Ch 15: The Rat

Inside Ekoda's hospital, few people remained after visiting hours were over. The hospital was consumed by silence, excluding the monitors. A handful of nurses passed by from time to time, checking on the patients and talking to doctors here and there.

However normal it seemed, something was wrong.

Police detective Satō glanced around, watching secretly from the edges of her eyes. There was no point in hiding her presence, the syndicate member Amuro Tooru saw her when they took someone into the emergency room. From her perspective, they masked their worries as that said person was left in the hands of the doctors. It was evident he was troubled about his safety.

This, however, led to questions blooming in her head.

Who was he?

Was he important?

What happened to him?

Unfortunately, Shiratory spoke with the FBI agents and they concluded (along with their station), all together, to remain silent, preferring to act as if nothing happened. After all, they couldn't afford to have him shooting at them, or taking advantage of the injured officer in the room where she sat adjacent to the door, praying he will open his eyes.

Luckily, and fortunately Takagi, the bullet missed his heart. He suffered from a few minor head injuries, but he was alive.

Amuro Tooru and a woman entered a room by the corner of the corridor, the plate number on the door held no name, only a number. 14. She noticed, after some time, that only one doctor was entering it. Not even a nurse approached that room. More suspicions began to swirl around in her head.

Something was definitely fishy. There had to be a way inside.

Her mind swung around the patient's identity, rather then what happened to him. No doubt the person was male, had dark brown hair, but that was all that she managed to see before the doctors took him away. Despite an entire hour had passed, her gaze remained focused on the plate number. Maybe, the number would disappear and show her a name if she kept staring at it? It wasn't likely for his code name to be fourteen... or a hint about him...

Her hands clutched her skirt firmly, 'Curse it, if only they get out for a second! Maybe I could take a look at his face!'

Her partner came out into her view and quickly approached her. He sat down next to her, pretending to be leading on a lame topic. But knowing how terrible they were at pretending, it didn't matter much unless there was a hidden camera or someone ear-dropping on them.

Satō, on the other hand, preferred a more important topic. "How is he?"

He shook his head before she could worry, he proceeded to elaborate better to cast her fears on the side. "He is out of the danger zone, but he needs to stay down for a while, a good two weeks at least from what the examinations and results say. The damage he took, remarkably tired him too much. He is still on life-support, just until his lungs become able to support working on their own... He is on painkillers and drugs..." He retracted his sight off of her worried serious eyes and threw it on the door she was watching before he approached her. "Any luck with them?"

She shook her head, "unless they get out, I can't know a thing! However," her voice sank more into a deeply serious one, "I can't guarantee their reaction to being anything less threatening. We are enemies after all, and for all we know, they could easily take a gun out and shoot us. They seem in cahoots with the old doctor, Jake, I heard his name from one of the nurses. She doesn't know anything about the situation..." Bourbon was nice and calm with her, masking his dead-like syndicate expression. The women named Vermouth, (thanks to a tip from FBI agent Judie after Satō described the woman's face) acted nice and easy going just like her partner until the nurse disappeared inside the fourth room on the right side of the hallway.

It was not long until that same doctor walked towards the agents. Shiratori and Satō masked their worries, wondering deeply what he will say to them.

"Hello agents," he began with courtesy, "there is no point waiting for your friend here. If anything happens, we will inform your station. For now, he is stable"

Satō listened, biting the inside of her lip. Anything they say might provoke the doctor and the crows who appeared behind him. Amuro and Vermouth kept their silence as the doctor spoke with the two officers. That worried Satō. They acted as if they didn't know who the doctor was and simply listened to what he was telling them.

"Our friend was targeted, I find it best if we remain here if can anything happens, doctor. After all, our station ordered us to guard in case anyone comes after him"

The doctor gathered his thoughts, without having to turn to the two behind him. It was his call. Bourbon grinned, as a member who had been serving the syndicate for a long time, he knew what the doctor should do. Vermouth filled him on the latest order from the boss while they joined him in room 14.

