Seitarou handed Katsuya another piece of paper, which he glanced over before stuffing it in his pocket and departing abruptly. He hurried over to his truck and stood by the door as Seitarou passed by with the same smug grin. Once Seitarou had climbed into his vehicle, Kaye opened his door and climbed into his own, shutting the door loudly with a bang.
"Well?" Reiji asked but Kaye held up a finger to quiet him and indication to wait a moment.
Seitarou's truck drove away and Kaye took out his keys.
"What happened?"
"He uh, challenged me?" Kaye replied.
"Challenged you to what?"
"To come and rescue her in two days time. With as many people as I want."
"Two days? Why so long?"
"My guess is so he can try to get the information out of her for as long as he can."
"What information does he want anyway?"
"It doesn't matter" Kaye started the engine, "All that matters now is gathering the people I intend to take with me and getting her the hell out of there."
"Do you want me to drive?" Reiji asked sadly.
"Nope. Funny enough, after meeting that smug bastard, I feel my old strength returning."
Reiji smiled as Kaye drove away from the area and headed back to town. He seemed confident but in his mind he felt quite different.
"I only pray that he hasn't done anything bad to her" Kaye thought bitterly.
(Next Scene)
When Seitarou arrived back in his room, after having talked to his brother briefly, he saw that thankfully his desk had been untouched but the paper on the clipboard had been shredded once again and as an added touch, somehow she had managed to snap the clipboard enough so that it was hanging in two parts, one dangling off the hinges of the other one. He picked it up and stared at the clipboard pieces and frowned as she kept her back to him.
"Do you have any idea how expensive this clipboard was?" he replied angrily throwing it to the side.
"I'm sure you can buy another one with all the money that you're gonna be getting" she said back sarcastically, "Oh wait I forgot. You won't because I'm not telling you" she crossed her arms.
He sighed heavily and shook his head.
"It seems to me you really do want to do things the hard way."
"Hmm. I don't care what you say anymore. There is nothing you can say or do to me that will make me tell you what you want to know."
"Oh really" he grinned silently to himself recalling the conversation he had with his brother just moments before.
"She's not really been making any noise at all this time," Souichirou had told him.
"Maybe she's behaving herself. Listen Souichirou, there are going to be decisive developments tonight. I've decided to up the ante" he smiled.
"Ooh! Time to put the old Nakagami traits to work huh?" his brother rubbed his hands together.
"Don't be vulgar. But in a way, yes. Tell me, did you do what I asked of you earlier?"
"Yep. I installed itwhile she was sleeping. You'll find it in there."
"Excellent" he moved towards his door.
"But I have to wonder, what's it for?"
"Research" Seitarou answered simply to him before entering his room.
Now as he stood here he looked to his left in the corner of the room and saw the video camera that his brother had placed inconspicuously, so he smiled silently to himself once more and then turned to the girl.
"I had a very interesting meeting with your boyfriend. He seems to bedoing better" he added as she looked at him with sadness in her eyes, "And is quite determined to get you back. He should be here in a matter of days. Two to be exact."
"He's coming here?"
"I challenged him to come and rescue you."
"Why would you do something like that? Don't you need me to get your information?"
"Not exactly. I can get the information in so many other ways."
"Then I don't understand. Why did you bring me here then?"
"The reasons for my actions are actually three very specific ones. The first two being more minor then the last. One of course is to get the information out of you. And two, well to be quite honest I like having you here" he smiled.
"What?" her eyebrows rose.
"I enjoyed that time we spent together that rainy afternoon. It was very private and pleasurable. Especially since you sang that song for me."
"If Ihad knownwhat kind of person you were gonna turn out to be I never would have done it" she said bitterly.
"But you did do it. And since then I haven't been able to get my mind off of you" he moved around her, "Oh I admit I thought you were attractive the first time I saw you, but I didn't know how big of an attraction it was until I heard you sing for the first time. I decided then and there that I simply couldn't do without you."
"You realize that I am not available" she replied horrified, "I have a boyfriend. A person I love very much."
"I'm aware of that" he grinned, "Unfortunately for him, he won't be in the picture much longer."
"What do you mean?" she asked scared.
"I mean the Ushidas ultimate plan will be coming into play soon. And you'll never see him again."
"What ultimate plan?"
