Author's note: Firstly, gomenasai!! I want to apologize for my French
because I don't know any!! So, if I made any mistakes... Hontoni
gomenasai!!! And I would like to thank you for taking your time to read my
fic. Please R & R!! Hope you liked it!
Chapter Two: He's Mine
Gathering his collapsing composure, Ryo retorted snappishly, "What do you mean part of her is?" Bitter anger hinted in his voice as he demanded for a sustaining explanation.
Lighting a cigarette between his lips, "I'm not her biological father, - sorta like the little twerp and yourself. But Jacq grew up calling me her father. The asshole ditched Jacq and her mother when she was only three months old," Dee said nonchalantly.
"I had rather not know of the man who abandoned my mother and I," Jacqueline chipped in with resentment in her voice.
"I still don't see the relation to this matter," Ryo said with slight indictment as he leaned back onto the chair.
Not wanting to elaborate, "It's a very complex deal that happened between her mother and I. But to make a long story short, I knew her mother and I kinda became her godfather overnight," the other man said carelessly.
"What? You got sexually involved? Is that how you became Jacqueline's godfather overnight?" The usual calmness in that man broke with fury rage as the jealousy contained in his black eyes betrayed him.
"Is that the only impression you've got on me? Is it to you that everyone I know must be sexually related to me?!" Dee hadn't bothered to restrain the anger in him nor try to explain the matter before it got any worse than it can get. But who could blame him? After all, he did cross- country run all over New York looking for her.
"Well, excuse me..." Ryo bit back sarcastically, "...maybe if you weren't always lusting like a hungry wolf, then probably I would have a better impression of you!"
"Lusting like a hungry wolf?" Dee repeated in horror as he jumped to his feet, "Oh..., right! I'm always the sex-thirsty devil and you, the untainted, unadulterated angel. Well, pardon me for fucking that heavenly body of yours!!"
"You're impossible, Dee!!" Ryo infuriately shouted back at him in embarrassment.
"So I've been told," snickered the younger man in return.
"Get out!!" words just flew out before he could even stop himself. Cursing with regrets, Ryo silently prayed for a little ray of hope that Dee didn't hear him. But the dangerous glint from the corner of the other man's eyes clearly told him that God wasn't going to help him this time.
"Gladly," and with that, Dee stood from his seat as he walked over to the little French girl and took her by the hand.
Frozen from where he stood, Ryo felt his chest constricting so tightly that breathing seemed to be a difficult task as he tried to get words out of his mouth. But as Dee reached for the door, the man could do nothing but stare with brimming tears.
The raven-haired man hesitated a second at the doorway as he said with rigidity in his voice, "Goodbye, Randy."
"Dee! I..." But the door had slammed shut behind the man. He was one step too late. Dee was out of his apartment before he could even voice his misgivings.
Falling onto his weakened knees, trembling fingers tried to conceal the continuous sobs, 'God... what have I done?..." as tears shed uncontrollably.
God, what was the pain he was feeling in his heart, - pounding hard in his ears, threatening to leap out of his chest if he doesn't stop the pain from growing? The throbbing was insufferable. Rapidity in his breathing was suffocating. And it was times as vulnerable as this that makes him yearn for Dee's touch.
Two minutes ago, getting hold of the man couldn't be easier. But now, the crave was no more than a dream, for he knew that Dee would not come to his aid now even if he groveled on bended knees.
'...Dee... I'm sorry....'
As though their hearts were synchronized as one, Dee felt an immense pain piercing the flesh around his heart the minute he walked out of the apartment he had once shared with the one he loved. He knew that he had been a little too harsh on his lover but if only he knew the sacrifices he made just to make the act credible.
"Why?" asked the little girl striding by his side, waking the man from his drowning thoughts. "Why what, Jacq?" he asked in return, innocently.
"Why didn't you just tell Monsieur MacLean the truth?"
Looking away from the innocent eyes of a twelve-year-old, "Would it make any difference?"
"At least it will clear away the misunderstanding between the both of you," "Misunderstanding?" smiling waveringly, he continued, "Misunderstand would be a word to broad to describe what just happened back there... Besides, telling him the truth wouldn't make any difference. Different scenarios, same ending. Why bother?"
"But you do love him, don't you?"
"I do..."
"Sufficient reasons to tell him!" she interrupted before he could finish.