They decided to allow the agents to discover the boy there and get him out if the Kaitou KID partners were late or if they didn't find him here.

After gathering his thoughts, the doctor raised a fake smile, "Surely that would be best. Someone might come after him. Well, if you need anything, we will be in the office over there" he raised his hand halfway, pointing at the same room where the nurse last went into. The officers sustained and he excused himself.

Bourbon and Vermouth gave a glare and walked away at the same pace. As they were away from the officers' hearing range, they spoke discreetly.

"Do you think they will actually approach him once we leave?"

"Of course! Their curiosity will get the best of them," Vermouth said. "In any case, how do we contact the partners?"

"Don't worry, if they realized his condition, they will come to look here first. We will have to wait until that happens" He glanced behind him from the corner of his eyes and saw the officers talking together, obviously plotting something. "I prefer to let the partners take him, I don't know how the police will react towards him. No doubt they heard he was a member of the crows"

"Yes, and even if they haven't, they would have come to that conclusion when they saw us bringing him here. With you and I involved, it's an easy guess~"

"So it seems!" he narrowed his eyes and focused them ahead as they walked slowly towards the exit. "Which reminds me, how do the partners treat him?"

"Like family" she placed a cigarette between her lips and took out a lighter.

"Kaito, I know. I meant the rest. Did you discover their identities?"

She shook her head slowly, letting out the smoke to her left, "they are too careful, I didn't expect anything less of them, though. Jeff is considered family among all of them, they get along pretty well. He still keeps information on the side, but they don't mind it. After all, that sort of guilt is a heavy burden on a teenager"

His eyes couldn't have agreed with her more. He kept his silence, as nothing else could be said. He couldn't bring himself to eye Jeff and tell him the truth, how could he? Perhaps explaining everything would be easy, but killing his real parents, there was no room for that kind of pain, not now at least.

He gasped deeply as they got into the car. "I'm staying here," she said, "What about you?"

"Same" He glanced around a few times. They had to figure something out. It would be safer if the boy stayed with them, but he doesn't know the truth and doesn't accept being around them. 'I guess it's better if he never learns it. He'd never forgive us.' It hurts already.

Vermouth cast her sight to her left, shooting her gaze randomly at the odds. She let out a gasp, "It hurts us as much as it hurts him, but we can't let him know. He is in no condition to hear us out. Even if he ever manages to do so in the coming days, how will we tell him that we were fake?"

"I don't know..." he silenced himself. "I just can't see him like that. Sometimes I wish…"

"That we didn't live to see this? Nothing would have changed, Rei-kun. I can't say I was happy to have survived Snake's tortures, and the burns that remained after the surgery, but I definitely don't want to leave my boy alone behind. No matter how much I hate that I lied to him, or made him think that we were his parents, I still don't regret having him with us. Sure, the parents lost their lives, but I don't intend to have their son lose his too" She picked her phone, read the text she received.

"I don't trust anyone" Amuro finally said and turned back, choosing to ignore asking her what the text was about. "The police... the partners... I just don't trust either of them"

She hesitated, "We can't take him back. We're the enemies, remember? He won't be okay or calm, did you forget why we are here now?" she put her phone beside her, completely forgetting about it. "Do you want him to have another breakdown?"

He exhaled, "It's the accident that got him here"

"And how did he get into the accident?"

He sighed, "By chasing us... Alright"

She nodded, turned the key, then glanced back at the wheel. "Idiot. Like father like son! He had an accident and never mentioned it. Did he ever learn anything from me?"

Amuro's eyebrow twitched. "I admit he acted foolishly, but there is no need to insult either of us"

She grinned, "I find it necessary~ How else will you two learn~"

He shifted his sight ahead of him, watching through the windshield. "He looked fine! I didn't know about it until you mentioned it. Besides, why would he mention the accident to his enemies?"

