Author's Notes: I'm sorry for not updating sooner but I was really caught up with a lot of things. Anyway, without further ado…

Chapter Ten

Consciousness finally reclaimed him, eyes opening to extreme darkness. He was blindfolded, the first thought to come into his mind. He felt his wrists – tied. So were his feet. It was useless to try and take them off. They were too tight and he would just risk damaging his wrists by doing so.

It was an unusual way of keeping him prisoner, he thought. All his previous kidnappers assured his comfort in any circumstance. However now, he was tightly tied up, blindfolded and sitting on a very cold floor.

He sighed. At least he was alive. He just hoped that Hikaru was safe, too.

What could his kidnappers want this time? Didn't they know by now that no matter what they did, he wouldn't –

Wait.

There was something familiar about the perfume he just smelled.

He sniffed.

Cerulean eyes widened. He knew whose perfume it was.

"Nagisa-jo?" he called out. "If you're awake, please answer me."

There was a slight movement a few meters to his left. "Nagisa-jo?"

"Imonoyama-sama?"

He smiled. He was right. "Yes, it's me. Are you alright? Did they do anything to you?"

The voice was hoarse and perhaps, Nokoru thought, it was because of lack of water. God knew how many hours had lapsed since they were kidnapped.

"I'm alright. Just blindfolded and tied up tightly. What about you?"

"Same here."

This was no ordinary kidnapping scheme, the blonde knew. But the question was, why did they kidnap Nagisa, too? What was the kidnappers' purpose?

"Did you see who kidnapped you, Nagisa-jo?"

"Iie. He had a mask on and I was drugged a few moments after the kidnapping."

Nokoru closed his eyes. Just as I suspected.

Yet, why of all people did they choose to kidnap Nagisa? Nagisa wasn't with him when he was kidnapped. What made Nagisa unique out of all the other people they could abduct? What was the connection between the both of them?

"Nagisa-jo…"

"Hai…"

"Gomen nasai."

Suoh dropped his phone.

It had been a couple of hours after that call from Hikaru. It barely registered to him what time it was or how he came to be in the dining place. His mind had gone blank after hearing that Nokoru was also kidnapped. All his brain could process was the fact that Nokoru and Nagisa were kidnapped.

Why, he wanted to ask. Why of all people did those kidnappers pick Nokoru and Nagisa? Why of all people the ones he loved the most?

"TAKAMURA-SAMA!"

Suoh blinked, Utako's voice bringing him to the present. Slowly, his vision cleared and he saw the brunette pouting at him. Gradually, the present registered. Hikaru had come from the island where Nokoru was kidnapped and they were currently discussing how and why he and Nagisa were abducted.

He sighed. And they had come down to nothing. He never felt so useless in his life.

"This is all my fault," he finally said. "Had I not been very lax, Kaichou and Nagisa-san would never have been kidnapped."

Utako squeezed his hand. "It's not your fault, Takamura-sama. We did not expect this to—"

"THAT'S EXACTLY MY POINT! I should've been prepared for the unexpected. Kaichou is my one. I'm supposed to be—"

"It's not important right now to know whose fault this is," interjected Hikaru, rising from her seat. "What's important now is to find a way to rescue them."

Suoh sighed. He had lost control. What kind of ninja was he, really?

"You're right, Hikaru-san." A small smile of relief. "I think we shouldn't worry too much about Kaichou's safety though. They would never hurt him."

There was a pause. Utako waited to hear her best friend's name.

"Hikaru-san, do you know anything that could lead us to who kidnapped Kaichou?"

Hikaru met Utako's eyes. They had observed the same thing. It was as if only Nokoru had been kidnapped.

"Nokoru-sama was picked up by a helicopter. I'm sorry but I didn't see much."

"Neither did I," said Utako.

Suoh turned to her and blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Nagisa-san."

Golden eyes widened, realizing who he forgot. "Oh. Yeah."

Utako bit her lip. Suoh had really forgotten about Nagisa. She wanted to strangle him how could he forget his fiancée? How could he?!

The ninja's cell phone suddenly rang, disrupting her train of thoughts.

"Hai?" answered Suoh. "Takamura desu."

"Listen carefully, Takamura Suoh," a computer-altered (he guessed) voice said from the other line.

The ninja's eyes sharpened. This was something that never happened before. No one ever wanted to get ransom for kidnapping Nokoru. The president wasn't worth any amount of money.

But, there was Nagisa…

"Two are lost, only one can you pick.

