Going under

(changed one detail of this song, Communication, by The Cardigans).

For 26 years I've been trying

to believe and confide in

different people I found

Some of them got closer than others

and some wouldn't even bother

and then you came around

Folken saw everything. Standing by the exit, they could not see him but he was able to clearly see them. For some reason, seeing them like that made him want to punch Richard's lights out. It puzzled him seeing as they all came from different backgrounds. Those two were with the law. He, on the other hand, was not.

When he got to his mother's house, he saw Van's Jag sitting outside their plush mansion. There was also a baby pink Mini Cooper parked beside it. The thing Folken detested the most, was girly women who loved all things pink. Inside was the usual turn of events.

"NO DON'T!... NO WAIT!... Listen baby I… Please babe…Huh?"

Obviously, the other person hung up on him. All of a sudden, Van threw his Nokia down at the polished marble floor, smashing his phone to pieces. Then he whipped out a gun and put it to his head. Folken literally flew towards him and knocked the gun from his grasp before punching him in the face so hard he fell unconscious. Fetching a pillow from a chair, he carefully put it under his brother's head and left. He summoned a maid to come and clean up the mess, instructing her to lock all of Van's weapons in Folken's vault.

Later that evening, Folken, Varie and Goau were having dinner when a grunt signalled Van's arrival. He joined them at the table, and a servant gave him a plate of wasabi and a pair of chopsticks. There were several dishes of sushi and noodles in the centre of the table, where everyone just helped themselves. Not having woken up properly, Van dunked some raw salmon into the wasabi, and gulped all of the sauce down. In an instant, his nostrils flared and he was coughing his guts up in the sink. Varie gave her son water to calm his stomach, but his eyes were still streaming.

"Serves you right." Said Goau.

"Give him a break dad; he's having a tough time." Folken stood up for his sibling.

"Women trouble son?"

Van could only nod. He took a swig of some eighteenth century red wine his father had acquired. Varie told a servant to give him some plain soup noodles instead.

"She won't come back to me." Van suddenly announced.

"Well you haven't exactly treated her like you should lately."

"Mom, you don't understand she… I do love her but… I dunno!!" Van buried his head in his hands.

"She's not Hitomi, never was and never will be. You have to accept that."

"Look, son, take it from someone who has the experience; love her for her, not because you can't have someone else. Women hate that more than anything; nobody likes being used as a substitute. If it's that difficult to give the girl what she wants, then it's probably best for you both to just call it a day. For good this time."

When it came to advice, Goau was in a league of his own. His friends would often consult him before making a major decision. He knew it was time to tell his sons about 'the affair'. It nearly tore the family apart. They may be gangsters, but they are still human. Van was shocked.

"But, but I thought you and mom were so strong together, even now."

"You see? It's a wonder the girl has kept on coming back every time you guys split. So what are you going to do about it?" Varie was gentle, although she can get tough if it's called for.

Van shook his head. They went back to eating their sushi, and then Goau swooped in on Folken.

"You're quite tonight. You usually always have something to say about Vanville."

"Hm." Was his reply.

"Don't tell me you have women trouble too? Man didn't I raise you two good enough?"

"Can we help?" Varie gently offered.

"Hm." Folken was the king of cryptic answers.

In surrender, they said that they were there if either of them needed to talk. But they had preparations to make for the next night; when they would steal the Black Diamond back. After dinner, Goau kissed his wife goodnight as he went to make the necessary phone calls. Varie went off to take their dogs for a walk in their huge backyard. Then it was just Folken and Van left at the table.

Neither said anything, until the doorbell rang. The door opened then closed. Yet Jan, their housekeeper, did not come and tell them what or who it was.

Thick silence hung in there air. The men looked at each other, and nodded; someone was in the house. Getting their guns from their back pockets, they quietly edged to the hall. Peering in, they saw nothing unseal. And Jan was just doing some cleaning. She snuck a glance at Van who did not get it. Jan did this a few times, and still he missed the point. Finally, she pointed behind her at which she got fired in the leg and fell to the floor.

It was the police and they were in the mansion.

