Would you Kill for Love?

Miss Makimachi nodded her head and sat down on the lounge getting herself comfortable. I guess we would be sitting down for a while, but I left to walk into the kitchen to get us some coffee and came back placing it on the table remembering hers was white with no sugar. I rummaged through the draw near the television and pulled out a tape recorder and new tape placing it on the coffee table as well. I could feel Miss Makimachi's eyes staring at me as I sat on the ground placing a black top over me, to cover up the wound on my shoulder and a few other scars I had received over the years.

"Do you have to record me?" Miss Makimachi spoke her eyes wavering slightly. I gave her a silent, but stern look and watched her eyes drift away as she mumbled out her reply.

"Right…stupid question." I pressed record on the tape and sat leaning against the coffee table as she began talking.

"I don't know who the main person is in all of this. I just have my suspicions, which I'll say when I'm ready. When I was 10 years old, my mother began acting differently, almost scared about something, but I wasn't too sure and so it never bothered me at all. I guess she placed it down that I was too young to understand, but there were many things I understood, more then she'll ever know. When I was 11 my mother thought I was so beautiful that she asked if I wanted to do some modelling, just for local stores and just for fun as well. I had gone along and it came to me so naturally that I met a man called Yukishiro Enishi." I fisted my hand hearing that name…that name I hated so much!

"Detective Shinomori? Is everything alright?" I heard Miss Makimachi ask and took a deep breath calming my nerves and nodded my head letting her continue.

"My mother introduced me to him and he was so wonderful! I was a little worried at first, thinking he'd be really mean and uptight if I made any mistakes but it turned out that he had started out like a model and actually had a few other clients with him and introduced me around. Enishi changed my life."

"Yukishiro Enishi is a criminal!" I blurted out before I could stop myself. I watched as Miss Makimachi's eyes widened looking over at me but they flashed angrily, her hands fisting as she shouted back, defending the man.

"Enishi is a good man! He saved mine and Kaoru-chan's life!" My eyes widened the briefest hearing her say my sister's name. She had slapped her hand over her mouth, her eyes closing in mortification as though this was something she wasn't supposed to reveal to anyone. I watched as Miss Makimachi bowed over slightly trying to get her emotions under control. I dare not say a word, hoping Miss Makimachi would continue with her story about Enishi.

"They are known as the Five Powers of the Dragons, each coming under two leaders, but each group having their own small number of men and ranking's. Fugita Daisuke was one of the pawns being used in the Black Dragons. There are others too…just like him…all ready to end their life for their supposed leaders who do nothing but sit in hiding."

"Do you know names Miss Makimachi?" I questioned getting out a small notebook and pen.

"Look the names Misao alright!" I arched an eyebrow at her and watched her blush in embarrassment. She shifted slightly on the couch, grabbing one of the cushions and hugging it to her as she spoke once more.

"I don't know who the leader of each group is, just names okay. Tetsuji Hayashi belongs to the Red Dragons. Noburo Kamata to the green, Yamazaki Okuda to the gold and Takashi Konishi to the crystal."

"Crystal?" I questioned and watched as Misao shifted again, this time lying down, her head resting on her folded arm as a makeshift pillow. I too noticed the way my shirt rode up her thighs and cast my eyes into my coffee not wanting to look at them…forcing myself not to look at them.

"The lowest group in the Five powers of the Dragons. The easiest ones to break if you ever got a hold of one."

"Takashi Konishi, where have I heard that name…" I mumbled softly to myself and snapped my eyes up to look over at Misao when she spoke.

"My step-brother, he is…part of them and part of my family also."

"How is it that you know so much?" I questioned again.

"Each member of these dragon groups have a wing tattooed somewhere on their body, in the colour of the so-called dragon of the group they are in. If the wing is small then they are the lowest and if it is outstretched and big, then they are the leaders of that coloured group. Fugita's was small making him the lowest, the first to sacrifice if anything every happened…he being the one to come after us first. After my mother died I was just about ready to leave the studio when a group of men came in, these being the ones I mentioned. I heard names ad could see tattoo's. They'd come looking for me…come to take me away, but Enishi…Enishi did not let them and they beat him practically to death! He saved me…saved Kaoru-chan as well." Misao ended softly…her voice saddened as her mind cast her back to memories of her and Kaoru-chan being together. I watched Misao brush a few tears away and then she took in a deep breath continuing once more.

"I always suspected Mimi, my step mother knowing something about these group of men. When my mother passed away it was like she came out of nowhere to 'console' my father with his loss and not long after he'd married the woman. I was so angry with him, not even thinking about what kachan would say about this. I hated her from the first time she stepped into our house. My father was…is so delusional! He thinks she's perfect in everyway and that I should give her and her children a chance. No way in hell will I do such a thing like that! One day I got home early from school and came home the back way. I entered the house silently as I usually did and could hear voices from the living room and poked my head around the corner. Guess what I saw?" Misao spoke dryly looking over at me.

