I'm soo sorry for the long wait! I was away for the summer with no internet access and then when I finally returned my computer crashed. Now after nearly three months without internet access I give you the final two chapters as a bonus for waiting for so long.
I don't own anything of course so on with the fic
Chapter 14: Falling Hard
"How long do you think he's been pulling this kind of stunt?" Xiaolang questioned to the duel haired teen. Presently the group was hiding out around the harbor waiting for the opportune moment to nail the smuggling Russian. They were split up into groups of three with much complaining at being with Jamie on Meiling's part.
"Probably for years at different locations every few years. This time around just happened to be Hong Kong," Kai figured watching for the said Russian.
"Why would he want to genetically improve humans?" Sakura questioned in a hushed tone.
"He's a sadistic bastard that wants to take over the world that's why," Kai bit out, seeing the person that was the center of their conversation. He was barking out orders to the rather built looking men around him and then they began hauling boxes from a ship. Kai looked over to Xiaolang and Sakura and with a nod of their heads got ready to head out. Being true to his name, Kai moved like his own shadow, blending in at every dark corner with Xiaolang and Sakura following behind. Taking out a small device, Kai set off a small bomb that a few meters away from them. That initial attack set of a series of others that had Boris and his men panicking and wondering what was going on. One by one his men fell and small fires surrounded them. Boris reached into his coat to pull out his gun when was suddenly knocked down to the ground. The seven Wolf members along with the Dragon and Dark Shadow approached the fallen man with a gun in their hands. Jamie signaled to his two extra Dragon members to haul up Boris to his knees and they complied. Boris looked up at the nine people before him and was surprised to see Kai with them.
"Kai Hiwatari, such a pleasure and a surprise to see you," Boris sneered with an ugly smirk on his face.
"And I can't say I'm pleased to see you because I'm not," Kai stated calmly though inside he was disgusted at having to meet this man again. "I'm surprised that there is someone out there that shares the same ambitions and methods as you."
"Now Kai, you should know that there is a whole different world than the one you live in," Boris taunted with malicious eyes.
"You don't even know what kind of world I live in know so don't try bullshitting like you know me," Kai spat out angrily.
"Tell me Kai, does your father even know what you are doing now? Aren't you afraid to taint your precious family's name?" Boris sneered into Kai's face, thinking he would hit a soft spot. His expression changed to one of surprise and confusion when Kai out right laughed.
"My father encouraged this life for me. My family knows the consequences and was willing to take them. It also helps that my fiancé just happens to be Ryo Haraguchi's daughter," Kai scoffed at the older man kneeling on the ground. Boris's eyes narrowed at hearing that name. "I win Boris and you lose. However, you do get a one-way ticket to a place of out choice. Hell." With that, Kai pulled the trigger one his gun that pointed to Boris's head. Boris slumped forward and the two Dragons holding him up let go making Boris fall to the ground. Kai walked up to him and checked his pulse to make sure the bastard was dead. After confirming it, he stood up and turned toward the Wolf and Dragon members.
"So what now?" Sakura asked, not at all phased that Boris was dead. In her mind the damned bastard deserved it. She knew that the others shared her thoughts.
"I'll let the officials take care of the rest. They'll track down the laboratory and shut it down," Xiaolang said looking at the dead Russian. He turned toward Kai who had a thoughtful expression on his face. Xiaolang smiled a bit knowing what or rather who was on the Dark Shadow's mind. "Need a one way ticket back to Tokyo?" Kai looked up at Xiaolang with a confused expression on his face. "I know you're worried about her. You can take out jet back to Tokyo."
"But what about your -- " Kai started but was cut off by Meiling.
"Don't worry about us. We live here. You on the other hand need to get back to your group," Meiling assured to the young teen. Kai gave her a small smile and nodded in acceptance.
"Thank you," Kai said, appreciating what they were doing for him.
"Now that that's settled, let's head back and help lover boy pack and get on the plane," Jamie suggested with an amused expression. He narrowly dodged a fist that was aimed at his head.
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"How long do you think it will take these Americans to get here?" Takeo questioned to his leader as they watched the Radical hideout burn down to the ground. They along with some members of the Dark Shadows and their own members were able to make quick work with the place. Although there were three times as many of their members, the Radicals weren't quite intelligent so they were taken down easily. Currently, the members of the Dark Shadows and Night Raiders were on the sidelines watching the place burn.
"Don't know but I think we should head out. Don't leave any evidence behind, not like they'll be able to trace it to us anyway," Kisho said, signaling for everyone to leave. They quickly picked up their equipment and headed out, satisfied with the success of taking down the Radicals permanently.