"Sufficient reasons not to tell him," Dee corrected, "It's because I love him so much that I couldn't bear to watch him be a part of Raven's insane plans,"
"But Monsieur MacLean will probably hate you for life! Can you live with that?"
"So be it. Even if he hates me to the depths of Hell, I'll do everything I can to keep him out of Raven's reach," Dee quoted with determination in his eyes.
"You are aware that mother will be coming for you at dawn tomorrow, aren't you?"
"I've anticipated that. It has always been the pattern. First you, then your mother. It's only time before Raven comes for me in person,"
"And you believe you can escape Raven?"
"I don't." Dee replied bluntly, "I have learnt throughout the years of serving 'them' that nothing slips past Raven. Raven knows... he knows everything... and that's probably why he is ranked one of the few most dangerous man in the world..."
"So, you do know of your situation,"
"I'll be damn if I don't," he quipped, smirking at her.
Staring expressionlessly at the ceilings, Ryo recapitulated the moment Dee walked out of his life. Nothing in his life seems to matter anymore, not even the constriction in his chest that robbed him of his strength to breathe. It was as though judgment has been passed down on him and he was now waiting inline for his turn to be hung on the rope to his death.
Though in life, he never thought of himself as a person of wisdom nor a person of density. But level-headedness and rationality, the traits he used to believe he had it in him had faded away into oblivion, - the characters were no longer a part of him. Somehow, he cursed the denseness that possessed him to drive the man he love out of his life. He should have seen it coming. Dee had been acting surreal for the past few days, but not only did he not try to understand the man, he had just created a menace substantially enough to send him to splitsville.
Only the ringing in his ears reminded him of the near future encounter with Dee, both a dream and a nightmare that would come true in a few hours time at the station... or was that the doorbell ringing?
Ryo jumped to his feet immediately as he dashed to get the door, "Dee!" he cried but took a sharp intake of breath when all he saw was Jacqueline standing at his doorstep, - alone.
"Monsieur MacLean... I'm sorry. Did I wake you?" she asked with concern.
"No... I was just going to get myself a glass of water," 'Liar!' Never did it crossed his mind that he will have to resort to telling lies just to cover up the moping he was doing just before she came.
"Monsieur MacLean... do you have a minute? There is something urgent I need to tell you... it's about Monsieur Laytner..."
Mouth opened and shut but no words came out as he digested each word with deliberateness, "...err..." he stumbled, "...of course... please come in..."
"Merci..."
Closing the door behind him, the older man clenched his fist into a ball as he tried to conceal the trembling of his body.
"Monsieur MacLean," she began with professionalism in her voice, "I believe by now you would have uncertainties in regards to the man whom I call father. And I also believe that he hasn't been able to produce an adequate answer that could satisfy your queries."
Nodding to her every word, Ryo noted mentally that for a person her age, Jacqueline seemed know more than she was supposed to. As she continued,
"There is a void in Dee Laytner's life, which I believe you knew nothing of until now. You may know about his past and his present, and very likely, you are his future. But I doubt that you know anything that happened to him two years after he graduated from the police academy. I doubt you even know about Dee Laytner, the person before he became a detective of the 27th Precinct," hesitating to breathe, "...Monsieur MacLean, according to your records, you are one of the finest shooter the police force has to offer, am I not right?"
Eyes widen with bewilderment at the knowledge of the twelve-year-old girl but not able to say a word about it, Ryo nodded apprehensively.
"But did you know that Dee..." no longer sticking to formalities, Jacqueline was addressing Dee by his first name, "... he was an excellent marksman as well?"
"I know. He was ranked the fifth on the last station-wide shooting practice..."
"No...no..." shaking her head disapprovingly, "He was an excellent shooter..." emphasizing on the word 'excellent' as though he had not heard her the first time, before concluding, "... a prominent Olympics gold medalist shooter in his early days. Nevertheless, he was also an eminent kyudo marksman."
"But how is that possible? I know Dee has always been a frantic shooter, who doesn't think much before firing his arm, so much so that he was banned from automated firearm. But he has never been keen on distant snipping,"
'But actual fact, he is the best of the best in snipping. That is until my mother, Alexandria Chateaubriand badly injured the nerves on Dee's left-hand..."
"Wait! ... Hold just one sec. Did you just say left-hand? But Dee's a right-hander!"
