Time flew by, the patrons started to leave. Cye and his staff were closing the club. I leaned up against the bar as I waited for Kaye to change. I watched as Hank made sure everyone had rides while at the same time he made sure no one caused any problems. My mind raced with the information Rowen, and I talked about with one another. He was right, everything we discussed was circumstantial. How were we going to get the hard proof we need to put them away? But if they're sent to the big house, then what will happen to the Dynasty? I guess it'll have to close, such a shame, at least I got a chance to fight in it once.

I seethed as I felt the extreme pain from the palm of my hand. I raised it and stared at the bandaging. It was starting to bleed again. Damn it, why did I react like that? I know I get overprotective at times, but tonight felt different. I wanted to pound them all into the ground. But I didn't. Why am I feeling this way? Then a possibility hit me, did I have feelings for her? She's my partner. I can't afford to think of Kaye any other way. Can I? Or could we be something more, not partners? I'm curious, what does she think of us? Does she only consider us partners or something more? Why do things like this have to be so confusing and come at the wrong possible time?

I didn't hear Kaye trying to get my attention. "Kento." She walked to the other side of me and took my bandaged hand into hers and started to look it over. She glanced up towards Cye. "Looks like his hand needs to rebandage again."

Cye nodded, "Right, I'll be right back with the kit." He walked to the back and got the kit as he returned with it and set it down as he went back to his closing duties.

Kaye let go of my hand and opened the kit as she was getting what she needed. "Go ahead and unwrap it. You should go to the hospital to get stitches." Kaye stated as she cleaned the wound and started wrapping it with new bandages. I turned my attention from my hand and looked at her face. I couldn't even tell she was bandaging it, all I could feel was her gentle touch as she worked with the bandaging.

I shook my head as I looked back at my hand, "I'll be fine. I don't need any stitches."

Kaye raised a brow towards me as she put away the supplies. "Right, well then I guess I'll stock up on the first aid supplies tomorrow before I come in. So, if you won't go to the hospital, then will you tell me how you hurt your hand?"

I still wasn't sure how to explain it to her. Heck, I wasn't sure of the reason myself. So how can I make her understand if I don't? I didn't stop myself, the words came out. "I got angry at the pigs that we're disrespecting you while you were on stage, and I shattered glass in my hand. I saw how uneasy they were making you feel and I wanted to pound them into the ground."

This was the first time I couldn't read what Kaye was feeling. Usually, she would be so expressive in her emotions, but this time she looked at me. Was she in shock or did she know I was being overprotective? I started to try and say something, but she talked first.

'Thank you, Kento for holding back from wanting to go into a tangle." Her eyes became soft, "I'm sorry you hurt your hand because of them."

I reached out towards her and placed my palm on her cheek, "Hey, it's alright. My hand will heal. Besides, you've seen me in worse conditions after coming back from my other tangles. I'll tell you what, if it'll ease your mind, I'll go to the hospital and get stitches. You are more than welcome to come along to make sure I do go." I smiled at her as I winked.

Kaye smiled back at me as she nodded, "Alright, We should go as soon as possible." Kaye suggested.

I lowered my hand from her face and offered Kaye my arm. I glanced over towards my friend behind the bar. "See you later Cye!"

Cye waved at us as we were leaving, "Don't be a stranger! I'll see you two soon!"

We stopped as Hank held the door open for us. I looked back and nodded, then I turned my attention forward as we were leaving the club. I walked Kaye to the passenger side of my car and opened the door. She got in and I closed it. I walked to the driver's side and got in. We pulled out of the parking lot and out into the traffic as we headed towards the hospital.

Kaye glanced over at me as I continued to drive. "So, are you going to fill me in on what you and Rowen were talking about tonight?"

I smirked, right to the point, and then I informed Kaye what Rowen told me what he knew up to now. We discussed the case from the beginning to what we learned tonight. Things were starting to make some kind of sense, but things were not clear. Everything was still in the air. We didn't have anything concrete to work with. It started to have a question: where do we go now and how are we going to go about the rest of the investigation? It turned out we have more questions than answers at this point.