"The men you spoke earlier about." I finished for her and she replied with a faint yes.

"I ran straight from the house heading to the only place I knew I was safe and that was to Enishi's. I told him about the ordeal and I knew he was scared for me as well. I couldn't go to my father for help because he'd probably put me away in some mental institution or something. He's not the man he used to be…he's not the loving father I know him as. That bitch has changed him! That bitch has turned him against me!"

"So you think your step mother is the one doing this? The one who keeps kidnapping you and holding your father ransom even though her 'underlings' do the dirty work for her?" I questioned once more.

"I know you think this is insane but it makes sense to me. I watched my mother die in front of me when I was a child, but to the life of me after all these years I still don't know who shot her. Somewhere deep inside me I have placed all the images away not wanting to bear this grief anymore. It was all clouded in mystery being one of those unsolved murders and then they have the nerve to tell me 'mummy was sick darling, she had to go take a rest.' Something like that can never be taken away from me. One day I will find out who did it and there is no amount of money that can keep them out of prison. The one thing I remember from the whole experience is seeing half a full dragon on the man's chest that is all. I've spent countless hours on many therapist couches trying to get counselling but have given up hope that I'll ever be the same again. I was introduced to another therapist only this time he uses something called hypnotherapy."

"I am aware of it." I interrupted Misao watching as she nodded her head and continued on.

"That is how I got the tattoo of half a dragon using hypnotherapy. Just recently I've worked out that the dragon is black, red, gold, green and crystal in colour. I feel they are part leader with someone else. Two halves always make a whole. I can see this dark silhouette in my dreams, but no matter how many times I have hypnotherapy this figure just doesn't want to be seen."

"Perhaps it is not time for you to see it." I spoke up and listened as a small chuckle left Misao's lips as she shook her head and replied back.

"You sound like my latest therapist. I was surprised you found out about this being my sixth time. You must have a very good informant." I said nothing to that and watched Misao sit up reaching for the tape recorder and turning it off. I was about to protest when she placed her hand up wanting me to stay silent until she finished and so I did.

"It was me, I set up the first five kidnapping's with Enishi's help. I had it staged I was kidnapped by masked men, Enishi having connections with the men who pulled it off and taking me to a secluded house or a pre-booked hotel room. I got them to tie me up, place a gag in my mouth and blind fold me as well. I held my own father to ransom getting back some of the money my own mother had put away for me for when I was older. I had them film me and send it back to my father wanting to know what it would be like for him to see the last Makimachi being like this. I staged it all, making death threat ransom notes, making me speak in a scared and shaken voice wanting him to see that I had been bruised…which was just make-up on Enishi's behalf. I had scraped all the money I could get out of him and placed it away for me knowing that I'd never get a cent out of his will since he changed it all and was giving everything to Mimi. He never involved the police that being the way I told him not to, lying to him that they would kill me if he did."

"This time it was different, wasn't it Misao?" I asked softly watching as she nodded her head.

"I wanted Mimi to see everything, to think one of the people in the dragons had betrayed her and taken me hostage demanding some of "her" money even though everything is fathers. I wanted to see that bitch's face at seeing me alive and well. I wanted her fuming on the inside about her not being able to touch me, but then I was taken and it hurt so much…I was so scared." I had pressed record on the cassette once more and Misao began to shake remembering her horrific ordeal…for real this time…

"I had wanted it to be all a bad dream. I was walking home from school and I could feel this car following me but there were no houses or shops around so I just began running, as fast as my legs could carry me. I was pushed to the ground, a gag placed over my mouth and a gun pointed at my head a deep voice telling me to stop struggling or else he would blow my head off. I was taken away and arrived at this huge mansion and was thrown into this room where a dark figure stood in the corner wanting me to undress. I still had the gag around my mouth and a guy cut the rope from around my wrists. I did exactly what he said, taking my clothes off as I still had a gun pressed to my head. I was ordered to lay down on the bed…and I did. I began crying as I now lay in only a bra and underwear and Takashi came over tying me to the bedposts. I knew it was he, he not being able to cover his voice or his movements from me. I read everyone very well and he stuck out like anything. The whole time I was there I was praying to the gods that this was all a big joke that Enishi had played on me, but it wasn't… I had someone lay beside me for many hours of the three days I was missing. He stunk of cheap cigars…always blowing the smoke over my face. His hands…they'd creep over my skin every now and then, his voice telling me how much of a beautiful woman I was…how much he wanted to…to sleep with me." I watched Misao break off her hand moving over her mouth and then with slightly wider eyes I watched her run from the room heading into the bathroom and heard the retching sounds she was making.