"No, he isn't... or at least, he wasn't. Dee was a left-hander. After mother broke several vital nerves on his left-hand, Dee spent three years relearning how to use his right-hand to be as good as his left's. But despite how he tried, his right-hand couldn't be as efficient as he had hoped for,"
"Why?" the question caught her by surprise as Ryo looked into her eyes with disappointment, "Why did your mother hurt Dee? What did he ever do to deserve the chastisement of his talented gift to be taken from him?"
Silent besieged the room, "He wanted out of the group," was all she could say. "What group?" Ryo demanded.
"The group of government secret agents, who live to serve the government through manslaughter..." just as the words escaped her soft pink lips, a razor-sharp surgical knife darted past her like an arrow, missing the girl by a centimeter and landed inches deep into Ryo's kitchen wall.
"Mère!" the little exclaimed through soft gasp.
"You've said too much, Jacqueline!" replied a shrilling voice of a French women as surgical knives continued darting into the apartment.
"Run!! Run, Monsieur MacLean!!" cried the little girl as they dashed out the bombard apartment.
"Jacqueline, why is your mother after us?" Ryo asked between pants as he dived into the narrow passage down the emergency exit.
"It's all my fault! I shouldn't have come. Now mother will be after you just to get back at Daddy!"
"What do you mean?"
"If mother ever get hold you, she will use you to get Daddy to come back to the group!"
"Not if I get to him first," said a voice from the shadows.
Panic-stricken, Ryo reached for his pistol in the holster around his rear and aimed for the unidentified stranger.
"Chill, it's just me," replied Dee as he stepped into the light.
"Dee!" Jacqueline exclaimed as she rushed to hug the man.
"Why, Jacqueline?" he asked with accusation in his tone, "Why did you disobey my direct command? Did I not tell you not to come?!"
"I know... I know..." she replied blandly but the fury in her could no longer be contained, "But Monsieur MacLean deserves to know! After all, he is the man you love, isn't he?" Somehow Jacqueline had asked a question even Ryo was dying to know. But they were cut short by Alexandria's knives.
Sneaking a glance at the direction of the knives was thrown, leaning his back against the wall, Dee narrowed his eyes dangerously at the building next to Ryo's apartment, "Stay here," Dee ordered. Without looking back to Jacqueline's protest, Dee stepped out of their hiding place and into the light, "Alex... don't do something you'll regret for life. Jacq has nothing to do with this, neither is Ryo related to any of this. So, let them go. It is I whom you are after."
"Jacq has betrayed the group. Randy MacLean knows too much for his own good. Both have to die!" replied the same shrilling voice in the dark, before he heard Jacqueline yell, "Monsieur MacLean, look out!!"
"Ryo!!!" Dee shouted as he ran as fast as his legs could bring him to his lover's side, only to watch Alex's refine and delicate surgical knife thrust through the little girl's chest when she stood in front of Ryo to shield him from the ambush.
"Mère..." Jacqueline tried to cry as droplet of tears trickled down her cheek.
Alexandria Chateaubriand, the adult version of young Jacqueline stared down at her daughter as she drew her last breath in Ryo's arms.
"How could you?!" Ryo demanded with disgust in his eyes, looking at the woman whom heartlessly took the life of her own flesh and blood.
"Jacq!!" Dee shouted, enraged as he skidded and fell on his knee beside the little girl, "Jacq, stay with me... Don't you dare give up on me! Do you hear me?! Jacq!! Jacq!! JACQ!!"
"Dee..." Ryo whispered in bitter silence.
"Jacqueline Chateaubriand has committed treachery against the group, worthy of death chastisement," Alex said ruthlessly.
"What treachery? How is it possible for a twelve-year-old pose a threat to the group of manslaughters?!" Ryo reprimanded with anger.
"Disclosing confidential information to irrelevant entity is an act of treason. Therefore, she deserves to die," the French woman replied calmly as though nothing had happened.
"She's only child, for crying out loud!!" the blond officer cried.
"Treachery is an act of crime regardless of the age..." retorted the woman despite the firmness she tried to uphold.
"...enough..." Dee's voice intervened with melancholy in his tone, "...I've heard enough about decrees and treachery... I've heard enough!!! Damnit, Alex! D-a-m-n it!!" The wrath in his voice rang clearly even from five blocks away. The burning heat of his body feed on the anger he could no longer contain. Never had Ryo seen the man so angry that the fiery aura of mass destruction engulfed him, was felt down to his spine.