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"It's fucking cold out here. I don't see you guys stand it!" Daisuke complained, trying to warm up his arms. His other members were in the same predicament. They tried to dress as warm as possible without wearing too much that would prevent them from moving quickly. The Russian representatives on the other hand had no problem with the cold weather and were just standing next to him calmly.
"We're from here that's how," Leo remarked sarcastically. Dimitri just grinned at the Japanese group while they returned it with glares. Leo looked at the group with a serious expression. "Ready?" When they all nodded, she gave the signal to head in. Leo and Dimitri swiftly moved within the shadows as the Blue Pyros followed closely behind. The hunt had begun.
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"Doesn't this seem a bit too easy?" Riley questioned to her companions.
"They weren't expecting us," Brooklyn responded with a shrug. Out of the group, he stood out the most with his bright orange hair and pale complexion.
"It also seemed odd that the security here is lacking. You would think that they would have been ready for anything," Shogo pointed out, glancing around. They were halfway through the building and were currently hiding in the shadows having their conversation. "Be ready for anything."
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"I can't wait to set these off," Miyuki said with a grin as she set up her new invention. Her three companions just rolled their eyes at the younger girl. They moved when the bomb was in place.
"How many more to go?" Kanna questioned in hushed tones. They swiftly moved throughout the building, taking down anyone who was in the way.
"Knowing Miyu, she would want to put a couple hundred more but I was able to narrow the amount down to about twenty," Milan replied with a humorous tone.
"How did you manage that?" Ryuhei asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I told her she could use the more powerful stuff," Milan said with shrug.
"Quit chitchatting! We have ten more to go," Miyuki yelled at her straggling companions. The said trio just rolled their eyes and picked up their pace, taking down Radicals on the way. They stopped at a certain spot and waited for Miyuki to set up the bomb. They began to question the young girl's sanity when she began to chuckle darkly.
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"Here, take this," Rei said, handing Hotaru and Tyson an extra gun. "We couldn't bring enough for everyone so we're gonna have to deal with what we have. I'll take the front while Mariam takes the back. Stay alert. There are a lot of them hanging around here." Everyone nodded in compliance and swiftly moved behind the stealthy Dark Shadow. They quickly shot down Radicals who were in the way to quickly get toward the nearest exit. Rei and Mariam's eyes widened when they heard a distinct voice in their earpieces.
"Detonation initiated. Twenty minutes and counting."
"Pick up the pace. We've got twenty minutes before this place goes," Rei warned over his shoulder, forgetting about stealth.
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"About damn time they set the last one up," Ian complained while racing down hallways with his two companions with him.
"Not everyone is good at bombs shrimp," Johnny sneered at the short teen.
"Bite me McGregor and having that kind of knowledge is an advantage for me then," Ian countered to the redhead Scot.
"Cut it out you two and concentrate on getting out of here," Karen intervened into their argument. She didn't think this was a time to have petty arguments. They kept running down hallways with Ian in the lead. When the hallways seemed endless, Karen began to wonder if they were ever going to get out. "Are we getting closer tot he exit?"
"Just shut up and follow me," Ian replied not turning back.
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"I think we got the worst part of the building," Salima commented to her two male companions. They were trying to get to the exit but they kept being ambushed by Radicals that seemed to appear out of nowhere.
"Either that or they have lots of members to spare," Ozuma remarked dryly, taking down appearing Radicals as they went. Each of them has had to reload several times already and was beginning to run low on ammunition. "This is getting ridiculous."
"Detonation in fifteen minutes and counting."
"Let's just hurry out of here," Kane reasoned to the two. Both nodded in agreement and picked up the pace.
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"And here I thought that he was eager to see me, but then again he did give us three whole days," Kumiko commented, running through the hallways with her usual partner in crime.
"Guess it was too soon," Tala said with a grin. They picked up the pace when the detonation had begun and had yet to come across Kadin. Although they had come across some Radicals, there weren't as many as they had thought. They had been running for quite a while and time was running out. "You think he ditched out on us?"
"Possibly," Kumiko mumbled and turned a corner. She stopped in her tracks at the dead end for the exception of a door. She glanced at Tala who glanced back at her. Without the thought of a possible trap, they walked right through the door. They stopped into a rather large office like room. Both of them stayed near the door way as they stared at the figure that had their back to them. He seemed to be looking at something on the wall. Kumiko and Tala realized that it was a framed picture of three young teens. Three teens that were the best of friends. The three very teens that were standing in that very room.
