A/N: Sorry, I really should just give a list of all the ppl's mutant powers but I usually just make stuff up as I go along. Here's more info about ppl and their mutant powers.

Uozumi/Akagi = super human strength and agility (I'm running out of ideas)

Fukuda = he has the ability to harden (actually it's more like forming a shield) around NE part of his body, so if he decides to harden his fist and punching U, imagine being hit by a bowling ball.

Kiyota = he has the ability to multiply himself *L* (can U imagine 10 Kiyota's running around U? The horror!!) inspired by "X-men: Evolution"

Hanamichi = ability to manipulate and create fire (which would make him a pyro-type, he actually has a type name!)

Chapter 9

(Uozumi)

"What's the urgency?"

"Just set up the communication line to this address," Mitsui stated, "ASAP."

"Hai," I said, "give me 5 minutes."

.

(Mitsui)

"It's set up."

I nodded, "You may leave."

Uozumi frowned but left me alone.

I turned on the screen, "Kimi-kun…"

An electronic voice came through laughing, "Uh, nope. Sorry to disappoint you, Mitsui Hisashi-san. You must really love him, still check your private mail box everyday in hope that he'll contact you? How long has it been now? 3 years? I wonder how that feels, waiting, waiting, and more waiting for someone-"

"Who are you and how did you get the password for my mail box?" I asked extremely annoyed.

More laughing, "Now, now. Don't be angry. I do believe you know the answer to that. I'll give you one guess."

"Don't play games with me."

"Ok, ok. I think this is someone you'd like to see."

Then the black screen began to change and showed Kogure looking deathly ill, and hooked up to an odd apparatuses.

"What have you done to him?!" I demanded.

"Nothing fatal yet," the voice said sounding amused, "but…I don't think you want to know my plans for him. But if you come to the following address you can save him. You got three days and I assure you he will be here. But I'll also warn you, this is a trap. So now the question remains, how important is this man to you?"

The screen zoomed in on Kimi-kun's angelic face before terminating.

'Damn it!'

.

(Kiyota)

I frowned, "Mitsui-sama, I object to this mission!!"

"No one asked you for you opinion."

"Mitsui-sama, I agree with Kiyota. You can't expect us to risk our lives for a human and a human that has no connection to us at all," Uozumi said, "he's with Dawn, let them do it."

"He left Dawn."

"Even less reason to rescue him," I pointed out, "we can't even use him to blackmail Dawn."

"So you two are refusing my request."

"Just give us one good reason, that's all I ask," Uozumi said.

"I'll help you," Fukuda stated.

"Arigatou," Mitsui said, then looked at Uozumi and myself, "if you must have a reason, just know he is very important to me."

I sighed, "Fine, fine. I'll help you. What's the plan?"

"We contact Dawn."

.

(Jin)

"Rukawa-sama, Mitsui wants to speak with you."

"Be right there," he stated.

I was thoughtful, 'Why did Mitsui call? This was unexpected. Must be something big since Evo's insistent on keeping our distances.'

Very soon Rukawa came in with Sendoh behind him. Rukawa sat down and I turned on the screen.

"Hi, Rukawa."

"Mitsui," he said.

"I'm not going to beat around the bushes. I require your assistance."

Sendoh looked at me, I shrugged.

"Continue."

"NP has Kogure."

'Kogure-san?!' I thought.

"So?" Rukawa said in the same monotone voice, "he left Dawn. I have no obligation to him or any reason to help you."

Mitsui looked livid, "So that's how it's going to be. He was your friend."

'What is Rukawa up to? He's not like this…' I thought and looked at Sendoh, who smiled and shrugged.

Rukawa smirked.

"You truly are as cold and uncaring as rumoured," Mitsui stated, "what do you want?"

"Davenport," Rukawa stated without any hesitation, "I do believe you erased his memory."

'He knew already that Mitsui was going to ask him for help and what he wanted in exchange. But how could he know?'

Mitsui looked surprised and said, "Deal."

"How do you want me to aid you?"

"I need the floor plan of the address I'm going to send you, plus the security plans. And I also require you aid in the actually process of rescuing Kogure," he said.

Rukawa nodded, "Alright. Contact you later."

.

(Rukawa)

'Kogure-san's captured? How did that happen? Have they tortured him? We got to rescue him ASAP.'