"Five years has past and gone... yet, you couldn't let bygones be bygones. And now, Jacqueline is dead... and it's all because of differs in our fuckin' past!!"
"I have my orders to take you back to the HQ,"
"Well, you can kiss my ass goodbye because I ain't going anywhere!!"
"My orders weren't specified; thereof you can come back with me as a dead corpse for all I care,"
"Then, you'll have to get me first," Dee sarcastically snapped back as he reached for his gun at lightning speed.
"This is way too easy..." Alex replied to herself, grinning deviously as she charged toward Dee, who seated himself on the concrete ground with the dead little girl in his arms. He hardly budged from where he sat as though he was waiting with his gun held firm leveling it to his dark green eyes.
Ryo watched in horror as Alex's primary weapon, - surgical knives flew like darts in Dee's direction. The endless rains of knives however, were easily dodged as if there was a pattern.
"My turn, Alex," Dee said in a dangerously low tone as he fired five consecutive shots in her direction.
"You're losing your touch, Dee," replied the women, swaying her body as though dancing to the rhythm of the bullets.
"Damn!" the ebony-haired man cursed under his breath. His revolver was out of bullets and he was a sitting duck, waiting for death to claim him.
"You're mine, Dee Laytner!!" shouted Alex victoriously, thrusting a knife forward, ready to stab it through Dee's heart.
But he moved so stealthily that his presence weren't expected until he threw himself over Dee and the little girl, shielding the man he loved with his own body. The swishing sound of the knife entering his body was a promise of immense pain as blood gushed out of his body.
Yet, even through pain on his back, Ryo smiled effortlessly at the man, "No... he's mine," he proclaimed before collapsing into his lover' arms.
Closing his eyes with intensity, "Ryo..." he whispered through gritted teeth as he held the injured man closer to his chest.
Author note ²: I'm really, really sorry that Jacqueline came and
left the scene so quickly. I really liked her character. She
played the role of an informer, filling the little queries in
Ryo's head. Jacqueline sort of derived from an envisage of Iris
from Sakura Taisen, and I admit it, - I sort of 'borrowed' the
name Chateaubriand from Iris, too. But I can't help it!! ^^! Her
name is just sounded so right...
I really wanted to write a longer piece but my assignment stood
in the way. I promise that the next chapter, - it will be
longer... I hope ^^
Chapter Two: He's Mine
Gathering his collapsing composure, Ryo retorted snappishly, "What do you mean part of her is?" Bitter anger hinted in his voice as he demanded for a sustaining explanation.
Lighting a cigarette between his lips, "I'm not her biological father, - sorta like the little twerp and yourself. But Jacq grew up calling me her father. The asshole ditched Jacq and her mother when she was only three months old," Dee said nonchalantly.
"I had rather not know of the man who abandoned my mother and I," Jacqueline chipped in with resentment in her voice.
"I still don't see the relation to this matter," Ryo said with slight indictment as he leaned back onto the chair.
Not wanting to elaborate, "It's a very complex deal that happened between her mother and I. But to make a long story short, I knew her mother and I kinda became her godfather overnight," the other man said carelessly.
"What? You got sexually involved? Is that how you became Jacqueline's godfather overnight?" The usual calmness in that man broke with fury rage as the jealousy contained in his black eyes betrayed him.
"Is that the only impression you've got on me? Is it to you that everyone I know must be sexually related to me?!" Dee hadn't bothered to restrain the anger in him nor try to explain the matter before it got any worse than it can get. But who could blame him? After all, he did cross- country run all over New York looking for her.
"Well, excuse me..." Ryo bit back sarcastically, "...maybe if you weren't always lusting like a hungry wolf, then probably I would have a better impression of you!"
"Lusting like a hungry wolf?" Dee repeated in horror as he jumped to his feet, "Oh..., right! I'm always the sex-thirsty devil and you, the untainted, unadulterated angel. Well, pardon me for fucking that heavenly body of yours!!"
"You're impossible, Dee!!" Ryo infuriately shouted back at him in embarrassment.
"So I've been told," snickered the younger man in return.
"Get out!!" words just flew out before he could even stop himself. Cursing with regrets, Ryo silently prayed for a little ray of hope that Dee didn't hear him. But the dangerous glint from the corner of the other man's eyes clearly told him that God wasn't going to help him this time.
"Gladly," and with that, Dee stood from his seat as he walked over to the little French girl and took her by the hand.
