Their gazes burned. Their eyes scalded into each other, filling both of them with mutual malice and hate. They loathed the sight of each other, and were more determined than ever to put and end to this now.
Haruko stood at one end of the bride leading over Mabase. Jakun stood at its center. They glared at each other. Haruko's mouth turned down onto the most hateful grimace, while Jakun's turned up into a maniacal grin.
"I knew you'd know how to find me, Haruko." He shouted to her, his voice carrying over the wind that blew over them.
"You're not hard to miss" she blasted back. She narrowed her eyes and once again affirmed her claim. "Naota's mine!"
"Not for long. Not once he learns everything about you. You think he'd be interested to learn? I'd be more than happy to tell him everything..." Haruko snarled and began to rev up the engine of her Vespa. But she was frozen when Jakun held his hand up, pointing his finger straight up. He then turned and pointed away. Haruko followed him, and gasped when she saw Mamimi and Eri, tied together, dangling from one of the massive girders of the bridge.
Jakun's blow leveled Haruko, the impact lifting her off her Vespa, throwing her through the air. She landed with a thud and a grunt. When she looked up, Jakun raised his guitar over his head and smashed it down onto her Vespa. It shuddered under the impact and exploded. Jakun howled with laughter when he saw the rage register on her face.
Haruko stood to her feet and gripped her bass in her tightening hands.
"No one...messes...with my ride!" she raised her bass high overhead and rushed in.

"So what are you going to do?" Kitsurubami did not sound sympathetic as she asked this question. She sounded merely curios, with a firm respect for the magnitude of the situation.
"I don't know...I just don't know!" Naota said, clenching his teeth with frustration. He punched the wall, and then yelped and backed away, clutching his fist. She frowned at his actions, and stepped forward, taking his wounded hand in hers. She blew on the sore knuckles, trying to soothe the skin.
"My heart goes out to you, Naota. I know how difficult this must all be on you."
"No, you don't." She made no response, knowing the truth of his words. "By the way...where's your boss?" Naota said curiously.
"Oh...he's a little indisposed right now."

"I'm telling you, it's a conspiracy!" Amarao shouted. He clapped his feet together, unable to do so with his hands since they were restrained in a straightjacket. He sat in the corner no the floor of the padded room, screaming at the moonlight that pierced in through the bars on the window. "It's a conspiracy, and they're all in on it! Would someone please get me something sweet! I'm going crazy in here!"

"Oh, sorry to hear that." Naota said, shrugging.
"Yeah. But lets not worry about him" she said quickly. She guided him to a bench and pushed him down into it gently, sitting down alongside him. "Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked him.
"Not unless you can shoot me."
"Don't talk like that" she said, really wanting to help. "Maybe you should just step back and examine this situation. What are the odds? What are the consequences? And what do you have to lose?" Naota sighed, rand a hand through his hair and leaned back, trying to give her suggestion real thought.
On the one hand, he could just let Haruko and Jakun kill each other, that would put both of them out of his hair for good. But who knows how much destruction that would cause? And on top of that, if he let that happen, he might never be able to find Eri and Mamimi. And on the other hand, if Haruko won, she probably would let Eri and Mamimi go, but then she would expect him to go along with whatever it was she had in mind for him. And if Jakun won, then he would probably kill Eri and Mamimi, and who knew what he wanted with him? Or, he could try to intervene himself, try to save his friends, try to end this once and for all. But was he a match for both of them at once? He growled with frustration and clutched his head, feeling as if he had the whole world crashing down onto his shoulders.
"I just don't know!" he shouted. His voice echoed down the streets, drawing the attention of a few curios passers by. "There's just no way out of this!"
"There's always a way out" she offered, trying her best to be helpful. He sat back down, leaning his head back. "You're not helpless, Naota. You're the one this all revolves around. You must be too important to not be able to do anything."
He sat, considering her words. His mind conjured up an old image he had tried his best to bury; Haruko, disappearing into the sky on her Vespa, leaving him standing alone, atop a pile of debris, his own bass clutched in his hand, tears streaming down his eyes. Inside, he felt those old feelings bubbling up to the surface. Was he nothing but a scared little child, still wondering what his own feelings where?
"No!" he shouted, leaping to his feet. Kitsurubami gave a small squeak and jumped back, surprised by his sudden movement. He blushed with slight embarrassment.
"Sorry" he said, extending his hand to help her up to her feet. "I think I just realized what I have to do."
She searched his face, and knew what he was intending. She felt her heard warm with admiration, and then break with concern.
"Do you want me to come with you? Maybe I can help..."
"No, this is something I have to do alone. Its time I really did grow up." He gazed skyward, feeling his determination grow with each beat of his heart. Was he, Naota, a hero?
"By the way, I thought you might want this..." she added, yanking his attention back to her. He could not restrain his smile when she handed him his bass. "Some of our people grabbed it from your apartment, but I got it back for you. I thought you might need it."
"Thanks, was starting to think I wasn't going to see this again." He took it in his hand and stared hard at it for a moment. He had held it like this a million times before, but for some reason, now it seemed to have assumed a whole new feeling in his hands. It seemed to pulse, radiating a feeling of life and power all of its own. He plucked one of the strings, and it emitted the same sound as always. He smiled, feeling a strange satisfaction with himself.
"You know Naota, you're a nice guy...I'm sorry this all had to happen to you." He looked at her, and found her face soft with sincere feeling. She stepped closer, leaned in, and kissed his cheek. When she backed away, his jaw hung open for a moment with surprise. Her lips had left a warm sensation on his face, and it gave him comfort. He smiled warmly at her.
"Thanks."
"If you need any help out there, you just call out for it. We'll be watching."
Naota nodded, and set off at a joggers pace, his instincts guiding him where he had to go.