z: another chapter.i changed the names of the robbers...then realized that...i am rather obessive compulsive with certain things. eh.
well here you go. enjoy.
Disclaimer: nah, don't own them.
Chapter Three
Clues and Help
Tai looked at the tire tracks, his hand lingering on it. He sighed and rubbed his forehead, wishing he could just close his eyes, picture where Matt was and be there in a heartbeat. He sat down wearily and brought his knees up to his chest, wishing there was more he could do. Wishing that the police had more clues.
"Tai?" Tk asked, softly, noticing the older boy just sitting down, his face rather distraught. "Are you ok?"
"Tk, it's just. . .I've this weird feeling that their hiding spot is not that far away. . .that Matt is very near by." Tai explained slowly. He scrunched up his face, thinking. "This is going to sound very , very weird. . ." He hesitated.
Tk sat down next to him and placed a hand on Tai's arm. "Go on, Tai. I don't think it'd be weird. You can trust me." He said softly.
"I can like. . .sense him. He is near by. I can. . .feel him." Tai said quietly. "He is just so damn near by. . ." He slammed his palm on the cement.
"Whoa, take it easy, Tai." Tk said, calmly. "Getting angry is not going to help us." He frowned, thinking. "Could you follow your senses?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"What, you mean like walk around here until my sense is really strong and I go, 'he's around here!' type thing?" Tai asked, somewhat sarcastically.
"Yeah." Tk answered, nodding.
Tai grinned cheekily. "Sounds good to me, lets get going!" He replied, and got up in instant. He blinked and glanced around for a second--then decided to go right, into an alley that didn't seem like it was used too much.
Tk groaned. "You're too much sometimes, Tai!" He said, running after Tai.
"Hey, it was your idea." Tai replied, laughing a little.
The two slowed down to a stop and stared down at the long alley. Tai frowned as he noticed how dark and gloomy it seemed. And shabby. Tai folded his arms over his chest and said, quietly, "I don't like the feel of this."
"Neither do I. Maybe we should call the others. . .?" Tk asked.
Tai's eyes lit up. "Brilliant idea, Tk!" He grabbed Tk's arm and spun him around and herded him out of the alley, excitedly naming who could help and who was around to help.
As they left they were unaware that they were being watched by a man on one of the fire escapes--and unaware how close they were to where Matt was being held.
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Shiba was quickly tying Matt back up and tied the last knot just in time to sit down and have the door open to reveal an angry Zenko. Startled, Shiba sat up and stood in front of Matt, stopping Zenko from zooming over the blonde teen. Zenko shoved Shiba out of the way, roughly and grabbed Matt by the collar.
"Amane just saw a blonde and a brunette in the alley. They seemed to be looking for something. . .or someone. But they left the alleyway. . .but why do I get the feeling that they'll come back?" Zenko snarled.
"Tk--Tai--" Matt blurted, then realizing what he just said his eyes grew wide and a look of terror crossed his face and Zenko smirked.
He patted Matt's cheeks, hard and said, "Thanks for telling me who they were!" and left the room, laughing coldy.
"Shiba, I--no!" Matt said, hastily. "Tk's my brother--Tai's my--my best friend!" A pause. "I don't want them to get hurt!"
Shiba nodded his understanding. "I see. You care about them alot, eh?" He said softly. "I can understand your brother, but your best friend. . .?"
Matt blushed slightly. "A good friend who wouldn't give up on me a long time ago," He answered shortly.
"I see why he wouldn't give up on you," commented Shiba. He stood up. "All right, we need to get you out of here and to your friends before they come looking for you." He glanced at his watch. "Bunzo and the others are all done in the tv room. . .eating. I get to 'baby-sit' most of the victims. Its just something I volunteered."
He reached down and started to untie Matt's ankles and wrists yet again. "I'll just take you to the fire escape--and help you down. I'll walk with you some of the way then I'll track back and distract the others if they find you gone." He explained, pulling the blonde up and steadied him. He handed him a breakfast bar and told him, "Eat this. . .You really need something. . .in your body."
"Thanks," Matt mumumbled. He walked a little but suddenly was dizzy. "I don't know if I can do this, Shiba."
"You have to, Matt." Shiba gripped his shoulders and gazed into the bottomless blue eyes. "Your life depends on it." A pause. "Your. . .ah, virginity depends on it."
Matt trembled at that last sentence. "Ok, ok, ok." He whispered.
Shiba felt bad for saying that. He wrapped his arms around the boy and held him while he silently trembled. "Shhh, I'm getting you out of here, safe and untouched." Then he pulled back and said, "C'mon, lets get going. The sooner we get out of here, the sooner you can get back home safe."
Matt nodded and held his broken wrist close to his body. Shiba noticed and grabbed a pillow case and took his wrist and said, "Trust me, Matt, I do know what I am doing." and expertly wrapped it.
Matt blinked and said, "Thanks. That. . .feels a little better."