Frozen from where he stood, Ryo felt his chest constricting so tightly that breathing seemed to be a difficult task as he tried to get words out of his mouth. But as Dee reached for the door, the man could do nothing but stare with brimming tears.
The raven-haired man hesitated a second at the doorway as he said with rigidity in his voice, "Goodbye, Randy."
"Dee! I..." But the door had slammed shut behind the man. He was one step too late. Dee was out of his apartment before he could even voice his misgivings.
Falling onto his weakened knees, trembling fingers tried to conceal the continuous sobs, 'God... what have I done?..." as tears shed uncontrollably.
God, what was the pain he was feeling in his heart, - pounding hard in his ears, threatening to leap out of his chest if he doesn't stop the pain from growing? The throbbing was insufferable. Rapidity in his breathing was suffocating. And it was times as vulnerable as this that makes him yearn for Dee's touch.
Two minutes ago, getting hold of the man couldn't be easier. But now, the crave was no more than a dream, for he knew that Dee would not come to his aid now even if he groveled on bended knees.
'...Dee... I'm sorry....'
As though their hearts were synchronized as one, Dee felt an immense pain piercing the flesh around his heart the minute he walked out of the apartment he had once shared with the one he loved. He knew that he had been a little too harsh on his lover but if only he knew the sacrifices he made just to make the act credible.
"Why?" asked the little girl striding by his side, waking the man from his drowning thoughts. "Why what, Jacq?" he asked in return, innocently.
"Why didn't you just tell Monsieur MacLean the truth?"
Looking away from the innocent eyes of a twelve-year-old, "Would it make any difference?"
"At least it will clear away the misunderstanding between the both of you," "Misunderstanding?" smiling waveringly, he continued, "Misunderstand would be a word to broad to describe what just happened back there... Besides, telling him the truth wouldn't make any difference. Different scenarios, same ending. Why bother?"
"But you do love him, don't you?"
"I do..."
"Sufficient reasons to tell him!" she interrupted before he could finish.
"Sufficient reasons not to tell him," Dee corrected, "It's because I love him so much that I couldn't bear to watch him be a part of Raven's insane plans,"
"But Monsieur MacLean will probably hate you for life! Can you live with that?"
"So be it. Even if he hates me to the depths of Hell, I'll do everything I can to keep him out of Raven's reach," Dee quoted with determination in his eyes.
"You are aware that mother will be coming for you at dawn tomorrow, aren't you?"
"I've anticipated that. It has always been the pattern. First you, then your mother. It's only time before Raven comes for me in person,"
"And you believe you can escape Raven?"
"I don't." Dee replied bluntly, "I have learnt throughout the years of serving 'them' that nothing slips past Raven. Raven knows... he knows everything... and that's probably why he is ranked one of the few most dangerous man in the world..."
"So, you do know of your situation,"
"I'll be damn if I don't," he quipped, smirking at her.
Staring expressionlessly at the ceilings, Ryo recapitulated the moment Dee walked out of his life. Nothing in his life seems to matter anymore, not even the constriction in his chest that robbed him of his strength to breathe. It was as though judgment has been passed down on him and he was now waiting inline for his turn to be hung on the rope to his death.
Though in life, he never thought of himself as a person of wisdom nor a person of density. But level-headedness and rationality, the traits he used to believe he had it in him had faded away into oblivion, - the characters were no longer a part of him. Somehow, he cursed the denseness that possessed him to drive the man he love out of his life. He should have seen it coming. Dee had been acting surreal for the past few days, but not only did he not try to understand the man, he had just created a menace substantially enough to send him to splitsville.
Only the ringing in his ears reminded him of the near future encounter with Dee, both a dream and a nightmare that would come true in a few hours time at the station... or was that the doorbell ringing?
Ryo jumped to his feet immediately as he dashed to get the door, "Dee!" he cried but took a sharp intake of breath when all he saw was Jacqueline standing at his doorstep, - alone.
"Monsieur MacLean... I'm sorry. Did I wake you?" she asked with concern.
"No... I was just going to get myself a glass of water," 'Liar!' Never did it crossed his mind that he will have to resort to telling lies just to cover up the moping he was doing just before she came.
"Monsieur MacLean... do you have a minute? There is something urgent I need to tell you... it's about Monsieur Laytner..."
