Sorry for the wait I lost a few chapters so I've had to rewrite them, please bear with me! And thanks for the love for this story, much appreciated!

(Sophia's POV)

I placed more clothes in my suitcase, pausing when my eyes caught the picture frame. My mother and I. I could feel a part of me breaking but I understood what I had to do. I zip up the sides, stepping out into the dark hall. My eyes cast to the left, taking in Takeda's sleeping frame, his door never shut completely should I want to enter.

I pause, feeling guilt hit me, and quietly whisper "I'm sorry."

I turn, walking down the stairs, and quietly shut the door, leaving my keys in the mailbox. I glance at the approaching lights and walk down to the taxi "Downtown, please."

I open the door, ignoring the male at the front desk, and make my way to the elevator. I wasn't even sure if he was here, but I knew if I was going to get any portion of the truth I needed to face... him.

I feel that shiver of fear run down my spine and my stomach tighten. I shake my head, tossing his face from my mind, and set out onto the twenty-fourth floor. I walk down the hall, not really counting the room, and still find myself before the door. His door, I could feel that warm heat from behind it. I pause, sigh softly, and knock. The other side of the room stays quiet, too quiet for my liking but I knew he was home from the smell of smoke. I knock again, this time with more force and for a longer time. I guess I pissed him off because this time the door opens. I duck as a long fist goes over my head and I glance up at Doyle.

The redhead stops, simply staring at me in shock "Sophia?"

I stand, pushing his arm out of my way with my fingers, and swallow the ball in my throat "Okay, you win."

His eyebrow raises "I win what?"

I curl my hands into fists "I want you to teach me how to fight. I want you to train me as your student."

(3rd person pov)

"What! What do you mean she's gone?" Baki states

"I mean she's gone," Takeda repeats.

"Like she was kidnapped right?"Kozue was already formulating plan A-Z "It has to be the convicts."

"No Kozue's I mean she's gone. Her stuff is gone, her clothes are gone, everything is gone."

"She left?" Baki states

"I woke up this morning and she was gone, she couldn't have left more than eight hours ago."

"Okay," Baki stands up "then we go look for her."

"Yeah, all of her usual places." Kozue was standing as well "I can phone Iowa, see if she knows anything."

"Sophia's phone was on the counter but I can't get in."

"I know her passcode, it's fine."

Takeda leaves through the door and Kozue was pacing the room.

"This doesn't make sense. Why would she leave?"

Baki stands to comfort her "People do what they feel they need to do Kozue, for all we know Sophia's been planning this for a while."

"To just leave! No! She would've told me. I mean we're practically sisters for Christ's sake!"

"Kozue!" Baki tries but she turns from him

"No, she wouldn't do this to me. Not again. Not without telling me first."

"Hey hey hey," Baki grabs her shoulders "let's just look for her okay? Then we can panic."

She nods once slowly "okay..."

(Kozue's pov)

I stepped out of the store, tucking my phone in my pocket. It had been four hours and nothing. I sighed leaning against the wall and pause when a car rolls by. My eyes flicker up, catching the sleek black car stopping at the corner.

I felt my anger flare as none other than Hanayama steps out. I move almost running down the street and push past the two guards, slamming my hands into his chest. Hanayama stumbles back, more from shock than anything.

"What did you do?!" I hit him again "What did you do?!" I hit him again, almost missing the way his hand lifts to his men "What did you do?!"
The tears flowed down my cheeks as two hands rest on my shoulders "This is all your fault..."

"Kozue what happened?"

"What happened?" My anger flared again and I shove myself back "what happened?! Sophia's missing! She disappeared last night and I think it has to do with you!"

I watch his face twist "what? She's gone?"

"No, I just thought it would be a fun thing to say."

"Hey don't talk to-"

The male beside me comes to a stop when my foot connects with his crotch and I turn back to Hanayama

"All of this started because you two broke up! It ended and now all of this shit happened!"

"Kozue-"

"Don't Kozue me!" I hit him again "she's gone and I can't- I don't-" I run my hand through my hair "oh god... why the fuck does this keep happening?!"

"Kozue!" I turn seeing Baki running down the street. Had it been any other time I would have laughed at how easily the men separated.

"Baki is Sophia really gone?"

"Yeah, about 12 hours ago." Hanayama sighs causing Baki's to narrow "what did you do?"

The two of them fell silent, eyes communicating with words I couldn't hope to understand.
10 seconds.
20 seconds.
30 seconds and Hanayama sighs again.

"She's gifted."

My brow furrowed. Gifted?

"Like who?" Baki questions, already in-tune with whatever he was speaking.

"You."

I watch Baki's eyes widen "Me? Are you serious?"

"You haven't noticed? Really Baki?"

This time Baki sighs "well I thought that she was special yeah."

Hanayama pulls out his phone "if she left 12 hours ago-"

"She's probably looking for a teacher." Baki nods "fuck, I should have noticed it. She was acting weird at the house."

"No, I should have said something. I wanted to talk to you before all of this-"

I toss my hands up "uh guys!" Both of them turn to me "what the hell are you talking about?!"

Both of them share a look and I fight the urge to kick them.

Baki sighs "Kozue Sophias different. She's wired differently than other people." He rubs his neck "when someone is put in a stressful situation they run or freeze right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, sometimes there's a third choice, fight. People like Hanayama and me, Retsu, Doppo, we crave it. Fighting. Something in us craves that rush of endorphins, the thrill of putting it on the line."

"So what? Sophia's an adrenaline junkie now?"

"No! She's-" he exhaled in frustration "any help?"

Hanayama gives him a look that soon flickers over to me "Sophia's gifted and right now she's walking a fine line between growing up as Baki or Yujiro. That all depends on the person who teaches Sophia how to use her gift." I see Baki's father flash through my mind. The way he tore through the fighters in the underground arena and enjoyed it. That sick twisted smile on his face "if Sophia left without saying anything then I have a feeling I know who she chose."

I felt my stomach tighten. Hanayama had never been one to mince words.

"If she chose Doyle can we even stop her now?"

"Well we could go after him but he probably moved already. Sophia's too well known in this area."

"So she really left?" Both heads turn back to me "to do what? To learn what? To fight?" I run a hand through my hair "that makes no sense! Sophia already knows how to fight!"

"Not like us." Baki sighs

"What?"

"It's not the same Kozue." Hanayama adds shaking his head "it's not the same..."

..

..

"So we should go to the cops right?"

"No, if we go to the cops we're just going to scare her away."

"What?"

"Sophia left because we didn't acknowledge her as a fighter," Retsu sighs.

The five men sat around my kitchen, each one thinking about god knows what. Trying to keep all of this straight was confusing.

"She most likely left because we wouldn't help her."

"Yeah, so we go to the cops."

Baki shakes his head "we have to find Sophia. We have to fix whatever we broke but she has to come back on her own."

Hanayama looks down at me "Kozue, we have one chance to fix this. If Sophia truly sides with Doyle, there won't be anything we can do for her."

I sighed, pulling my leg up to my chest, the warm bath water wasn't nearly as relaxing as it usually was. That scene kept playing out in my head and the guilt kept gnawing at my insides.

She'd been so quiet when my mom went to pick her up from the hospital. The way she sat there, quietly staring at the wall like she'd been through hell and back. She looked hallow. Defeated. Any words of comfort died on my lips.

I knew something was wrong but the boys said we had one more chance. We could get her back, that's what everyone said. But that did little to stop the tiny thoughts, the painful thoughts.

If we had a chance, why did it already feel like we lost her?