I turned off the recorder for now and got up heading for the bathroom to check on Misao. The toilet had flushed and I silently watched as she began washing her mouth out. I moved towards her grabbing a face washer and placed it under the cold water and then lay it flat across the back of her neck.

"I think you should get some rest. We shall finish this in the morning." Misao stared silently up at me and I turned around leaving the room with her following close behind. I took the tape from the recorder and placed it in my trouser pockets while grabbing my guns and my shoes and socks. I placed on Hannya's cap, another black trench coat and dark sunglasses.

"Where are you going?" Misao asked me.

"To buy us some food and to go have a small chat with a few people. Stay here and don't…"

"Use the phone, open the windows or better yet just don't move at all." Misao replied a small smile forming on her lips.

"Did I really say that?" I watched as Misao nodded her head and I spoke once more before heading out the door and locking it behind me.

"Its probably best that way, just try and find something entertaining to do without going outside."

* * * *

Hours had passed as I made my way down the dark alleyway towards my small apartment. There had been no word of any sightings from suspicious men or any questions about looking for a young woman and an older man. The 'Dragons' as Misao put it had gone into hiding as well. Something was up and I hated not knowing what was going on. These men were smart, very smart.

I made my way into the apartment locking the door behind me and the place was covered in darkness not a single light was on, Misao thinking correctly as it was best that way. Of course the blinds were closed, I don't think I've opened them once in my life actually. Trained assassins would pass it off as nothing, at least that is what I hoped for.

My eyes adjusted to the darkness quickly as they always did and I placed the bags on the couch and moved towards the bedroom to see Misao sleeping once more, a candle flickering on the chest of draws beside her, the orange light flickering over her pale skin. I noticed sheets of paper lay at the end of the bed and picked them up noticing my name had been written on them. Its seems Misao has written out a complete statement, not wanting to remember any more of what happened to her. Who could blame her anyway? She had signed it down at the bottom and a blank place was down there for me to sign as a witness and as the interview cop. First I'd have to go through it and I know she knew I would ask questions. I looked down at Misao to see she had snuggled into my blankets and pillows content and not even caring that she was resting in my bed…a stranger's bed. Her face was so peaceful as though she was never going through such traumas in her sleep.

I left the room taking the statement and the candle with me. I placed the candle on the kitchen bench and grabbed the bags placing them up there as well. I sat down on the stool but stopped shifting through a bag, as something was different. I grabbed the candle and moved further into the kitchen looking around. It was completely spotless. I swear I could see my reflection in the sink. I headed for the bathroom and it too was clean, just like the small laundry. I moved back into the main room and found a huge pile of clean and folded clothes sitting on one of the chairs. Trousers were hung on coathangers on a hook at the back of the door and all the rubbish had been collected and placed into the bin outside. Misao…had cleaned my entire apartment…

I moved back to the kitchen still slightly stunned. I'd never seen the place like this, even when I found this place it was a complete mess to begin with. I opened the refrigerator and could smell vanilla coming from it. I placed a small smirk on, Misao probably cleaning this as well. God knows what was left in that fridge. I'd hate to think what it smelled and looked like for that matter. I placed all the food in the fridge and headed back to the other bag, which held all the things, I got Megumi to buy for Misao. I'd conveniently followed her as she walked into a supermarket to buy herself groceries and asked her for this favour. Hey, like I'd know what to get a female and so I left that mystery for Megumi. I moved into the lounge room and sat down on the couch placing the candle onto the coffee table. I looked around the area and got up getting a pen from some jar next to the television. I finally noticed it read 'pens' on the side of it.

It was time to work…

* * * *

Many more hours had passed and I turned to the only window in the lounge room looking at the orange glow around the edge…the sun was rising. I suppressed another yawn and rubbed my eyes trying to focus them once more. The candle was still burning, that being the only light I used. I had moved from sitting on the couch to now sitting on the floor resting my back against the couch.

As the hours drawled on, I had begun to slouch and my head rested on a cushion behind me as I took time to close my eyes for a small rest. This time I could not beat the yawn escaping my lips and placed the pen down running my hands through my hair. I finally decided to get up to make some coffee and moved towards the kitchen placing the electric plug into the socket on the kettle and turned it on.

I still couldn't believe Misao had cleaned my place. It was like she knew she would be staying here and that this was becoming her place as much as it was mine. I guess she really couldn't live in such a pigsty and I'd have to thank her later. As I stood waiting for the kettle to boil the water my eyes were drooping, demanding they wanted sleep. Instead I moved towards the bathroom to have a hot shower…

* * * *

I stood under the shower nozzle my eyes closed but the steaming water flowed over my form. It was so relaxing I truly didn't want to get out. That however was soon squashed as I heard Misao's voice.