Mouth opened and shut but no words came out as he digested each word with deliberateness, "...err..." he stumbled, "...of course... please come in..."
"Merci..."
Closing the door behind him, the older man clenched his fist into a ball as he tried to conceal the trembling of his body.
"Monsieur MacLean," she began with professionalism in her voice, "I believe by now you would have uncertainties in regards to the man whom I call father. And I also believe that he hasn't been able to produce an adequate answer that could satisfy your queries."
Nodding to her every word, Ryo noted mentally that for a person her age, Jacqueline seemed know more than she was supposed to. As she continued,
"There is a void in Dee Laytner's life, which I believe you knew nothing of until now. You may know about his past and his present, and very likely, you are his future. But I doubt that you know anything that happened to him two years after he graduated from the police academy. I doubt you even know about Dee Laytner, the person before he became a detective of the 27th Precinct," hesitating to breathe, "...Monsieur MacLean, according to your records, you are one of the finest shooter the police force has to offer, am I not right?"
Eyes widen with bewilderment at the knowledge of the twelve-year-old girl but not able to say a word about it, Ryo nodded apprehensively.
"But did you know that Dee..." no longer sticking to formalities, Jacqueline was addressing Dee by his first name, "... he was an excellent marksman as well?"
"I know. He was ranked the fifth on the last station-wide shooting practice..."
"No...no..." shaking her head disapprovingly, "He was an excellent shooter..." emphasizing on the word 'excellent' as though he had not heard her the first time, before concluding, "... a prominent Olympics gold medalist shooter in his early days. Nevertheless, he was also an eminent kyudo marksman."
"But how is that possible? I know Dee has always been a frantic shooter, who doesn't think much before firing his arm, so much so that he was banned from automated firearm. But he has never been keen on distant snipping,"
'But actual fact, he is the best of the best in snipping. That is until my mother, Alexandria Chateaubriand badly injured the nerves on Dee's left-hand..."
"Wait! ... Hold just one sec. Did you just say left-hand? But Dee's a right-hander!"
"No, he isn't... or at least, he wasn't. Dee was a left-hander. After mother broke several vital nerves on his left-hand, Dee spent three years relearning how to use his right-hand to be as good as his left's. But despite how he tried, his right-hand couldn't be as efficient as he had hoped for,"
"Why?" the question caught her by surprise as Ryo looked into her eyes with disappointment, "Why did your mother hurt Dee? What did he ever do to deserve the chastisement of his talented gift to be taken from him?"
Silent besieged the room, "He wanted out of the group," was all she could say. "What group?" Ryo demanded.
"The group of government secret agents, who live to serve the government through manslaughter..." just as the words escaped her soft pink lips, a razor-sharp surgical knife darted past her like an arrow, missing the girl by a centimeter and landed inches deep into Ryo's kitchen wall.
"Mère!" the little exclaimed through soft gasp.
"You've said too much, Jacqueline!" replied a shrilling voice of a French women as surgical knives continued darting into the apartment.
"Run!! Run, Monsieur MacLean!!" cried the little girl as they dashed out the bombard apartment.
"Jacqueline, why is your mother after us?" Ryo asked between pants as he dived into the narrow passage down the emergency exit.
"It's all my fault! I shouldn't have come. Now mother will be after you just to get back at Daddy!"
"What do you mean?"
"If mother ever get hold you, she will use you to get Daddy to come back to the group!"
"Not if I get to him first," said a voice from the shadows.
Panic-stricken, Ryo reached for his pistol in the holster around his rear and aimed for the unidentified stranger.
"Chill, it's just me," replied Dee as he stepped into the light.
"Dee!" Jacqueline exclaimed as she rushed to hug the man.
"Why, Jacqueline?" he asked with accusation in his tone, "Why did you disobey my direct command? Did I not tell you not to come?!"
"I know... I know..." she replied blandly but the fury in her could no longer be contained, "But Monsieur MacLean deserves to know! After all, he is the man you love, isn't he?" Somehow Jacqueline had asked a question even Ryo was dying to know. But they were cut short by Alexandria's knives.
Sneaking a glance at the direction of the knives was thrown, leaning his back against the wall, Dee narrowed his eyes dangerously at the building next to Ryo's apartment, "Stay here," Dee ordered. Without looking back to Jacqueline's protest, Dee stepped out of their hiding place and into the light, "Alex... don't do something you'll regret for life. Jacq has nothing to do with this, neither is Ryo related to any of this. So, let them go. It is I whom you are after."
