(Kouji)

Dreams from the past
Coming true at last
Never noticed how my life was changing
Now I can see
All that love can be
You saved me
You gave me something that was real.
(Love is all that Matters by Carmen Eric)

In the Depths of Darkness

Chapter 7: The biggest mistake

"..." Izumi was speechless. Kouji was telling her that they should break-up, stop their relationship but why?

"...Why?" She said softly but tears were creeping down her cheeks. "What did I do wrong? Am I a burden to you?"

Kouji shook his head slowly. "That's not it... It's just that, I find it harder for me to kill when I remember that you love an assassin..." He stopped and looked at her. "Because of my life as a killer, you could get into trouble for not letting the police know what I did or for letting me escape and live when you had the chance to..."

"To what?"

He looked down "To turn me in... Anybody could have done that..."

"..."

"I didn't kill you because... when you were taken hostage by that robber, something inside of me made me angry at him, for taking you. I think at that time, when I saw your tears, I remembered the oath I made in front of my mother's grave..."

(Flashback)

The wind was blowing and an 18-year old boy, stood in front of a tombstone. Engraved on it was 'Tomoko Minamoto'.

"Mom, Now that I'm an assassin that's wanted in the district of Shibuya, I have to make a promise to you. I won't love anyone knowing that they'll be put in danger because of the path I chose, to live like this."

He bent down and placed the flowers in front of the grave, a sad smile was on his face.

"I miss you mom. But I'll be strong, so don't worry..."

(End of Flashback)

Kouji clasped his hands together at Izumi's and gave a small smile. "I promised her that."

He felt Izumi's palm touch his cheek that he looked up at her. She had tears in her eyes. "Izumi, please, don't cry. I can't stand seeing you like that."

She shook her head. "Kouji, I can't help it. You're just, so important to me. I don't want to lose you."

Kouji closed his eyes and touched her hand that was on his cheek. "Neither do I. But it's a lot better than to see you suffer. Once the time comes when I get caught, more people will ignore you, knowing that you loved an assassin. I don't want your life to be miserable."

"I don't care what other people think. We love each other..."

He pulled her to an embrace and they were silent all through the night until she fell asleep in his arms. His eyes fell on her sleeping but sad face. He felt his heart sink seeing her like this.

Kouji carried her into bed and pulled the covers on her. He kissed her forehead after whispering good night to her. Right now, he needed advice on what to do next. No, not from Tomoki, he's too young. Junpei? He's already asleep. If he told Takuya, he will never hear the end of it. That left Kouichi, who was always there for him. He is his brother.

"What did you want to talk about?"

Kouichi asked, opening the door and motioning Kouji to enter his and Takuya's shared room. As usual, the goggle head was playing video games and just said hi to him without looking up. Kouji smirked at this and sat down on one bed while Kouichi on the other.

"I told Izumi that we should end our relationship."

"And why is that otoutou-chan?" Kouichi asked, grinning.

"Remember the promise I told mom and that if I get caught, Izumi will be treated miserably by other people?"

His oni-chan nodded and patted his shoulder. "You know, love is really a complicated thing. But let me ask you something..."

Kouji nodded and listened to his words very carefully.

"Do you think mom, or you, or Izumi will be happy?"

He was caught off guard at this. He didn't think about this, not at all. He saw how Izumi cried and he felt very sad when he told her they had to end their love. His mother, she always told them that she'll be happy if they were happy as well. One's happiness is another's.

"No... not one of us will be..."

"Good answer my baby brother..." Kouichi smiled and continued. "Mom used to tell me this whenever you have a problem deciding, 'Just follow you heart, not your mind'."

Kouichi had a point. Kouji had been listening to his own will, ignoring how he truly felt.

"If you always listen to your inner self, which is the brain, or mind," He said, pointing at his forehead and pushed it using his index finger lightly. "You won't be happy; you'll just be contented and later on, find that something is missing."

His brother then looked at his chest and pointed at it this time, "Follow what's inside there, how you really feel. That can not only give you happiness, but also ease and feel that everything's going to be alright."

Kouji raised a brow and smiled "Reading too many Psychology books I suppose?"

Kouichi scratched the back of his head and smiled. "You could say that."

"I knew it. Anyway, thanks for your help bro."

"Anytime!" Kouichi replied and walked his brother to the door. "Good luck." He gave a wink at him and closed the door. Kouji shook his head and smirked "What will I ever do without him..."

"Another brotherly talk?" Takuya asked Kouichi when he closed the door.

"Yup. My brother just needed and advice."

Kouji entered his room and saw Izumi sleeping peacefully. He smiled and walked to her.

"...Gome..." He whispered and stroked her long blonde hair. A smile formed on her lips as she mentioned his name affectionately.

"...Kouji-kun..."

