into the back of his head. Just like that, they were all down and Yumi was breathing hard, more from the pain than the effort.

"Well, that was impressive."

Turning on her heel and taking an instinctive fighting stance, Yumi found herself facing a surprised looking Novia. "Ah, well…." Straightening, Yumi flashed her a sheepish grin as she too scanned the hallway littered with unconscious men. Pointing to the one guy who had gotten the spring to his neck, she commented, "He's probably gonna need medical attention… soon." Already a puddle of blood had gathered beneath the man.

Novia merely waved off the concern. "Don't worry about them." Stepping to the bleeding man's side, she leaned over and spoke a bit louder. "They like it rough after all." With that, she kicked the guy in the side, earning a pained grunt from his crumpled form. Lifting a radio to her lips, she clicked the button and spoke. "Pirro, could you come to the starboard corridor? Our little guest has left us a hallway of presents that need to be properly secured."

A few moments passed before a deep voice answered. "On my way."

Turning back to Yumi, Novia smiled fiendishly. "Pirro will take care of these creetins. Though," She searched the hallways again before asking, "Where is Ajay?"

Without speaking, Yumi pointed a thumb back toward what had been her room.

To her credit, Novia didn't laugh too hard. Then realization hit her and she turned worried eyes to her, checking Yumi thoroughly. "He didn't?"

Yumi knew what she was asking. With a shake of her head, she glared hard at the door. "He tried, but I didn't let him get that far."

"Drunken bastard." Novia growled in anger. "I'm glad you got away from him though."

"Yeah, me too." Yumi turned away from the door and faced Novia, this time with an effort to smile at the older woman. Instead of the snarky smile she was expecting, she saw the woman's critical glare.

"So, tell me, Ogasawara Yumi… Who are you, really?"

A/N - Sorry for the delay on this update! I'd love to hear what you think. :)