"Detective Shinomori, would you like me to make you a coffee?" I snapped my eyes open and lifted my head seeing the silhouette of her form near the door but not in the actual bathroom. I had left the door slightly ajar to let Miss Makimachi know I was back and where I was.

"Um sure…" I replied while turning off the taps and getting out of the shower, water dripping down my form to hit the bath mat. I grabbed one of the towels on the railing and dried myself off, while running the towel over my head drying my hair. I finally froze as I wrapped the towel around me waist knowing I had not brought any of my clean clothes Misao had washed with me. I actually didn't expect her to be up so early and I thought…

I shook my head and opened the door, stepping out of the bathroom and smiled down at the pile of clothes on the floor. Misao was reminding me to not forget that she to was now living in this apartment. I quickly dressed in the black loose pants and the grey shirt, placing the towel over the railing like a 'good boy' and headed into the main room bare foot.

"Good morning Detective Shinomori." I turned to stare at Misao to see her standing with a plate of food in her hands at the kitchen bench. She hadn't just made coffee, she had created a full blown breakfast for us. Misao was wearing a loose but slightly worn long sleeved black shirt of mine. On sleeve was longer then the other, it falling of her shoulder to show me her bare creamy skin underneath. I watched Misao place the plate of food on the bench waving me over to sit next to her and eat. I did as she asked me to and sat down beside her. We ate in silence, neither of us knowing what to make of this situation. Misao was thinking I was the cop assigned to protect her since she was my case to begin with. I gulped down a lump in my throat as I finally came to the realisation that Misao was not just a case to me…this one was going to get personal…

"Detective Shinomori, are the eggs okay?" Misao questioned me breaking our silence. I turned to stare down at the young woman and nodded my head before taking a bite of the hot toast. I munched softly on the toast, but finally replied back.

"Thank you…for cleaning my apartment Misao. I wasn't expecting it but thank you for doing it. I suppose that was probably the most interesting thing to find in a place like this. I guess it passed the time away too. Oh, you can stop calling me 'detective' as well. Shinomori or Aoshi is fine." I glanced down to see Misao staring up at me and noticed her cheeks were pinker then usual.

"H-Hai…" She had mumbled as a soft answer and I moved away, not finishing the breakfast she cooked just heading towards the couch and handed her the medium sized bag. She stared down at it and then her ocean blue eyes looked into mine for answers.

"I asked a female friend of mine to shop for you. There should be everything in there that you will need." Misao nodded her head and got off the stool to look inside the bag. As for myself I went back to eating the breakfast and drinking the coffee. I had to admit Misao was a pretty damn good cook too.

"Shinomori-san, what time did you come home…err…I mean back?" I let Misao's statement slip and answered her question.

"About two or three in the morning I think. I found your statement and worked over it this morning. I've made notes for myself and for Captain Saitou as well, but there are some things I'll need to ask you later on…when the time is right."

"I understand…" Misao absently spoke while getting up and taking our plates to the sink and she began washing them up.

"I signed your statement by the way Misao." She turned around to smile at me glad that I believed what she wrote down. I blinked silently when I heard a small laugh escape her lips. Misao ended up moving around the kitchen bench to stand beside me and I faced her wanting to know what she was up to. I sat frozen in my seat as Misao moved her hands up, her dainty fingers brushing the strands of my wet hair.

"They are all messed up and it looks funny like that. I never thought a cop could be so…" Misao died off as she finally realised how 'friendly' she was being towards me…a cop and backed away slightly, her blue eyes wide but staring up into mine. Something…an intense moment was passing between us, something we had no idea about but knew it was huge and affected the both of us.

I snapped out of my slight daze when I heard a knock at the door. I raced silently towards my guns lying on the couch and picked them up standing in the middle of the main room, the guns were pointed directly at the door. Again the unknown person knocked once more and I began moving closer towards the front door. It wasn't Megumi I knew that. I told her not to come over anymore and I could feel the strong ki from behind the door and stared down at Misao who had placed her hand on my arm trying to softly calm me down.

"Shinomori-san, its okay. I asked him to come here."

"I told you not to go anywhere." I gruffly spoke in a low voice. Misao's eyes wavered slightly and she finally spoke once more heading for the door, but I shoved her back not letting her finish.

"I didn't go anywhere…I just…"

"Misao-san, are you in there? I received your note and I came straight away." My mouth parted open in surprise hearing that soft almost feminine voice.

I placed one gun in the back of my trousers at the small of my back and unlocked the door quickly while reefing the 'visitor' inside. I slammed the door shut quicker then anyone could blink and locked it once more. I turned around to stare at the new occupant in the apartment.

"Himura? What the bloody hell are you doing here?" I questioned the red haired man slightly angry. Misao stared over at me and then looked at Himura asking him her own question.

"You two know each other?"

* * * *

To be continued…

* * * *