He gave a soft laugh "Even in your dreams, it's still me you see huh?" His phone vibrated so he took it and walked near the window to get a better signal.

"Hello?"

"Kouji!"

"Dad? What's wrong?"

"Our HQ is under attack! Somehow, Riko Matsuda's men found out about our hide-out. You have to get back here before-"

Click...

"Dad? Dad!!"

He gripped his phone tightly and looked at it. 'I'm not going to lose another family member...'

Kouji grabbed his jacket and rushed to the door, slamming it close. Izumi awoke and noticed Kouji's coat was nowhere to be seen.

"Shoot! Something must be wrong!" She quickly scrambled to her feet and made a mad dash to the door.

"Kouichi!" She yelled and knocked loudly, at the closed door.

No answer...

"I'm coming in!"

She went inside, the lights were out. Izumi reached for the switch and when she hit the button, a gun was pointed at her head and a hand covered her mouth. Her eyes scanned the place, Takuya and Kouichi, along with Tomoki and Junpei were tied to separate chairs as she felt ropes bind her hands together tight.

"What the heck's going on?! And who are you?!" Kouichi demanded.

A man walked to him, puffing a cigar and grinned evilly at him. His bodyguards stood on each side of his hostages.

"Kouichi Minamoto?"

"...Yeah... that's me..."

"Don't you remember the man who battered your mom last?"

Kouichi's eyes widened as he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. "Y-you..."

"That's right. I am Riko's best friend, Edo (ee-do) Atsuharu."

He punched Kouichi hard and laughed. "That felt good." He turned to the other boys who glared at him and he gave them each a punch as well.

"You got comrades which is much better." He observed each and every one of them, as he noticed someone was missing. He narrowed his eyes at his bodyguards.

"Where is he..?"

"Who sir?" One asked.

"You idiot! Who else?! Kouji Minamoto?! He's the one I want DEAD!"

Izumi's eyes widened. 'Kouji... Where are you?!'

"He wasn't in his room. We only saw the girl."

"Girl? What gir-?!" He turned to Izumi "Who are you?"

Izumi didn't answer the question. "Why should I tell you?!"

Edo smirked. "Who is this girl?" He asked, turning to his guards.

"His girlfriend I think..."

Edo walked to her and lifted her chin with an evil smile on his face.

"This is so priceless! We have his twin, his friends, then, his dad and now... his girl?"

Izumi shook her head and glared a 'Don't touch me' look at Edo.

"You got spunk for a girl. I can see why Kouji didn't kill you."

She spat at him.

"A very short-temper. That's not how a girl should act."

"Boss?"

"Take them back at our base. They can be bait for Minamoto."

"And what if he doesn't come?" One asked.

Edo smirked. "He won't unless he hears the cries of his friends, brother and especially her." He said, pointing at Izumi.

"Maybe... I could even repeat the past through her..."

"Don't you dare Atsuharu!!" Kouichi yelled knowing what he meant.

"What? What does he mean?" Junpei asked, clueless of what was going on and Tomoki and Takuya turned to Kouichi for answers but he ignored them and glared at Edo.

Izumi thought of what Edo meant until it hit her, the past of how the twins' mother died.

"You wouldn't!!"

Edo laughed evilly. "Oh, I will."

Kouichi couldn't take it anymore. "If you touch her, I swear, I won't be the only one killing you slowly!"

"This is not good..." Junpei muttered.

"Why?" Izumi asked.

"Well, you see, their family has a split personality." Tomoki answered.

"Meaning?"

"If they get mad, they can't control themselves from killing anybody they see." Junpei explained further.

"But how will you get them back?"

Takuya shrugged. "No one knows how. Not even the Minamotos themselves. It'll take a miracle to stop one of their race from losing sanity."

"What's freaky is, their eyes turn into a somewhat reddish color as dark as blood."

Izumi turned to Kouichi and noticed his blue eyes were turning darker until a light shade of red was visible.

Edo backed away. "Stop him!!"

His guards restrained Kouichi from going near Edo and hit the back of his head hard to make him lose consciousness.

Atsuharu wiped the bead of sweat that trickled down his face. "Take them to the base."

"Yes sir!" came the chorus of his 'faithful' servants.

Meanwhile...

A sound of a gun was heard as a teenager ran desperately into his father's office.

"Dad..."

When he got there, he released a sigh of relief upon seeing his dad hurt on the shoulder but still alive and smiling weakly at him. "It's about time you came."

Kouji helped his dad up "Who were those guys?"

"I believe those were Edo Atsuharu's men. Riko's best friends."

"Why isn't he here?"

"I don't know..." Kousei said "But I think this is just some kind of diversion."

Kouji's eyes widened. He left the others without telling them anything. "Dad, I think we have to go back, and quick."