Kaye leaned back in the passenger seat and thought over what I told her. "Are you sure there was nothing familiar with the other guy? When you saw Sekhmet was talking to in the underground garage?"

I shook my head, "Nothing comes to mind, it looked like he had the build of a fighter. But otherwise, nothing else stood out to me. It hard to tell for sure because of the trench he wore, and his back was to me."

Kaye nodded, "Alright, then what else do you think they're trying to cover up at the Dynasty? Why would they use a prestigious fighting club as a front for whatever they're trying to do? Why would the Ancient want to sell it instead of giving it to Kayura anyway? Did he find out what they were up to, and it was his reason of why he wanted to sell?"

I glanced at her. There seemed to be some truth to what she was asking. "Possibility, but it's hard to know for sure. We'll have to figure out how to get the evidence we need to get to the bottom of this." I pulled into the parking lot of the hospital and parked. The two of us got out and headed inside. We checked in at the reception desk and waited for a doctor to show up.

A doctor stood in front of us about fifteen minutes later and led us to an empty room. He shut the door, "Take a seat, Mr. Rei Faun and I'll take a look at your hand."

I sat down and started to unwrap my bandages. I glanced at Kaye as she sat down across from me. Then I saw the doctor standing in front of me. From the corner of my eye, I turned my attention towards him as I showed him my hand.

The doctor looked it over and then got what he needed, "You're lucky Mr. Rei Faun to come in when you did. If you didn't then your hand would have become infected. How did this happen anyway? It looks pretty deep. There are still a few shards of glass in your palm."

I didn't think he needed to know the entire story, "I crushed glass in my hand. It was an accident. I got caught up in what I was watching and before I knew it my hand was bleeding and I had shards of glass embedded in my palm." It was true, so I didn't exactly lie to the man.

The doctor continued to fish out the last of the shards, and then treated the wounds and started to stitch them. He raised a brow at me as I told him my story. He seemed like he didn't believe me, but at the moment I didn't care. The doctor then finished stitching, and he wrapped it. "Keep this wrapped for a few days. If it starts to bleed, then check the stitching and put a new wrap on. Some over-the-counter medication will help with any kind of pain and discomfort."

I stood and then Kaye rose to her feet as well. I nodded at the doctor, "Thanks, I appreciate it. I'll make sure to follow your instructions. Goodnight." I watched as the doctor started to leave. When he stopped at the door, he glanced back, "Make sure to stop at the reception desk and pay the bill before you leave." I nodded and then the doctor left.

We walked to the reception desk and paid my bill. Then the two of us headed to my car. I pulled out of the parking lot and was driving farther into a more familiar neighborhood.

Kaye glanced over at me, "So, where do we go from here?"

I glanced over towards her as I took the next turn, "I'm thinking we should call it a night. I'll drop you off at home and then I'll head home myself. Then in the morning, we can focus on, where to go from here."

Kaye nodded, "On the way to work, I'll stop and pick up some supplies and breakfast.

It didn't take long to arrive at her place. I parked in front and grinned when I heard her say breakfast. She knew how to get my full attention. I heard Kaye laugh, it's been a long time since I've heard something like that from her. Especially nowadays when there's not much to laugh about. It felt good to hear her laugh. I almost forgot what it sounded like. She was a bit surprised as well since I saw Kaye blush a bit as she was getting ready to get out of my car. "Hold on, " I got out and went around the passenger side, and opened the door for her.

Kaye got out and reached for her things from the back and then pulled out as she looked at me. "Thanks, Kento. So, I'll see you tomorrow."

I tipped my fedora towards her, "Yeah, see you tomorrow. Did you need me to pick you up in the morning?"

Kaye shook her head, "No, but I appreciate the offer. The store isn't far, and I can get a taxi when I'm done."

I raised my brow towards her, "Are you sure?"

Kaye nodded, "I'll be fine, besides, you've been teaching me how to take care of myself. So you don't need to worry. But I appreciate it all the same."