"Jin find out the info Mitsui wants, when you've got it contact me and send a copy to Mitsui," I told him.

"Hai."

I frowned, 'It's obviously a trap. Who shall I take with me?'

"Who's Davenport?" Sendoh asked.

I ignored him, 'I can't knowingly lead them into a trap.'

"Rukawa, who's Davenport?" Sendoh tugged on my sleeve and asked in a whiny voice.

I resisted the urge to ask him if he was five.

"Why is he so important to you? Do you like him?"

"Baka."

"You're yelling at me for another guy?"

"He's of no importance to me. Now keep quiet," I said wondering why I don't just ignore him, 'this is a crappy situation. I got to rescue Kogure-san but I can't risk sending them into danger.'

"Hai, and you really shouldn't worry," he said and just when I was thinking maybe he had a brain, he had to go add, "it gives you wrinkles and white hair. But then again, you with your powers could just conceal it. But still-"

"What part of keep quiet do you not understand?" I asked.

He put his hand over his mouth and said something that was muffled.

I sighed, 'Baka.'

.

(Ayako)

"I only need Ayako to come with me," Rukawa said, "Jin you deactivate whatever security problem you can from here."

"Hai."

"If it's to rescue Kogure-san, I want to go," Koshino said.

"Me too," Hikoichi added.

"No. You two are not going," Rukawa stated firmly.

"If we don't start off now, we'll be late," Sendoh said cheerfully.

"Who said you're going?" Rukawa asked.

"Because you need me," Sendoh said and upon looking at Rukawa's not so happy face added, "I mean, you don't need me, need me. But I'm of use. In case you guys are in a jam or something, I can teleport you out, right? Let me go with you. Please. I promise to stay out of the way. And it's my duty as a bodyguard to follow you, and I take my duty seriously. Kind of like the captain and the ship-"

Rukawa let out a growl.

I was trying very hard to not laugh, "Sendoh, just out of curiosity. Who's the captain and who's the ship?"

Rukawa stared at me.

"What? It's a valid question," I said, 'knowing the danger there's going to be, he's still willing and insistent on coming with us. Why? It can't be for a stranger he doesn't know. If it's not for Kogure, then…'

Rukawa sighed, "You may come. But stay out of the way."

Sendoh smiled, "Hai!"

'Kaede's really lucky. Sendoh's not as foolish as he pretends to be.'

.

(Mitsui)

"Who is he?" I asked looking at the tall, overly cheerful looking guy.

"Not important," Rukawa stated.

'Why would he bring someone of no importance with him? He must have some strong, unique mutant power,' I thought, "lets go."

We got to the 25 storey high complex.

"Please identify yourself," came an electric voice.

Ayako morphed and looked at the monitor, "Jikao Aoi."

"Voice and retinal scan completed. Identification verified. Please enter."

We were all wary was we proceed to the elevator, but nothing happened.

"22nd floor," Rukawa said.

I pressed the button, 'This is going much too smoothly…'

.

(Kiyota)

The elevator got to the 21st floor, when it began to plummet. I let out a curse. But the elevator was slowing down as the screeching sound got louder and finally came to a stop on the 6th floor.

"Get out," Rukawa said as a hole appeared.

We all rushed through.

"Guess we're going to have to walk up all those stairs, huh?" spiky-hair guy said smiling.

"There are valves in the stairwell that releases poisonous gas," Mitsui said.

"Jin should've deactivated it," Ayako said.

"We got no choice but to use the stairs," Uozumi said.

Ayako touched her earring, "He just told me he deactivated everything. We should have a safe walk up."

I groaned, "That's horrible news. That means we got to walk up 15 flights of stairs."

"Actually it's 16. 22 minus 6 is 16," porcupine head said.

"Whatever! That was not the point. The point is, that's a lot of walking."

"And here I was thinking the point was you couldn't do simple subtraction," he said grinning.

"Teme!!"

He ran, and I chased after him.

.

(Uozumi)

"You two hold it," Mitsui said.

"But I almost have him," Kiyota whined.

"Look how much faster running up the stairs is compared to walking. We're on the 19th floor already," the boy said grinning.

"I sense 7 minds on the 21st floor, two of which belongs to Akagi and Hanamichi," Mitsui said.