"... Good point" she gasped heavily. "I forgot about that fact... Well, it's been a while since I wore the mask. Anyway, I figured it while I saw him disappearing all of a sudden~" Amuro eyed her, "He trailed us fast, and for around ten minutes, I lost sight of him. After the deal, I noticed the right side of his bike was scratched and a bit bent inwards. Connecting the pieces was easy thanks to that. Anyway, he probably slipped on the oil stain"

"But the stain was too little!" his memory floated back, recalling driving above the stain when little Kaito was watching over the board. "But if he wasn't looking and was more focused on the chase_"

"He would easily slip" she interrupted, "besides, I searched it after we drugged him in the hotel. His Jacket and a t-shirt were somewhat torn, with blood on them. He wrapped randomly under the seat. We lost track because he got hurt, probably he couldn't get up fast and had to change to peruse the chase. If we think about it again, he was holding back on moving while he was near the window" She cut herself and turned, "it's best if we don't leave"

The ominous presence overwhelmed them.

Fear clouded their minds and hearts.

Vermouth quickly opened the door, without a second thought, she grabbed her gun and they both darted at the ominous feeling.

"Did you hear?"

"Yes," Dave approached the car. "We better remove this" he took out the small device from under the board. "I think we heard enough"

Yusaku nodded, "Stay here," he said to the girl standing frozen worried behind him. "We will make sure he is okay" they rushed inside the hospital.

'Now I understand why they didn't hurt him.' Dave had the same thoughts. 'And it also explains why he lives alone'

Aoko tried to shake herself awake. She quickly picked her phone and called 1211. "Need help now. Ekoda hospital" she hung up quickly once there was a nod on the second side of the line. Regardless of what she was told, her intuition told her to go in.

'... They're his parents? ... No way…' she rushed in, considering to pass the information to his partners. 'Aoko doesn't know if it's safe to trust them or not, they are still syndicate members' she bit her lip, following the tracker she had on Vermouth a while ago. 'Jeff won't take it easily!' she cursed.

"It also means he is the child of the organization!" Yusaku said, "unless we figure out who the murdered real parents are, we won't be able to help him" ave kept running, 'I don't know what to think anymore…' his mind swirled around the possibilities of the boy being a bad cold-blooded killer like the rest.

Aoko shook her head desperately trying to throw the idea out. "Aoko baka, Jeff is a nice kid! He wouldn't hurt anyone. Aoko knows he won't!'

On the floor the boy was kept it, the window opened and a man went in.

He glanced around, the room was empty and only the boy was on the bed. Snake approached with a serious glare, casting his eyes on the weary boy.

The tube was in his mouth, automatically supplying him with oxygen as he could not breathe. A needle in his arm connected to an IV drip. His wrists were tied with sheets to the rails of the bed, with his legs tiled to the front low rail from his ankles.

Snake quickly noticed the bandages and sheets wrapping Jeff's chest and shoulder. "Are you awake...?" the deepness of his voice echoed in the room, and when no answer came, he raised a wicked mischievous cold grin as his face. Either way, the boy's head and eyes were wrapped, and judging from the low variations on the monitors and the life-support, there is no way he could protect himself.

"I can't say there is anyone to blame aside yourself. You earned my hatred more than once" he took out his gun, "even with your unconscious, I hope you could hear your last moment" He fixed the muzzle on Jeff's wrapped forehead. "Boy, you cannot understand how long I waited to kill you!" he carefully observed him, the marks of the steels wires still visible on his wrists, the remaining redness of the blade on his neck, and now since the concealer was removed, the redness on his face from the burns was also visible. "I should have done more than just that. You were lucky to have your partner rescue you before I lost my temper! Idiot foolish boy, your life belongs to us, if you don't do what we tell you then we will claim it back" he pulled the trigger slowly, "This time your dear friend is not here to save you. Say hello to your parents on the other side..." his grin rose. "Goodbye boy"

The door busted open. Vermouth raised her gun at him, as Amuro did the same. "Put your gun down or I will blast your head off, Snake. I mean it!" her voice was more than just serious, even her partner knew she was going to do it either way.