But to save both, trace one past you shall.

Remember the place where you first met,

A clue to the next piece, there you shall find.

Yet be warned, ninja:

Tell no one of your journey, take no one as well.

Lest harm befall on everyone you hold dear."

The tone went dead. Suoh closed the connection. The kidnappers didn't want Nokoru or Nagisa. They wanted him.

He gritted his teeth. What kind of ninja was he? He had put his one in danger.

What kind of fiancé was he? He had forgotten that his fiancée was also kidnapped.

"Takamura-sama? Was that the kidnapper? What did he say?" asked Hikaru.

"Tell no one of your journey, take no one as well

Lest harm befall on everyone you hold dear."

He can't let anyone be harmed because of him.

Suoh nodded, answering the questioning looks of the ladies. "Yes, that was the kidnapper. I can't tell you more. But I promise you that I will find them. They will be safe with us before the sun rises tomorrow."

Both ladies nodded, understanding the situation. And with that, Suoh disappeared before them.

"Two are lost, only one can you pick.

But to save both, trace one past you shall.

Remember the place where you first met,

A clue to the next piece, there you shall find."

The computer-altered voice vibrated in his mind. After picking up some needed equipments from his room, he headed out.

Where we first met…

First met who?

"… only one can you pick."

There was it again, he thought. The problem he had been dealing with the past few days. Picking one out of two.

Who would've thought that subtraction was going to be this hard?

He stopped and looked around. Sunflowers. If his memory served him right, this was the exact place where they first met.

A sad smile escaped him. Sunflowers reminded him so much of an analogy between him and…

His eyes widened. Between two sunflowers was a note.

He hurriedly picked it up and read it.

"Woven threads loosen, bonds grow old.

Chains break and so do promises.

Yet, ninja, are you prepared to break this one?

Or will you renew your vows?

Where Eskimos live, so they do

Don't be embarrassed when you see it again

Or see them you never shall again."

Suoh held the paper tightly in his hand, determination in his eyes.

I will find you, Nokoru, Nagisa-san.

Utako wanted to punch someone hard. Preferably a certain blue haired, golden eyed ninja.

The chef watched his girlfriend pace around the room. The moment the two ladies stepped inside his mansion, Utako had been raging mad and yet silent. Hikaru had offered no explanation, just saying that it was better that Utako tell him what the matter was.

Idomu sighed. This was something he was never skilled at: dealing with enraged ladies.

"Utako-san, calm down," he heard Akira say for the nth time that hour. This hasn't elicited a single reaction from the brunette in the past hour but he continued to say it nonetheless. He presumed that the chef was hoping it would have a soothing effect in some way.

"How can I calm down, Akira?!" she cried out, surprising her boyfriend and Idomu. "That… ninja forgot about his fiancée! How could he forget his fiancée? How could he do that to Nagisa-san?!"

The redhead was thankful that the room was sound proof. Yet he wasn't thankful to witness Utako's rage. Perhaps, he was better off in the control room with the mothers and the others…

Idomu fought an urge to comment and quote, "Hell hath no fury like a woman's wrath."

"What?! Takamura-sempai forgot Nagisa-san?"

"You heard me right, darling. Your friend forgot my best friend!"

Wait.

Did Utako just say that Suoh forgot about Nagisa?

"Tell me, Akira, why didn't I strangle him right then and there?!"

"Faster and faster the train ran

Save the damsels was your priority then

Now go and run as fast as you did before

Turn the tracks back where they are supposed to be

Do you hear the voice crying out your name?

Run, ninja, run.

Or hear that voice you never shall again."

Suoh checked his watch. It was already a little after two.

He clutched the penguin in his arms. He needed to run.

They needed him.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Idomu said. He was thankful that Utako was a little calm already.

It was Anita.

"Idomu-kun, Suoh-sama is nearing the tracks. He's going to find the last clue in a few minutes."

A wide smile spread across his face. Suoh was faster than he expected.

"Then that means we have a show to perform. Let's get ready."

"Hai."

"Prominent and upright does it stand

A place where the first of many adventures took place

The event that sparked that made you the trio

Detectives and protectors of CLAMP Campus

Now run to the top, ninja and from across the tower you will see

Your precious two standing, waiting for you

Then tell me, when is subtraction better than division?"

I'm coming, Nokoru.

I'm coming, Nagisa-san.

"Is everything ready?"

Marron, Anita, Utako and Hikaru faced Idomu and Akira.