"Not a prob. Now follow me. . .and keep quiet. . .the fire escape is at the end of the hallway." Shiba told him. He jerked his head and opened the door, with Matt on his heels.
The two crept silently down the hall and only stopped once, thinking someone was coming toward their way. Yet it only turned out to be the tv from downstairs. Both had tensed up and held their breath, but a few seconds later let it out with relief. Shiba continued to led the way until a window.
Matt looked out and felt a little dizzy. He didn't realize how high up they were--at least three stories high. He gulped and turned to Shiba, who gave him a gentle nudge.
"Go on, Matt. . .Wait, you're not afraid of hights are you?" He asked.
"Kinda, no. . .well, won't it be hard for me to climb down with my broke wrist?" Matt asked, quietly.
"Yeah it will. . .but it is a dire situation here, Matt. Seriously. Just put your mind to it and just do it, even if it hurts, just climb down." Shiba said firmly. "You know you have to."
"Yeah, yeah I do." Matt said, suddenly determined. He nodded and slowly climbed out of the window with the red-head.
"Now, once you get down, take a left. That'll leave you out of the alley way. Then that'll lead you behind the bank and all that other stuff." Shiba explained.
Matt gaped. "You. . .you guys didn't go far."
"Yeah, something about the element of surprise. Or something." Shiba said, shrugging his shoulders. Then he looked at Matt, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Promise me that. . .if I don't see you . . .if I don't turn myself in cuz of, ah, certain circumstances, please bring the police back. Tell them bout this place."
Matt nodded and before he thought about what he was thinking he leaned forward and gave the red-head a quick hug and whispered, "Thank you. I'll vouch for you if there is a trail."
"No need. I'll accept whatever I'm giving. . ." Shiba said, but there was a hint of relief in his voice.
Matt smiled knowingly and headed down the fire escape. At first it was a difficult task with his broken wrist. Yet with Shiba's words haunting him, he made his way down the wobbly ladder with determination. He was on the last step of the ladder when he realize he had a problem--their was at least a five feet drop from the ladder to the cement below. He groaned and wondered how he was when he was going to get out of this when a surprised voice called to him.
"Matt!"
Matt glanced behind him to see Tai, Tk, Kari, Izzy, Davis and Sora all staring up at him with surprised expressions. He broke into a grin and nodded his head.
"Guys. . .am I glad to see you!" He said quietly.
"Are you ok, Matt?" Tk asked, looking up at him, happy to see his brother.
"Well, considering that. . .I was kidnapped. . .Got a blow to the head and a broken wrist. . .Sure, sure I'm ok," Matt said quietly. "Look, I can't jump down. . .I do have a broken wrist. And I need to get down as soon as I can before--"
He didn't get a chance to finish. Angry shouts were heard from above and Matt gripped the ladder tightly and swore. He closed his eyes for a brief second and glanced up to see Shiba poking his head out of the window.
"Matt--go!!" He shouted. "I tried to hold them off but--"
Matt didn't let him finish. He climbed down the last few rungs and braced himself for the fall. He let go and jumped, surprising his friends. He landed on his feet but lost his balance and fell onto his side. Tai and Tk were at his side in a heartbeat, and both helped him up.
"Are you ok, Matt?" Tai asked, concerned.
Matt winced and nodded. "C'mon, we need to go. . .wait, you guys weren't going to go detective and find where I was, were you?" He asked, as he started to limp out of the alley.
"Ah, well, I plead the fifth!" Tai said, sheepishly. "But. . .you're here. . .How'd you escape, and who was that?"
"Shiba. . .one of the kidnappers--and before you start, he helped me, alright?" Matt said, hastily. He halted to a stop and spun around to see where Shiba was. Shiba had went back in, presumably to fight the others off to capture him. "We need to go. . .I don't know how long Shiba could hold the others off--"
"Matt, watch out!" Sora screamed as Zenko suddenly came out of nowhere and swung a crowbar at Matt's head.
But he didn't hit the blonde--Tai was quicker and dived at Matt, tackling him to the ground. Zenko swung hard, but seeing how he hit air, he stumbled and started to lose his balance--and did when Tk delivered a hard kick in his shin. Zenko fell and grunted in pain and Tai quickly grabbed Matt, hauling to him to his feet.
"C'mon, Matt, let's get going!" He urged and nudged Matt to move, which he did.
"Tai, this way!" Sora said, as she and Davis both grabbed him and Matt and pushed them into a door way. "This is the back door to the --the bookstore!"
"How'd you know it was here?" Tai asked.
"Davis told me."
Everyone who heard all turned to stare at Davis, who merely shrugged and didn't offer an explanation.
"You read, Dai?" Tk asked, shocked.
"Sure. But that isn't the issue. ..we need to get a phone and the police and Matt's dad." Davis said, not really answering the question.
"Davis is right, guys," Izzy nodded. "But we need to find somewhere safe, regardless. Who knows how dangerous these guys are."