"It doesn't matter" he shook his head glancing at the camera briefly, "Now" he looked at her directly, "I gave you a warning before I left, but I'm a generous sort. I'll give you one final chance. Fill that information out now," he demanded pointing a finger at the papers.
She stared at him the fear leaving her eyes and replaced with burning hatred.
"No" she refused.
"All right" he smiled slightly, "You made your choice. It's late. Time for bed" he grabbed her arm roughly.
"What are you doing? Let me go!" she shouted the fear returning.
"I said" he leaned in dangerously, "It's time for bed" he dragged her past the pole that stood in the center of the room and flung her onto the bed.
Before she could even move he climbed onto it and grasped her in his arms tightly.
"Stop it! Let me go! What are you doing? Let go!"
"Calm down" he hissed in her own and her breathing became rapid, "I'm not going to do anything."
"Liar" she spat.
"I'm not. That's not how I operate. I will tell you what I am going to do though. It's been awhile since I have been in my own bed. So tonight I am going to lie in it next to you. Just like this. And I'm not gonna let go."
Her eyes became wide as she struggled in his grasp trying to break free.
"And if you try to get out of my grasp, I'm gonna warn you. My arms are like a vice. I won't let go. So you can struggle all you want but you're gonna have to face the inevitable" he removed his glasses and placed them on the table next to him, "That you're stuck like this for the rest of the night. Goodnight sweetheart" he whispered cynically before closing his eyes.
She tried to struggle but it was of no use. His grasp was tight and finally exhausted she stopped, the tears forming in her eyes.
"Oh Kaye" she thought, "Help me."
(Next Scene)
At that moment Katsuya was saying goodnight to Sakura. With not much of an explanation to her or Takara he insisted that they go home since he was tired and promised to tell them the next day all the news. Reiji had left previously so the two girls headed home together wondering if something bad had happened due to Kaye's mood. He lay awake for hours trying to figure out what to do until he finally fell fast asleep.
(Next Scene)
When the sun arose the next morning, Stephanie opened her eyes groggily and saw that Seitarou still had her in his arms, though not as tightly since he was completely passed out next to her. Her eyes became wide but then she shifted as quietly and quickly as she could without disturbing him and managed to pull herself finally from his grasp, falling to the floor slightly. She brushed a hand through her disheveled hair before departing fast to the bathroom that was nearby, closing the door with a slam, and locking it. Seitarou stirred in the bed and opened his eyes glancing to the left noticing that she was no longer there. So he stretched and picked up his glasses from the table, placing them back on his face as he rose up. He stood from the bed and heard the water running in the bathroom, smiled to himself, and walked over to the video camera to take out the tape that had been recorded the night before. Then he wrote out a note and placed it on top of another clipboard before exiting the room. Stephanie emerged from the bathroom, her hair and face-dripping wet with water that she had hastily thrown onto her face furiously to erase the night before events and then walked over to the clipboard where she spotted his note so she picked it with the distaste still in her mouth. It said:
Good morning sweetheart,
Sleep well? Imagine my disappointment that you weren't next to me this morning. Anyway I think I made my point. You know what you have to do if you don't want this kind of thing to continue.
Have a good day!
After the note there was a large arrow pointing to the stack of information to be filled out once more attached to the new clipboard. She crumpled his note and threw it across the room before falling to her knees in complete despair. She placed her head in her hands and sobbed uncontrollably.
(Next Scene)
Katsuya awoke with the pain still in his heart. He remembered how long it had taken him to fall asleep this time because of his concern for Stephanie. Hatori came to check on him about an hour after he awoke and proclaimed that hewas well enough to go home but that he still needed quite a bit more bed rest. So Sakura arrived to take him home since Kyo was at work and Tohru was at home looking after herself and the baby. When they arrived home and Kaye was back in his own bed he turned to his sister as she fluffed his pillows.
"Sakura. Where's mom?" he asked.
"She's asleep right now. Hatori says she needs bed rest too with everything that has been going on. Well at least you'll be healed by the time school starts again. Wouldn't want you to miss your senior year."
"Sakura."
"Hmm?"
"Would you do me a favor?"
"Sure. What's up?"
"Well, two things. Would you call Reiji and Akito for me and ask them to come over?"
"Reiji and Akito?"