"I got Sakuragi," Rukawa stated.

"I'll handle Akagi," I said.

"Whoever defeats their enemy first go to the next floor and rescue Kogure," Mitsui said.

I really don't understand why Mitsui-sama is so worried about that human.

.

(Rukawa)

We all paired off. Mitsui was eyeing the stairs on the opposite side of the room leading up. Kiyota had duplicated himself and was circling a mutant, challenging and mocking him. Fukuda's hands were glowing and I knew if he landed his punch, his opponent would be out for days. I wasn't worried about Ayako. I knew the training she was forced through, when she was held captive with me, by the government. But I was worried about Sendoh. First, I don't think he knows how to fight, much less capable of it and secondly, he mutant powers will be useless to him…

"What are you looking at? I'm here."

I focused my attention on Hanamichi and blew into my hands. I vision the water vapours from my breath turning to water droplets, and then solidifying into ice as it grew larger.

Flames flickered on his fingertips and shot at me.

I used the ice as shield, and as it evaporated, I made it thicker. I searched through my pockets and found what I was searching for. I came prepared for this, I suspected he'll be here. I toss the handful of sand at him.

The flames stopped and Hanamichi touched his face, "Damn you, Rukawa!"

I looked at the shards of glass on the ground. He lunged at me and whispered, "Cut the blue line, kitsune. Blue."

"…"

I pushed him off and made the ground grow around him. He sighed. I don't believe he ever really wanted to fight me. I spotted Mitsui running up the stairs. Kiyota was doing great job of irritating his opponent. Fukuda had his opponent on the ground. Ayako had apparently broken one of her enemy's leg. Uozumi and Akagi were on even grounds. And Sendoh…he was busy evading his enemy's energy blast.

I sighed and began concentrating my energy, 'Troublesome, baka. I shouldn't have brought him along.'

.

(Mitsui)

I frowned looking at the stuff hooked onto Kogure. It wasn't just medical apparatus, there was also a bomb with a rainbow-colour of wires, 'What am I going to do?'

They all rushed in.

"What's wrong?" Ayako asked.

I pointed at the bomb, "Bomb. Can't move him unless we deactivate it."

"Is there a blue wire?" Rukawa asked.

"Yes…"

"Cut it."

I looked at him, "How can you be so sure?"

"Hanamichi told me."

I frowned but knew I got no choice. I severed it.

"Bomb disabled," the electronic voice said, "building detonation activated. Starting countdown. 60 seconds, 59, 58..."

As the countdown began something fell and blocked the path to the stairs, and a force shield went all around the wall making it glow red.

'Crap. This is one good trap. If we cut the wrong wire, Kogure dies along with the cutter. If we cut the right wire, the building detonation countdown is activated,' I thought as I unhooked Kogure from the machines.

"57, 56, 55..."

"What do we do now?" Fukuda asked.

"Sendoh, it's action time," Ayako said.

"Hai. Where to?" he asked.

"Headquarters," Rukawa stated.

.

(Ayako)

Evo left but Mitsui promised to come back and trade Davenport for Kogure.

"You did a good job for you first mission. No fear at all," I commented.

Sendoh smiled, "Because I knew nothing would go wrong with Kaede there. You were really cool back there, didn't know you fought so well…"

I laughed, "You're really cute. You know I'm a trained assassin."

"I wish Kaede would call me cute instead of baka all the time," he said wistfully and grinned, "you're a trained assassin? Cool."

"It's not that impressive," I stated.

.

(NP's Leader)

"I trusted you, and you failed miserably," I said, "what do you have to say for yourself?"

She smiled, "I must admit I never expected them to escape the explosion but it doesn't matter. I calculated the slight probability that they might escape into my equation. I always have a backup plan for my backup plan."

"And?" I scowled.

She stoke my face, "Don't be angry. I promise to help you defeat your enemies and I will. Actually it may be much more fun to see them go at each other, don't you think?"

"What's you plan?"

She smiled slyly, "Everyone has a weakness, you just have to find it and exploit it. And Mitsui Hisashi's is Kogure. You didn't think I'll have him in my care and not alter him a bit, do you?"

I looked at her, "You played with his mind?"

"I prefer modify, but yes, I did. Didn't have time to complete all I wanted to do. But it's enough," she said grinning.

~TBC