Tai felt Matt stiffen in his grasp. He had a feeling that this Shiba guy was the only one who was nice. He gave Matt's arm a squeeze and the blonde turned to give him a grateful smile.
"Iz, don't you have a cell or something?" Tai asked, as the group quietly stood between the isles of books.
"No, I don't." Izzy asked.
"I do," Davis said, once again surprise everyone. "Look, I may seem dumb and act that way as well, doesn't mean that I am, alright?" He snapped, as he pulled out his cell. "And besides I had a feeling that we'd need it, anyway."
"I--we're sorry, Dai," Kari said quietly. "You are just. . .mysterious sometimes." She finally said.
Davis shrugged. "Eh, well, it's okay." He gave the phone to Tk. "Here, Tk, you should make the calls." He told him and gave him an understanding look. "I'm gonna go be look out. . ."
Before anyone said anything, he had took off, leaving everyone speechless. Sora glanced around at everyone and said, "I'll go see where he's going to be lookout and I'll be the lookout for the opposite end. . ." Then she took off as well.
Tk quickly dialed the cops. He told them what had happened and where they were. There were a lot of pauses while Tk fumbled over the answers in the which the questions he was being asked, but as they were speaking the police were on their way.
They knew this cuz they could hear the sirens.
As soon as he was finished, letting the police know where he and Matt were, he hung up and rolled his eyes.
"sheesh, why can't things be simple?" He muttered. "Now to call dad. . ."
Matt sighed with relief. But not to anyone's surprise, his knees buckled and he collapsed. Tai caught him, and steadied him. He grinned and said, softly, "Had a day, didn't you, Matt?"
Matt glanced up into Tai's caring brown eyes and smiled. "You could say that, Tai, you could say that. . .But. . .it's not over yet." He replied, glad to be in his friend's arms.
"How right you are, blondie. . .how right you are." Came a sneering voice and as well as a few startled gasps.
Matt looked up to only to find himself staring right into a gun. He gulped and looked past it, to see that Bunzo was grinning down at him. Zenko had Davis and Razan had Sora, while the others were being held at gun point by Eizan. Matt stiffened and Tai tightened his hold on his friend.
"Trying to run on us, eh? Not a good idea, blondie," Zenko said coldly.
"How'd you get in here---" Matt started to ask, his eyes looking at Davis and Sora.
"We had to be quiet. They had a gun on our backs as we led them to you," Sora said, softly. "I'm sorry, Matt."
"It. . .it's ok," Matt said softly and then he turned to look at Tai.
Tai tilted his head, staring into those unreadable sapphire eyes. "Matt. . ." He said quietly.
"I'm sorry, Tai. For our fight. It was dumb." Matt said, blinking once.
"I'm sorry, too. I just. . .want you to know that our friendship. . .means the world to me," Tai said, quickly and noticed the blink. He gave a slight nod to let Matt know he understood.
"Same here. . ." Matt said, then he closed his eyes and fainted.
"Matt!" Tk cried, surprised and lunged toward his brother but was jerked back by Kari.
Tai held Matt's limp body and bent over it, checking his pulse. But the next few seconds were a blur. Suddenly, Matt's legs jerked up and kicked Bunzo, hard. Bunzo grunted and lost his balance and fell into Zenko. Startled, Zenko let go of Davis, who darted out of the way. He reached behind him, grabbed the heaviest book and hit Eizan upside the head, freeing Sora.
"Stupid brats. . ." Zenko grumbled and Kari screamed out a warning as he pulled out his gun and aimed it at Matt.
"You ruined everything!" He roared.
"Matt!" Kari screamed.
Matt moved too late--the gun had fired. But yet again, Tai was there to move Matt out of harms way, if only barely. Tai had grabbed the blonde and yanked him down, letting the bullet glaze onto his shoulders instead of his head. Just as the gunshot fired, that was when the police came busting in and telling everyone to freeze.
"Matt?" Tai whispered, as the teen was laying on top of him, breathing heavily. "Matt, are you. . .?" He reached up and gently touched the wound, seeing how badly it was.
Matt lifted his head up from Tai's chest and he could see tears forming in his friend's eyes. Matt bit his lip and trembled and Tai, said, softly, "Oh, Matt," and wrapped his arms around the blonde gently. Matt broke down and quietly cried into Tai's shoulders.
"Matt!" Mr. Ishida said, coming onto the scene but Tai shook his head at him.
"He's had a long. . .day, Mr. Ishida," He told him softly. "Just let him be, for a bit, ok?"
Tk came up to his dad, and took his arm, and said, softly, "He's right. . .and besides we. . .well, you get to talk to the detective and I get to have a lecture from you and him. . ."
Mr. Ishida's eyebrows raised at that but followed his son, letting Tai hold the blonde while he cried into his shoulder.
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thank you for reading. the last chapter will be up shortly. thank you.