He laughed. "It won't change a thing because he will be dead too"

Bourbon approached with his gun raised, Vermouth backing him up as she kept her eyes on the man dressed in a dark grey trench coat. "Last warning Snake, put the gun down. That's an order" their eyes were focused on the others. A tense atmosphere filled the room, with all three holding their guns, Jeff was the only would who was defenseless, Snake's gun remained at his forehead right beside him. Any move that he tries will provoke the parents to shoot the psychopath lunatic.

"I don't take orders from you, PSB agent" but none blinked. "So you knew? That explains a lot about your actions, rat" he spoke to vermouth, his dead voice filled with disgust and hatred for her. "Even though the boss ordered to keep his life, he is hopeless. It's high time that I cleaned this mess" his sight landed on Jeff. "If he is not on our side, then he is on the enemies side and must be dealt with" before he could continue, his hand got hit and the gun fell in the small space between the counter and the wall to Jeff's right. Snake cursed seeing Bourbon now in front of him prepared to beat the hell out of him. Amuro kicked him landing a successful, painful, full strength kick to Snake's ribs and stepped away.

Snake fell to his feet, grabbing his stomach firmly, anger clouding his judgment. 'All the rats were showing their true side'. "Son of a_"

"I thought I warned you," Amuro said serious with dead expressions overwhelming his face, he pointed the gun to his head. "One move and I am blowing your head. The kid is keeping his life while I make sure yours becomes an eternal nightmare"

Snake glared him, something seemed overly odd about those too. "You are protective of a RAT! Know your place!"

Vermouth raised a mischievous smile, "The only rat I see here, is you"

"The boss gave us orders to protect him from you, and I remember you were strictly told to leave him be"

"The rat here is the one disobeying. And the boy was not told to do anything, and as far as I care to know, his survival means we get the jewel"

"This is outrageous!" he started yelling. "He is with the enemies, don't you understand, you fools! The bullet is against us and will be our end!"

"Yeah, yeah, who cares," Bourbon said dryly. "Get up slowl_" the door opened and they looked behind them startled, Snake took the opportunity and attacked Amuro and took the gun from him.

Bourbon cursed mentally and raised his hands, Vermouth kept her gun pointed at Snake.

"DROP YOUR WEAPONS!" shouted Nakamori Keibu. "You," he glanced at Vermouth, "him" at Snake, "Put the guns down and raise your hands" his gun and five more cops pointed at them. "I don't care what your argument is, drop it and we will continue at the station"

Vermouth shot a glance at Amuro then signed. "Fine" she waved the gun behind her from its trigger, one of the cops approached and took it, cuffing her hands behind her back as they walked back.

Amuro raised a wicked smile behind his face, he backed away approaching the officers who cuffed him too.

"You, do the same" the furious mad tone of Ginzo filled the silence, waiting while pointing his gun at Snake with pure determination. "I won't repeat again"

Snake laughed, 'I am only coming dead! And I am taking him with me!' he moved his hand swiftly and shot Jeff straight in the chest. Vermouth and Bourbon turned yellow, before they could do anything, a bullet whizzed and Snake went down. The officers watched confused, but the two agents escaped and rushed to the now bleeding boy.

Snake was long dead, his body hit the ground violently. Facing him, inside the wall rested a bullet. 'A sniper?'

"Get the doctor!" Amuro said turning to Ginzo. "NOW!" Ginzo then sent one of his men and kept his gun at the two. He watched the worry in their eyes as they desperately tried to stop the blood from flowing.

"Come one, come on" Tooru cursed as he spoke, trying his best to wake the drugged boy. "Don't die now… wake up, wake up… come on!" he gave slow slaps on the boy's cheeks. "Please wake up!" the heartbeats began to decrease greatly. And as all was deemed hopeless the doctors came to help.

