Book Seventeen: Rescue Mission

Chapter One: Tracking Down Kyo

Hatsuharu frowned as the phone continued to ring and then hung up his phone with a light click.

"Still no answer?" Yuki asked.

"No" Haru shook his head, "And that is really really strange."

"Well maybe" Momiji was about to suggest but the three of them heard the doorbell ring, "Oh. I'll go get that for you."

Momiji opened the door and Kagura came in quite surprised to see them all gathered in the living room.

"Oh?" she said as she stared at them, "I came to talk to you Haru but I guess it is a good thing that all of you are here."

"What's going on Kagura?" Yuki took up the cue.

"I just wanted to let you know, well give you a heads up, since you guys always manage to run into him, that Uncle Rei is back in town."

"Rei Sohma?" Haru looked at her with wide eyes.

"Yes. My mom told me that he came home a couple days ago but I just remembered today."

"Well that might explain a few things" Yuki said crossing his arms.

"What's going on?" Kagura asked with a look of concern on her face.

"It's too much of a coincidence" Hatsuharu replied scratching his chin thoughtfully, "Both Tohru and Kyo are missing and then we find out that he's back in town."

"Tohru and Kyo are missing?" Kagura said with a bit of fear in her voice.

"Yea" Momiji nodded, "What are we going to do?"

"Well I know what I am going to do" Haru said, "I am gonna grab the van and drive over to the dojo right now" he replied grabbing his keys.

"Me too" Momiji said following him.

"And me" Yuki replied as they both dashed out the door, "Oh Kagura. Call over at Shigure's and find out if Kyo and Miss Honda are there. If they are not, call Haru back on his phone and we will tell Shigure about the details" he said out of breath as he ran out the door, closing it behind him.

"Gotcha" Kagura nodded with a sigh as she walked over to the phone in the kitchen.

(Next Scene)

Hatsuharu quickly strapped himself into the van with Yuki next to him and Momiji in the back and took off out the back gates. Hatori ran to the van trying to catch up to as it departed but it was too late.

"Hatsuharu!" he called putting a hand to his forehead in confusion as the van kicked up dust.

Then he dashed into the main house determined to put in a call to Shigure immediately.

It took only Haru fifteen minutes tops to arrive at the dojo since he was driving so fast. He stopped the van with a halt and then quickly pulled the key out of the ignition.

"Yeesh Haru" Yuki said a bit irritated, "If I didn't know any better I would say that Shigure was driving."

"Desperate times call for desperate measures" Haru replied simply opening his door, "Come on! Let's see if Kyo is in there" he hopped out of the van, following Momiji who had just dashed into the dojo.

Yuki and Haru waited till Momiji. Momiji shook his head and said it was locked up tight.

"Then on to Master Kazuma's house" Haru said taking off at a run towards their teacher's residence.

Hatsuharu was the first to the door and he knocked on it politely. Yuki went to the back and noticed that the back door was slightly ajar.

"Haru! Momiji!" he called and the two of them ran to the back, "Looks like someone broke in" he said when they arrived.

"I'll say," Haru nodded angrily, "Quite forcefully too" he eased his way in, "Kyo! Master Kazuma!" he called as he entered.

"Kyo!" Momiji called out, "Are you guys here?"

"Master Kazuma!" Yuki shouted but then stopped when he saw his body lying flat on the ground, "Master!" he cried out as all three of them ran over.

Yuki checked his pulse while Momiji and Haru gazed around the area. The sitting table was in disarray and several books from the shelves were scattered on the floor.

"He's still alive," Yuki said in relief looking at the two of them as Momiji picked something up from the floor.

"This look familiar?" he replied.

"That's Kyo's cell phone" Haru's shoulder shrank as he took it gently from him, "From the looks of it, I think he dropped it."

"Dropped it when though?" Yuki said as Kazuma started to stir, "And why?" he heard Kazuma murmur, "Master? Are you all right?"

"Yuki?" Kazuma blinked as he saw the other two boys beside him, "Hatsuharu? Momiji? What are you doing here?"

The three boys looked at each other and then turned back to the elder Sohma.

"Master we found you lying facedown on the ground when we got here" Haru explained as Yuki placed his head in his lap, "Were you attacked?"

"Yes" Kazuma sighed as he tried to remember, "Two younger boys broke in. I don't know who they were. They were exceptional in strength however. I wonder how long have I been lying here?"

"Have you seen Kyo anywhere?" Haru asked.

"Kyo? No" he shook his head, "He was supposed to come here after his last class."

"Well I think he stopped by" Haru said holding up the phone, "But I don't think he stayed very long. We found this on the floor."

"His cell phone? Is Kyo in trouble?" he asked with concern trying to sit up.

"We don't know Master" Yuki shook his head.

"We think so" Momiji replied, "Especially since Uncle Rei's back in town."

"Rei?" Kazuma's eyes became wide, "He's back."

They all nodded and then Yuki asked Momiji to go get a mattress for Kazuma to lie down on. He asked Haru to try to reach Tohru on her cell phone. Haru nodded as Momiji dragged the mattress in and Yuki helped Kazuma onto it. The phone rang for a few moments and then someone picked up.

"Hello" Haru replied, "Tohru? Is this you?"

"No I'm sorry" another woman answered, "Who is this?"

"Oh no I'm sorry. I must have the wrong number" Haru replied about to hang up.

"No wait wait!" the woman said, "You might have the right number. See this isn't my cell phone. I found this on the side of the road when I was out for a walk today."

"On the side of the road?" Haru replied in a rush, "Can you tell me exactly where?" he listened, "Uh huh. Okay. Mam can I possibly get your cell phone number? Thanks. Yes I am pretty sure that that cell phone belongs to a friend of mine. I'll be calling you soon. Okay. Thank you" he said hanging up.