We waved to one another, but I still stuck around and watched as she made it inside. Once I knew things were good, I got into my car and drove away. The time at the Torrent flashed again in my head as I continued to drive on the way home. I started to believe heading home was a better idea than staying at Kaye's place. Things might have gotten hot between us, and I'm not sure if we're ready for that level in our relationship. Though as I continued driving, a few fantasies distracted me. I didn't notice a black car with tinted windows slamming itself into the side of my car. It jerked me almost off the road. The jolt snapped me back to my senses. I growled as my eyes narrowed while I tried to get a good look at the drive. No good, I couldn't see who it was.

I braced myself for another hit from behind. It lurched me forward, and I lost control of my car as my hands jarred free from the steering wheel. I scrambled to regain the wheel. I threw my car into neutral and jerked the wheel as tight as it would go. I skidded in a half-circle facing the street. I threw it into park and rested my forehead on the wheel. I closed my eyes and let my racing heart slow down to meet with the rhythm of my breathing. I heard the echoing bang of slamming doors which told me there was more than one in the car. I jerked my head up and got out of the driver's side. I stumbled a bit as I regained my balance. The jarring shook me up a bit. I threw up my arms from the brightness of the headlights. I narrowed my eyes at the ones approaching me. Once my eyes adjusted, I lowered my arms to a ready position as my feet shifted to a fighting stance. "Who do you think you are? If you want a tangle, then you got one!"

"Take it easy, Rei Faun. We're not here to fight, well that might not be true. But hear us out anyway."

I growled low in my throat, I recognized his voice anywhere, "You want a rematch, scarface?" If Cale was here then, I'm thinking the others from the Dynasty are with him.

Cale and the others stopped. He slid his hands into the pockets of his trench, "No, not tonight. But my buddies and I have been around the street circuit asking about you."

I shifted into a bit more of a neutral stance but kept my eyes on them. "Why were you asking about me?"

Cale, Sekhmet, and Anubis glanced at one another and then back at me, "We are looking to expand. So we needed new fighters. Since you beat Cale, we talked it over with Kayura and we all agreed you would be a good addition. Sure, you're a bit rough around the edges, but with the proper training, you'd be a good asset to the Dynasty. So what do you say? You want to join?"

I couldn't believe what they were asking me, even with them finding out what I do for a living. Did Anubis and Kayura tell them Kaye and I are investigating what happened to Dais? Yeah, ok, so it isn't a secret a lot of people in the city know what I do for a living. But their offer did get my curiosity. I raised my brow at them. I didn't trust what they were pitching. Were they trying to make us stop the investigation by recruiting me into their fight club? "You're serious? Do you want me to join? Why?"

"You're not the trusting type are you?" Anubis asked as he studied me. He saw I shook my head. Anubis smirked, "Good, you shouldn't trust us. It'll keep you on your toes. But , the invitation is genuine. I'll tell you what. We'll give you a day or two to think about it. Then when you make up your mind, come by the Dynasty and we'll discuss the rest of the offer."

I watched as the three of them turned around and started to walk towards their car. "Hey! What about the damages you punks did to my car?"

Cale and Sekhmet kept walking. Anubis stopped and turn halfway and reached inside of his trench. He pulled out a wad of cash and tossed it in front of me. "Here, this should cover the damages. Think about our offer Rei Faun. We'll be seeing you soon. Oh, and one more thing, if you want to bring your gal around, we'll be more than fine in seeing her again."

My eyes narrowed as I clenched my fists while I watched the three of them were in their car and drove away. I walked to the bundle of cash and picked it up. My eyes went wide when I leafed through. This looked like more than enough to pay for the damages they did to my car and then some. I pocketed the money and walked back to my car and got inside. At least my car was drivable, so no major damage there, most of the damage seemed cosmetic. But still, there were better ways of getting my attention than trashing my car. It was getting to need to get washed up and some sleep. Tomorrow was going to be another long day. I pulled out onto the street and headed home. It didn't take long for me to arrive. I got inside and hid the money in a safe place before I figured out what to do with it later. I was too tired to call Ryo and Sage about what happened. All I wanted at the moment was a shower and sleep.