Chapter 16

(Rukawa)

'Got to go pick up Jin…'

"Ohayou, Rukawa-sama. You're up early. Where are you going?" Hikoichi asked.

'How can people be so cheerful in the morning? It's abnormal,' I thought, "to bring Jin his exo-suit."

"Why?! What happened!?" he asked.

"Kaede," Ayako said coming up beside me and whispered, "Sendoh took off his com-link and I can't find him anywhere."

'What?'

"Is something the matter?" Hikoichi asked, "did something happened to Jin-san? Is he-"

"He's fine," Ayako said, "we just got other minor problems."

"If you're busy I can take the suit to Jin-san," Hikoichi said,.

'I should try to find that do'aho and see where he went,' I thought and handed Hikoichi the case and a sheet of paper, "here's the address."

"Hai! I'm on it!" he said enthusiastically.

.

(Hikoichi)

'Why would Jin-san come to a place like this? Huh?! Another dead end?!' I groaned, 'that's the fifth one. Maybe I should - Mitsui?!?!'

He walked out of the pharmaceuticals.

'What's he doing here?' I wondered and looked down at the case, 'I really should get this to Jin-san. He's waiting for me…but…me being a little late won't matter, right? He'll forgive me. I'm sure of it!'

I frowned as Mitsui turned the corner and curiosity got the better of me, and I followed him.

.

(Raikatuji Juri)

I looked at Haruko curled up in a ball and sobbing her hearts out, then noted the gorilla and pile of ashes on the ground, "So you tried out that new weapon, I see."

Maki nodded.

"Dangerous. Use the ray on a human and they gain mutant powers. But use it on a mutant and their powers will overload making their power consume them."

"You read me mind?" he asked.

I shook me head, "Can't even if I wanted to, you're wearing that helmet. I read her mind, poor girl forced to see her brother turn into that beast and her boyfriend reduced to ashes."

"Never knew you to be sympathetic. Is Fujima of use?"

"Sure, I'm using him to convince Sendoh what I'm telling him is true. So when do you plan to kill him?"

Maki smirked, "Change of plans, first we kill Rukawa."

'Amazing how much one event can change a person. In Sendoh's memory, Maki is so different,' I grinned, "you want to make Sendoh fight Rukawa?"

.

(Sendoh)

I sat up.

"Are you ok, Akira-kun?"

"Uh…yeah," I said, 'was that dream real or just due to my overactive imagination?'

"Lets go for lunch," she said.

"Lunch?" I looked at the clock, "it's almost 2?! I'm so late for class."

"You're still going to school?" she asked.

"Of course," I said and got up, 'are they looking for me? Is Kaede worried?'

.

(Mitsui)

I frowned, 'I'm being followed and I can't shake him off. Who is it? Whoever it is can't be a friend or they wouldn't be following me. I got to get rid of him and get back to Kogure. If he's been following me for a while Kimi-kun might be in trouble.'

I went into the long alley, 'He's very good. I can't give him a direct psychic blast, guess I'll have to do it here.'

.

(Rukawa)

'Where did he go? He took off his com-link back at HQ, isn't at school. Could he-' I paused my runaway thoughts as I got to my car.

"Kaede, I'm so glad you're here-"

"Where were you?" I asked cutting him off.

He looked hesitant and suddenly smiled cheerfully, "Were you worried about me?"

'Avoiding my questions,' I thought and decided to give him one more chance, "why did you take off your com-link?"

"Uh…well…I'm really sorry about that. I promise it'll never happen again," he said putting his hand over his chest.

'Promise? Don't worry I'll make you keep that promise,' I closed my eyes and said softly, "get in the car."

"Hai!" he replied cheerfully.

'So unsuspecting…'

.

(Koshino)

"He's not responding," I said.

Ayako was thoughtful, "Bad reception? He should be with Jin, try Jin's frequency and see if you get anything."

I readjusted the frequency, "Jin?"

"Yeah. Please don't tell me Rukawa tripped and crushed my exo-suit, I really need it."

"Isn't Hikoichi there with it?" Ayako asked.

"Hikoichi? No, w-"

"What do you mean no?!" I asked, "he left like seven hours ago."

"Calm down," Jin said, "you know how excitable he is. Maybe he found something really worth checking and forgot-"

"He won't forget something like this! And even if he does, he should at least be responding to my call!" I said annoyed at everyone's calmness.

"Look, we got his location. We can go find him," Ayako said.

"It could be a trap," Jin pointed out.

"Well, all the more reason to rescue him," I stated.

"We need more thorough planning," Jin said.

'No we don't,' I thought.

.

(Ayako)

"What is it?" Rukawa asked coming in after receiving my call and looked at Koshino, "what's going on?"

"I had to restrain him. He was being irrational. Did you find Sendoh?" I asked.

"Found and sedated."

"Sedated?"

Koshino was trying to scream through the gag in his mouth. I ignored him, "Why?"

"Can't tie him up like Koshino since he can teleport," he stated like it was blatantly obvious, "what happened here?"

"Hikoichi didn't deliver the exo-suit and isn't responding."

Mumbling from Koshino.

"If I take out the rag are you going to curse me again or will stay calm this time?"

"Hikoichi's location is moving," Rukawa said pointing at the screen.

.

(Maki)

I looked at my troop, "Are you all ready?"

"Hai!"

"You've decided to attack Dawn?" Juri asked.

I shook my head, "Evo. Dawn will be my final target, as soon as you get Sendoh ready."

~TBC