"What's going on?" Yuki replied when he saw his strange look.

"Apparently someone else has Tohru's cell phone."

"Huh?" Momiji said.

"What do you mean Haru?" Yuki asked.

"I mean, this woman found her cell phone by the side of the road. So Tohru doesn't have her phone on her either."

"Which could only mean?" Yuki said.

"Yea" Haru nodded, "Yea I'm afraid so" he heard his cell phone ring and answered, "Hello this is Haru."

"Haru" a familiar voice came over the speaker.

"Rin? What's going on? Why are you calling me? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Haru. Look calm down. Listen I wanted it be a surprise but I was coming home today to visit for a couple of weeks."

"You are? That's great!" he said excitedly.

"But that's not the issue right now" she replied seriously, "Look Haru be straight with me, do you know where Kyo is?"

"Kyo? Why are you asking me that?" his eyebrows raised suddenly as Yuki and Momiji walked over.

"I know this is gonna sound kind of strange, but I think I just saw him."

"Where?"

"He was in the back of a caged truck heading out of the city. Isn't he there with you?"

"Rin where are you now?"

"I'm at the train station. About thirty minutes from there."

"Well stay put," he said in hurry, "You're getting a ride."

"Haru, what's going on?" she asked in a worried tone.

"I'll explain once I get there" he replied hanging up with a click, "Yuki. Momiji. Rin spotted Kyo. We have to go after him."

"Right" Yuki nodded.

"Wait" Kazuma said rising, "I'm coming with you."

"Master you are in no condition to go with us" Yuki shook his head.

"If Rei is behind this" Kazuma replied practically seething, "Then I am going" he said firmly.

Yuki looked at Haru who merely shrugged his shoulders with a smile.

"Hard to argue with the master" he replied.

"Okay" Yuki finally agreed, "Let's hurry."

"You be in charge of my phone Yuki" Haru said handing it to him as Momiji helped Kazuma out to the van, "I know Shigure is going to call soon."

"All right" Yuki replied taking it and helping Momiji get Kazuma into the van.

Sure enough as soon as they closed the doors and had started down the road, the phone rang. Yuki answered it.

"Hello. Shigure. Yes the situation is under control. Don't worry about it. But we need you to do something for us while we take care of things. I'm gonna give you a number to call. Okay" Yuki gave Shigure the number and then spoke fast as Haru slowed down a bit, "I'll call back to give you an update" he clicked the phone off, "He's worried, but I think he'll do it."

"I hope so" Haru nodded as he headed for the train station.

(Next Scene)

Shigure stared at the phone and hung it up with a sigh. He walked into the sitting room where Kagura, Hatori, Ayame, Mine, Mayuko, and Shigure's love Aoko were all waiting.

"Any news?" Aoko asked as she walked over and took his arm gently her short blond hair moving because of the slight breeze in the room.

"Nothing solid" Shigure shook his head with a frown, "I don't understand what is going on?" he replied as they both sat down, "Kagura are you certain that they said that Tohru and Kyo have gone missing?"

"That's what they said" Kagura nodded.

"That certainly explains why they left in a hurry," Hatori said with a nod of his own.

"Those poor kids" Mayuko shook her head.

"Well what are we supposed to do now? Ayame asked as Mine held onto his hand gently.

"I have to go pick up a cell phone" Shigure said, "Apparently it's Tohru's and she lost it" Shigure rose wearily.

"Oh let me do it Shigure" Ayame insisted, "I want to do my part too. Mine and I can go. We can take the car right Hatori?"

"I don't see why not" Hatori nodded handing him the keys, "We'll wait here for the kids to get back."

"Okay" Shigure agreed handing over the directions, "It's not too far from here. You'll be able to find it."

Ayame nodded and he and Mine walked out of the room towards the door. As they left Kagura left to go make tea for everyone, while the four adults sat in silence.

(Next Scene)

Rin waited patiently on the corner near the train station. Her long dark hair flowed behind her as she nervously bit her nails. Suddenly she saw the old familiar van pull up at the curb, and Momiji flinging open the door so she could hop in. As she closed the door, Haru turned to her.

"Which direction did you see them going?" he asked.

"They went left about a halfhour ago, but I think they were headed towards the country. Now will you tell me what is going on? And what you're all doing here?" she said as she saw Kazuma.

"We think that Tohru and Kyo are in trouble" Haru replied as they took off once more.

"What?"

"That's right" Yuki nodded, "They both have gone missing. And not only that Uncle Rei's back in town."

"That can't be good" she leaned back into her seat.

"Are you sure you can recognize the truck if you see it again?" Haru asked.

"Yea. No sweat. Step on it Haru. Who knows how far they are now."

"No problem" Haru agreed with a slight grin as he pressed his foot down.

(Next Scene)

Meanwhile from inside the cage Kyo had begun to stir. He blinked his eyes trying to focus and then looked down at his hands only to notice that he had handcuffs on.

"What the hell?" he whispered to himself as he finally saw that he was in a caged truck, "What the?" he replied as he stood up and started banging on the truck, "Who do you think you are!" he shouted, "Let me out of here!"

"Sounds like the beast is awake" one of the kidnappers replied.

"Yea. I wonder what's so special about him anyway?" the driver said.

"I guess we won't find out until the other guy arrives."

(Till Next Time)

Authors Note: Hey everyone! I am back! My computer had to be completely rebuilt so that was why I wasn't able to get these two chapters to you, but here they are now. I hoped you like them!

Next Chapter: A Monster or a Man?"

Now with Rin on the hunt, the Sohmas find Kyo. But when they find him they discover just what the plot is against the cat of the Zodiac. See what happens next time!