"How long ago was it that we were like that?" Kadin asked quietly, more to himself than to his sudden guests. "Happy, a bit carefree...on the same side."
"Why?" Tala questioned softly, a bit of his curiosity in his voice.
"Why what?" Kadin questioned back, knowing what they were talking about.
"You know what we're talking about. You left without giving us a reason," Kumiko shot back to him.
"Your father denied me the chance to be with you. What more of a reason do you need me to give?" Kadin shouted out in frustration, turning toward them quickly.
"It wasn't otou-san. It was me," Kumiko confessed, not looking at him.
"What?" Kadin gasped in shock.
"I couldn't be with you that way. I didn't think of you that was," Kumiko went on with her confession. "How could I've been with you, thinking of you as more of a brother than a lover?"
"Why not! Why couldn't it have been feelings of a lover rather than a brother? What makes Hiwatari more lover potential than me?" Kadin shouted angrily.
"I can't deny what my heart feels and tells me. The both of you knew that above all people," Kumiko reasoned with her former friend and fellow member.
"I loved you, more than I realized after I left," Kadin admitted with a melancholic face. His head hung down in defeat. "I still love you to this day, to this minute, to this very second."
"Kadin," Kumiko spoke his name softly with a gentle expression.
"Kumiko, we've got a problem," Tala broke in urgently.
"Time?" Kumiko asked, reverting her attention to her redhead companion.
"Five minutes and counting," Tala responded quickly.
"We're right in the middle of this place," Kumiko said with a grave expression. "We possibly won't be able to make it out in time."
"Not possibly," Tala corrected with fear crossing his eyes. "Probably."
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"Is everyone here?" Ozuma yelled out over everyone. The large group actually started counting heads and everyone came out to the same answer. Two of their numbers, besides Kai, was missing.
"Kumiko and Tala," Salima choked out, confirming everyone's thoughts.
"We've still got 90 seconds left. They could be at an exit as we speak," Sophie informed but the nervousness in her voice gave her away.
"Can you contact them?" Hotaru asked the computer genius with anxiousness.
"Iie, something seems wrong with the signal," Sophie stated, trying to find the pair. Seconds later, the bombs planted throughout the warehouse exploded at the same time to the second. The entire group's attention was solely on the now burning building. The next thing on their minds was the fact that Kumiko and Tala were nowhere in sight.
"Don't panic yet. They like to make flashy exits, remember?" Tyson reminded the group, trying to lighten the mood and not confirm everyone's greatest fears.
"We'll wait for as long as we can, but we're gonna have to leave soon. The police will get on to us," Ozuma instructed as acting leader since both the leader and second aren't present. "Start loading things up for a quick exit." Everyone complied, not in the mood to argue and made quick glances to the collapsing building to see if the duo missing were coming. Unfortunately, they were forced to leave when they heard the distant sirens that were unmistakeningly police sirens.
"Do you think they're -- " Mariah started, not really wanting to finish the sentence.
"We can't really conclude anything until there is proof," Kane cut in, not wanting to believe that they could be gone for good.
"We'll wait at the mansion for them," Rei said in a positive note.
"I think we have another problem at hand," Salima stated with a hint of urgency.
"Nanda?" Rei asked, wondering what else they had to worry about.
"Kai doesn't know anything," Salima answered gravely. Silence reigned within the vehicle as they wondered what the bluenette would do when he came back and his fiancé and best friend were not there.
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Kai was fortunate enough to have the Li's let him borrow their jet to return to Japan. Although it was only a few hours from Hong Kong to Tokyo, it actually took much longer for the jet to get ready and for him to pack up everything up. Now he was about to arrive at the Haraguchi mansion and report in. When he arrived, he parked in the garage with a questioning look on his face. All of the mechanics were working on various vehicles with grave expressions on their faces. They didn't even greet him when he walked by. He went into he house and sensed something was wrong. He quickly made his way to the den and saw that everyone was there, each with grave and/or worried expressions.
"What happened?" Kai questioned a loud to the group, wanting to know what was going on and why.
"Kai," Hotaru choked out with unshed tears in her eyes. The uneasy feeling he had just worsened. He listened on in dread as the group retold the tale that was written only a few hours ago.
"So they haven't shown up yet?" Kai asked incredulously. When Hotaru gave a negative response, his blood ran cold. His legs gave way and he collapsed onto his knees in shock and disbelief. After the brief lapse of shock passed, anger and deep sorrow settled in and stayed with him as twin rivers flowed from his eyes.
What do you think? Questions and most definitely comments are welcome…but you'll probably wait since you've probably already started the next chapter, right?
Well then, later days…kuraihoshi