The two doctors rushed in followed by three nursed. None of which were syndicate members. They quickly gave painkillers and drugs to slow the bleeding as they rushed the boy down on a carriage and went straight to the operating room.

Amuro's frozen worried eyes fell on his hands, covered in blood. The bed had a large stain and Vermouth hands and clothes were the same.

Ginzo kept his eyes on them, worried behind his officer serious face. 'This isn't a syndicate behavior' he stepped closer and ordered them to stand steady. "What is wrong with you!" it sounded like he was worried. "Jeez, it's like your son died!"

Both looked at him and shook themselves out of their trauma. 'He's alive, stay calm.'

Nakamori blinked, "…is he?" They kept their silence. "Well, who is he anyway!" none spoke.

"Oto-san!" he quickly turned to the familiar voice of his daughter then turned his sight facing him only to realize that the two were still in their place. That's even odder.

Aoko gained up and rushed inside, despite her father's attempt to stop her. Her eyes fell on the blonde woman, slight fear in her eyes. Blood covered her chest and hands. Aoko's face paled up. "Did… Where is he….!"

Vermouth calmed herself and spoke with a much softer voice, "the operating room"

Aoko shifted her sight and saw the body on the floor. She took a step back when she recognized the person. "He came after 1412?" she looked at vermouth who nodded silently.

"1412?" Ginzo said surprised and turned to his daughter. "That person was KID 3?" Aoko looked away. "Kaito-kun's partner is a syndicate guy!"

Aoko's mind swirled. 'Wait ...what…'

"HE'S NOT!" all three of them said at once. The father blinked to their unified response.

Aoko rushed to Vermouth and handed her a towel from the drawer, then approached the man beside her, hesitating for a split second, she gave him one too. "He's gonna be okay," she said, 'Calm' she seemed, but to the blonde actress in front of her, Aoko lips trembled as she spoke. Bourbon's confused eyes shifted between the two girls. Kaito must have told her that Vermouth was from the BO, yet the girl rushed in without fear to her and seemed concerned about both of them.

Vermouth's eyes followed the girl's gaze out of the room, "Aoko will contact the partners," she turned to rush off, but Ginzo caught her by the hand, "Ne, tou-san? Aoko is in a rush here!"

"Aoko stay here! No, scratch that, don't stay here" he called for one of his team and asked him to watch over her in another room. "Take her as far as possible from these two" he whispered and returned to the two agents inside the room. "So, care to explain this nonsense? You could have escape just like that" he snapped his figures. "So, why didn't you?"

Vermouth observed his rash words before she decided to speak, "we were worried, you can't expect us to leave when he is like that" she was shaken, her face did not regain any color.

He lowered his gaze and went inside, locking the room behind him. The two observed as he dropped the act, speaking with an entirely different voice. "Syndicate members, and yet you risk exposing yourself, my, you've gotten very sloppy Sharon"

Vermouth raised a smile, "Shut it!"

He didn't allow her to proceed. Bourbon's eyes trailed between the tow. 'She knows him?'

She laughed at his serious face, "What brought you here, Mr. partner?" Amuro's eyes widen, "I didn't think you'd show up this quick. Let me guess, trackers?"

His eyes instead watched the corpse on the ground. Amuro took a blanked and covered it. "It's most likely Chianti's doing, which also means that Gin was there too and ordered to kill Snake"

Vermouth walked slowly to the window, nothing was watching anywhere within the shooting range. Ginzo then moved aside, hinting for them to leave before anyone sees them. "I will leave a hint to how the kid is doing"

"Then we leave him in your care" She nodded and turned to her partner signaling him an order to leave. They walked out deftly and quickly disappeared.

The fake Ginzo turned, 'This is getting messed up by the minute. Bourbon is a PSB agent? That's a surprise!' he walked, out closing the door. 'So, your partners killed you, Snake. We all knew it was going to happen'