"Hai," they chorused.

The pianist turned to the mothers. Suoh's mother smiled.

"We'll be monitoring here, Akira-san, Idomu-san. Just do your job there."

Rijchou closed her fan and for the first time, revealed her eyes. Eyes that reflected of a mother's concern over her child. "Go now, all of you. Suoh-san is near the destination."

Both nodded.

It was show time.

Someone had opened the door.

There were two people in the room, Nokoru noticed. They were being taken to another location.

He hoped they were handling Nagisa as a lady was supposed to be handled.

Suoh reread the riddle.

"From across the tower you will see…" he folded it and looked up at the glaring lights. "So that would mean from across the Tokyo tower, ne?"

I'm here, Nokoru, Nagisa-san.

The wind was blowing hard. They were in open space. Nokoru could feel a gloved hand holding his won bound ones and another taking off his blindfold.

He squinted, the light that passed through his eyes hurting them.

"Open your eyes, Imonoyama."

There was something unusual in his captor's voice.

"Who are you?" he croaked. God, his voice sounded awful. "Where's Nagisa-jo?"

"I told you to open your eyes, not your mouth."

Nokoru gritted his teeth. Not that I don't want to, fool. I just can't open them just yet.

Something was pushed to his lips. "Drink this."

The blonde did not move. His captor laughed.

"Don't worry. It's just water. And I'm not lying, Imonoyama. My mission is not to kill you."

There was something in that voice, Nokoru thought. Something that his instincts told him to trust.

He drank.

Idomu didn't know if he should smile or not. Nokoru had trusted him far too early and yet he didn't really want to use unnecessary force on the one he loved. He just hoped that they haven't been discovered yet.

"Azuya-san, drink this. It will make your throat feel better."

The voice was weird, she thought, feeling the cold water in her dry lips. Instincts told her not to drink however, her body needed the replenishment.

She drank.

Takamura-san, where are you?

Fortieth floor.

He looked ahead of him and saw more seemingly endless staircases.

Just how high was this building anyway?!

His throat felt better. His eyes were feeling better, too. He opened them.

"Ah. It's good to see that you've decided to open your eyes, Imonoyama."

Sapphire eyes turned towards the source of the voice. The person, a man he assumed, was taller than him. He had a costume on, something that concealed his entire identity. There was something strapped on his throat. He presumed this was what was causing the altered tone.

"Where are we?"

"Tokyo Tower."

"Where's Nagisa-jo? Why did you capture her as well?"

There was a smile. For the first time in his entire life, he hated a smile.

"All will be revealed when your ninja arrives, Imonoyama."

His eyes widened. "Suoh? What does Suoh have to do with all of these?"

"Everything."

Nokoru closed his eyes. He wished he had psychic powers so that he could mentally contact Suoh and tell him not to come. He did not want Suoh to be involved with all these.

Suoh…

"It's no use wishing, Imonoyama. Your ninja has arrived."

Cerulean eyes opened and met golden ones from across the tower.

"Suoh!"

"Kaichou." His eyes wandered to the other end of the tower. "Nagisa-san."

"Takamura-san!"

"Takamura, you have come. Tell me, which memory did you pick?" asked Idomu.

The ninja's eyes sharpened. "It doesn't matter. You have me now so release them both!"

There was a laugh from Akira. "Not too fast, ninja. We will do this in our own pace."

The pianist wanted to smile. Akira was really good at acting.

"If you want them safe, Takamura," continued the chef. "You will have to answer one last riddle."

"And that is?"

Idomu cleared his throat. This was it. There was no backing out. They placed the captives near the end of the tower's ledge. A look of complete horror passed through Nagisa's face. Nokoru's eyes widened but he stayed calm.

"Listen, ninja, for I shall only tell you this once:

The heart was meant to occupy a lot

Yet, ninja, in your case this is not.

Only one can you have, only one can you save.

Pick the sun or the moon, it's your decision.

But keep in mind that you only have a minute

Or both will perish before your eyes."

Akira tightened his grip on Nagisa. "Tell, us, Takamura. Who will you pick? Imonoyama or Azuya?"

The wind blew harder.

Hands tightened around Nokoru as well. "You have one minute to pick your one, ninja. And it starts now."

-Tsuzuku-

Author's Notes: So, what do you think? I'm sorry it took so long to update. I hope the muses won't desert me again so I can update this as fast as I can. Thanks for bearing with me.

Usual disclaimers apply.