Eries pulled up on the long gravel drive. Richie was watching her intently. She jumped out and got her gun ready, silent as a mouse. But she staggered backward and Richie only just caught her. The hospital did not like it, but this was very important so she had to discharge herself. He said she should be taking it easy. Eries argued there was no time to waste. Not now that they were so close to catching them.

Inside it was surreal; no one dared to breathe, never mind move. Ornaments had fallen and broken, bullet holes adorning the ivory walls. The place was a complete mess. Then she noticed the body lying on the floor. Foolishly, Eries went near it. Someone came out of hiding and aimed a gun at her and she did the same thing. Neither wanted to go first.

Because the rule goes, whoever makes the first move is the first to lose.

It was Van Fanel. He looked at her as though she was some dirt on his highly polished shoes. She was used to that sort of thing. You had to be in this job. But then something surprised her.

"STOP!"

Millerna appeared from nowhere and became Eries's human shield, stopping Van from shooting her sister. He barked at her to move away, and realised what he had done wrong as soon as he did it. The atmosphere was electrified at once. She did not know what exactly, though Eries knew something was going on between them. Forcing her to the door, Millerna was letting Eries escape.

"I'm not leaving-"

Someone grabbed her by the collar and was dragging her to the side. She punched them in the face to make the let go. Then she did a spin kick to knock them over. Then another man appeared from nowhere. Eries was jumping, hitting and kicking until quite a few of them were scattered unconscious on the ground around her. Van clapped his hands in mock applause. By now, she was a good distance away from Millerna, and he fired. Dodging it was easy. However, the strain of doing something so strenuous so soon, made Eries feel light-headed. Wavering from side to side, Van seized his chance.

He fired again.

Instead of getting her, he got Richie. He had dived to protect Eries. He slumped down as Eries tried to hold him. Richie told Eries to go for it, that he will be fine. Folken held a gun to her face, yet froze when he saw it was her. He also saw the engagement ring on her finger. She could see the shock in his brown eyes. She kissed Richie before doing what she was good at. Eries knew a chance when she saw one; knocking it out of Folken's grasp, she spun him round, twisted his arm and pushed his own weapon to his temple.

"You had you're chance. Now it's my turn."

"I don't mind so long as I get to snuggle up with you babes." Folken said silkily. "Oh, and I'd keep an eye on you're boyfriend; he's looking tired."

Eries did look, and saw Richie was not moving. Blood from his chest wound soaked his shirt. He was struggling to keep his eyes open. He could be dying. Eries

Suddenly felt light-headed again, and caught herself just as her knees buckled a little. Whatever happens, she must not let Folken go. Van was shouting like a mad man. Millerna tried to mop up all the blood from Richie's wound. In the space of a few minutes, she had gone through four soaked rags. The thought of losing him made Eries feel scared. Millerna suddenly screamed.

Goau appeared from thin air and had Millerna in a bad position; one twist of her head, and she would be dead. Everyone froze, though for different reasons.

"Dad, let her go." Van said. "She's innocent."

A cough from Folken surprised them all.

"This bitch ain't so 'innocent' as you like to put it. She's one of them!"

"Hah, what a way to go." Millerna said.

"Millie…" Van's voice softened.

Then Eries knew.

Van became angry with his father, and tried to reason with him to let her go. It turned into a heated slanging match. They needed reinforcements. Richie had the walkie-talkie.

And he was dying.

The thought of it made her chest feel tight. Fear was swimming through her veins like a fish in a river. Her heart beat faster and faster. Folken's skin was hot to the touch and her grip was loosening. Yet he did not try to break free.

"Richie."

Eries thought she could reach him, when he was actually at least five yards away. With great effort, he lifted his head to the sound of his name. He was looking at Eries, but he was squinting as if he was concentrating. Richie raised his arm too, trying to reach her and touch her hand. An aggressive Goau was still holding Millerna captive. Van was losing it from the stress it was causing; and Varie was nowhere to be seen.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

Suddenly there were gunshots being fired left, right and centre.

The sounds suddenly became softer and less sharp.

Her vision became foggy.

Then everything went black.