Kousei nodded as they both went to the parking lot where a lot of cars were parked.

"I'm driving." Kouji said and got out his keys.

"But... that's your..."

"I know. If we want to get there fast, might as well use a motorcycle to avoid traffic."

"Kouji... how many times do I have to tell you that I-"

"Alright! Fine! You pick a car..."

"Good."

Izumi flinched and opened her eyes. She was in a room, alone. Feeling her hands tied behind her back, she tried to sit up but couldn't. Her feet were tied as well.

'Oh shoot... no way...'

"You've finally awaken."

Izumi turned her head to the voice and saw Edo with a sinister smile.

'Oh no! No! No! No!' she screamed in her head and looked at her whole body, fully clothed. 'Arigatou Kami-sama...' Unfortunately, she saw Edo wearing pants only and he was topless.

'Ugh! That's sickening! Somehow, Kouji being topless is better... hey! I can't be thinking about those things! I have to get out!!' she blinked. '...Who am I kidding, I'm bounded in ropes... how can I possibly get out?!'

"It's no use. Don't worry. I won't be doing it yet."

"Uh... that's good!"

"I'm waiting for the medicine to take effect."

"...What medicine?"

"Sleeping medicine. Once you've fallen into a deep slumber, that's where I'll begin."

"...That's NOT GOOD!!"

"And I'll wait until Kouji gets caught because I want to see him witness it."

"That's worse!!"

"And once we're done, I can kill him."

"Okay... I don't know which one is the worst, you doing 'it' to me with Kouji watching or you being topless which by the way make me want to puke."

Edo got annoyed at this. "What?! You're saying my abs and muscles are not good enough?!"

"Are those muscles? I thought they were just fats."

"Oh, do you know anything about muscles?!"

"Well, I could say yes since you don't make me drool or blush being shirtless."

"I think you haven't seen a guy without clothes yet."

"I already have, for your information."

"And who?"

"Kouji. And if you ask me, he's a lot 'hotter' than you." 'Come to think of it... It was hot even if it was snowing...'

"Argh!! That's it! I'll make you regret those things you said!"

Edo stormed out of the door, cursing.

Izumi sighed. "That took care of him." She yawned as drowsiness slowly took over her.

'No... I can't sleep... I have to...' She bit her tongue to keep alert. She managed to move a bit to let her phone slide off of her pocket and managed to grab it but...

"Sleepy..." Her eyes felt heavy until she finally fell asleep.

"Kouichi? Kouichi!"

"Huh? Takuya?" Kouichi had managed to gain consciousness but they were still tied and were hanging freely in the air. "Where are we?"

"Edo's mansion." Junpei answered. "We're in his huge control room."

"I just hope Izumi's okay..." Tomoki said, worried.

"Where is she?"

"We don't know. But we have to get out of here Kouichi."

Kouji's phone rang and he answered it.

"Hello?"

"Kouji Minamoto."

"Who's this?!"

"Edo Atsuharu. I have you brother, friends and your girlfriend here."

"Damn you! Where did you take them?!"

"I'll tell you, don't worry. I want to see those red eyes of yours."

"Spit it out!"

"My base is just around the corner near Shibuya ski resort. Look for a mansion on top of the hill."

Edo hung up and Kouji gripped his phone. "Dad, you'd better step on it or they'll kill them."

Kousei nodded and they both hurried over to Edo's mansion.

Izumi slowly opened her eyes and realized she was still in one piece.

"Phew..." She looked out at the window. 'Kouji...'

'Izumi... Gomenassai. Hountou ni gomenassai.' Kouji thought as they neared the mansion, his eyes turning into a darker shade of blood... 'I made the biggest mistake...' he glared at the mansion as he walked to it fast but silently. 'I shouldn't have left you.'

Kousei glanced at his son, seeing his eyes. 'If he goes berserk, he could end up killing the people whom he'll be saving...'

Otoutou-chan- little brother

Onii-chan- Big brother

Gome/gomenassai- Sorry

Hontou- Really

Arigatou- Thanks/ Thank you

Kami-sama- God

I felt bad for all of you so I decided to type another chapter. Haha. See the chapter? It's longer than the others! 10 pages I think. I added humor! If that is, if you think it's funny.

EviL PunK NoT- Don't worry, it's not yet the end.

Dragi- Yes, sad... this fic's a mixture of genres.

Dream-eater-is-hungry- You're soooo evil... if Kouji would really break-up with her, what's the point of writing a kouzumi fic?! Hahaha

Kazumi Kairi or Kairi-chan- Violence is good... Nope. Not the reason why he couldn't kill them. Here's what happened next.

Minamotogirl- Is it that interesting? Hehe. I just love making cliffies yet I hate them.

Thanks to all those who reviewed!!