"Jacq has betrayed the group. Randy MacLean knows too much for his own good. Both have to die!" replied the same shrilling voice in the dark, before he heard Jacqueline yell, "Monsieur MacLean, look out!!"
"Ryo!!!" Dee shouted as he ran as fast as his legs could bring him to his lover's side, only to watch Alex's refine and delicate surgical knife thrust through the little girl's chest when she stood in front of Ryo to shield him from the ambush.
"Mère..." Jacqueline tried to cry as droplet of tears trickled down her cheek.
Alexandria Chateaubriand, the adult version of young Jacqueline stared down at her daughter as she drew her last breath in Ryo's arms.
"How could you?!" Ryo demanded with disgust in his eyes, looking at the woman whom heartlessly took the life of her own flesh and blood.
"Jacq!!" Dee shouted, enraged as he skidded and fell on his knee beside the little girl, "Jacq, stay with me... Don't you dare give up on me! Do you hear me?! Jacq!! Jacq!! JACQ!!"
"Dee..." Ryo whispered in bitter silence.
"Jacqueline Chateaubriand has committed treachery against the group, worthy of death chastisement," Alex said ruthlessly.
"What treachery? How is it possible for a twelve-year-old pose a threat to the group of manslaughters?!" Ryo reprimanded with anger.
"Disclosing confidential information to irrelevant entity is an act of treason. Therefore, she deserves to die," the French woman replied calmly as though nothing had happened.
"She's only child, for crying out loud!!" the blond officer cried.
"Treachery is an act of crime regardless of the age..." retorted the woman despite the firmness she tried to uphold.
"...enough..." Dee's voice intervened with melancholy in his tone, "...I've heard enough about decrees and treachery... I've heard enough!!! Damnit, Alex! D-a-m-n it!!" The wrath in his voice rang clearly even from five blocks away. The burning heat of his body feed on the anger he could no longer contain. Never had Ryo seen the man so angry that the fiery aura of mass destruction engulfed him, was felt down to his spine.
"Five years has past and gone... yet, you couldn't let bygones be bygones. And now, Jacqueline is dead... and it's all because of differs in our fuckin' past!!"
"I have my orders to take you back to the HQ,"
"Well, you can kiss my ass goodbye because I ain't going anywhere!!"
"My orders weren't specified; thereof you can come back with me as a dead corpse for all I care,"
"Then, you'll have to get me first," Dee sarcastically snapped back as he reached for his gun at lightning speed.
"This is way too easy..." Alex replied to herself, grinning deviously as she charged toward Dee, who seated himself on the concrete ground with the dead little girl in his arms. He hardly budged from where he sat as though he was waiting with his gun held firm leveling it to his dark green eyes.
Ryo watched in horror as Alex's primary weapon, - surgical knives flew like darts in Dee's direction. The endless rains of knives however, were easily dodged as if there was a pattern.
"My turn, Alex," Dee said in a dangerously low tone as he fired five consecutive shots in her direction.
"You're losing your touch, Dee," replied the women, swaying her body as though dancing to the rhythm of the bullets.
"Damn!" the ebony-haired man cursed under his breath. His revolver was out of bullets and he was a sitting duck, waiting for death to claim him.
"You're mine, Dee Laytner!!" shouted Alex victoriously, thrusting a knife forward, ready to stab it through Dee's heart.
But he moved so stealthily that his presence weren't expected until he threw himself over Dee and the little girl, shielding the man he loved with his own body. The swishing sound of the knife entering his body was a promise of immense pain as blood gushed out of his body.
Yet, even through pain on his back, Ryo smiled effortlessly at the man, "No... he's mine," he proclaimed before collapsing into his lover' arms.
Closing his eyes with intensity, "Ryo..." he whispered through gritted teeth as he held the injured man closer to his chest.
Author note ²: I'm really, really sorry that Jacqueline came and
left the scene so quickly. I really liked her character. She
played the role of an informer, filling the little queries in
Ryo's head. Jacqueline sort of derived from an envisage of Iris
from Sakura Taisen, and I admit it, - I sort of 'borrowed' the
name Chateaubriand from Iris, too. But I can't help it!! ^^! Her
name is just sounded so right...
I really wanted to write a longer piece but my assignment stood
in the way. I promise that the next chapter, - it will be
longer... I hope ^^