Chapter 12: Blackmailed
Michiru sat on the bed in the cheap hotel room she had rented, staring off into distance. The album laid next to her, but right now, Michiru didn't really care about it. She was too worried about Haruka to think about something else than her bodyguard. The violinist had no clue where her blonde friend now was; she was sure that Peter would contact her if he still wanted the album. But on the other hand…Haruka had been captured three days ago, and nothing had happened yet. "What if he just killed her?" Michiru thought to herself, the thought of Haruka dead bothering her more than anything else. The aqua haired woman did a scared jump when her cell phone rang. Quickly, Michiru grabbed the precious object, answering the call. "Hello?" "Hey there, it's Peter." The homophobic man grinned. Michirus fingers clasped around the cell phone in such a tight way that the plastic housing produced some protesting cracking noises. "Where's Haruka? What did you do to her?" the aqua haired woman shouted at Parker. He chuckled in reply. "You think I'll tell you that? Don't worry, she's not dead…yet. But she will die, if you don't do what we tell you." "What do you want?" Michiru asked helpless, knowing that the only thing she could do was to fulfill Peter's wishes. "My album." Peter now replied. "And I want you to stop giving concerts, dyke." Michiru closed her eyes for a moment before she spoke: "Okay. If you promise to let Haruka go." Peter just laughed at her. "You aren't in the position to ask for things, Kaioh. You should be grateful that I didn't kill your blonde friend yet." Michiru squeezed her eyes shut, nearly breaking the cell phone in her anger. "At least let me talk to her." She then begged. There was silence for a few moments, and then Harukas voice came: "Michiru?" "Haruka!" Michiru cried out. "Haruka, are you all right?" The blondes next words shocked Michiru to no end. "Tell him not to hurt me anymore." Haruka whispered, her voice clearly showing that she was crying. "Please, make him stop…" "Shut it!" Peters voice could be heard, followed by a loud thudding noise and a hoarse moan of Haruka. "Stop it!" Michiru yelled into the phone. "Don't hurt her!" "Too late." Peter replied, snickering. "She was at our mercy for three days now, and my bodyguards need a sparing partner who doesn't fight back." "Asshole!" Michiru cursed at him, and his tone grew stern. "Now now, behave yourself. Let's get back to business." Michiru let out a small sigh. "Okay. Do you want to meet me somewhere?" "Yes." Peter replied. "And since I'm in such a good mood today…I'll hand Haruka over to you when you give me the album." Michiru felt relief creeping up inside her; she could get Haruka out of the hell she was in right now. "Agreed. Where and when?" the violinist spoke. "Tonight, at nine o'clock, in the Tokyo City park. Don't try to find us there, we will find you. And if you don't come, Haruka dies." With that, Parker hung up the phone before Michiru could say anything more.
Peter hung up the phone and tucked it securely back into his pocket before he turned to look at Haruka. The blonde still sat chained to the tubes, her eyes staring down on her legs. Peter knelt down in front of her, grinning, and suddenly his fist shot forward, hitting Harukas right shoulder – were one of the bodyguards had aimed his throwing knife the day before in training. Haruka threw her head back in her neck and let out a painful scream that was muffled by the gag Peter had shoved into her mouth again after her talking to Michiru. Closing her eyes, Haruka hung her head low again, moaning in pain while blood ran down her shoulder, soaking her already bloody shirt. "Stupid dyke." Peter muttered, grabbing Harukas chin and forcing her to look at him. "Training starts in one hour. Better already prepare yourself." He grinned, slapped the blondes face out of pure fun and left.
Michiru stood in the Tokyo City Park, waiting for Peter to arrive, the album under her left arm. It was quarter past nine now, and the violinist was really worried. All of a sudden, a black, unmarked car came driving up towards her, stopping a few meters away. The driver's door opened, and Peter climbed out. "Hello, Miss Kaioh." He greeted her, smiling. "Did you bring what I wanted you to bring?" Michiru held up the album before she asked: "Did you bring Haruka?" Peter made a gesture towards the car, and the back door opened. One of his bodyguards got out, then reached in and pulled Haruka out, holding her in front of him. Michiru gasped at the sight of her friend. Harukas wrists were handcuffed behind her back in such a tight way that the stab wound in her shoulder was torn open and could not clot; her feet were tied together with a piece of wire, and a thick gag between her teeth kept her from screaming or even talking. It was obvious that Haruka had been badly beaten during her imprisonment; her face was swollen, and her clothes were bloodstained. "Oh my God." Michiru whispered. "Haruka…let her go!" the last three words were directed towards Peter, who now looked at the man who held Haruka and nodded. The thug pulled out a nipper, bent down and cut the wire that held Harukas ankles together before he straightened up again and pushed the blonde in the back roughly, causing her to stumble forward a few meters before she fell on her knees. "The album." Peter commanded. Michiru threw it over to him, and he caught it, smiling. "And remember: no more concerts. Oh, and before you get the idea to go to the police again: the Chief Commander is one of us, so don't even try." With that, Peter threw a small silver key over to where Haruka knelt, then got into his car and drove off, along with his bodyguard. Michiru hurried over to the blonde and knelt down next to her, picking the key up in the process. She quickly unlocked the handcuffs, causing Harukas arms to slump forward, then pulled the gag out. Haruka let out a small moan, and she would've fallen forward if it hadn't been for Michiru, who held her tight. "Shht. It'll be alright, Haruka…I'll get you into a hospital, it'll be alright."