"Yea, I need to talk to them."
"Okay. What's the other thing?"
"I know you promised him" Kaye began with a sigh, "But I don't want you to tell Stephen about the situation."
"But Kaye" she began to protest, "I told him I would tell him the minute I heard something. I can't go back on my word to him."
"You're not listening to me" Kaye sat up a little, "I don't want You to tell him. I want to tell him."
"Huh?"
"I need to talk to him anyway. So some time later today, after the guys and I talk will you call him for me?"
"Sure but, wait a minute" she suddenly said with a frown, "The guys and you? What about me?"
"You won't be there."
"Kaye look. I know you're calling them to make plans to rescue Stephanie. I'm not gonna be left out of this."
"Sakura."
"I'm going with you" she insisted.
"Sakura!" he shouted firmly making her frown even more, "Listen to me" he took her hand and she turned her head from him, "No, don't look away. Just hear me out. It's not like I don't want you to help me. You know I'd rather have you more than anyone at my side. We're a team. But Sakura, not this time" he said gently.
She turned and looked at the seriousness in his eyes.
"I'm asking Akito and Reiji to come with me. But I'm also going to ask pop, Uncle Hatsuharu, and Uncle Yuki if they'll come too. Because they have experience in this area. But no one will be here to look after mom if I do that."
"Oh Kaye" her eyes softened.
"She needs you Sakura more than I do. Her and the baby. And as much as you hate to admit it, I need to do this by myself. It's not something I can easily explain to you because it's a guy thing. But to put it simply, I won't feel like a real man unless I save her myself. It's true the others will be with me, but they will not be with me at the final threshold. I know this. I know he wants me to make it and not them. And when that time comes, I have to face him alone."
"But Kaye" she cried, "What if the worse comes to worse and you transform? And I'm not there to change you back?"
"That's something I have accepted too. Big sis, please understand? I have to do this. I have to."
"Oh Kaye" she embraced him tightly, "You dummy. Oh. I understand" she moved away and wiped the tears from her face, "I'll stay at home with mom like you asked me to. And I'll go make that phone call."
"Thanks" he smiled warmly, "You really are the best you know that?"
"I know" she nodded leaving the room, "I'll be back."
He nodded too and leaned back onto his pillow once more staring at the ceiling as he contemplated his next move.
(Next Scene)
Within an hours time Kaye had gathered with his two cousins in his room to discuss their plan of action. He asked Akito to be in charge of the game plan since he wouldn't be joining them on the quest but still wanted to help. Reiji was willing to go however and readily agreed.
"Are you sure you want to include our dads in on this though?" Reiji asked.
"The two of us aren't gonna be enough" Kaye replied, "I'll ask my pop and Uncle Yuki as soon as you guys leave here. If you could ask your dad I would appreciate it."
"Sure" Reiji nodded.
"What about you Akito?" Kaye asked, "Are you sure you won't come with us?"
"I'm better on the sidelines. I'm a strategist, not a fighter" he answered a bit disappointed.
"Okay" Kaye nodded, "Understood. You have my full permission to tell Yamato if you want."
"All right" Akito agreed, "Thanks. I'd better get going" he moved towards the door.
"We both better get going" Reiji added, "Don't worry Kaye. I'll ask my dad right away."
"Thanks Reij" Kaye smiled as the two of them left and Sakura came in, "Hey! Any luck?"
"He's not there yet" she shook her head, "More than likely he's out looking for Stephanie with his stepfather. You might have to tell him tomorrow."
"Okay" Kaye nodded getting up, "But it's got to be tomorrow or the next day. That's all the time I have left" he stood up.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to talk to pop at the dojo. I'll be back" he walked out of the room determined.
"All right."
He walked over to the dojo and saw that Kyo was meditating in his practice room, so he walked over and sat down next to him.
"What are you doing out of bed?" Kyo said teasingly, "Your mother's gonna have kittens."
"How did you know it was me?"
"I know your sister's and your footsteps very well. So I take it you're feeling better?"
"Yea. Pop can I ask a favor of you?"
"Of course" Kyo nodded opening his eyes and shifting his position so that he was facing his son, "You know you can ask anything of me. What's on your mind?"
"Well, it's like this" Kaye began with a sigh.
(Next Scene)
That evening Kyo, Yuki, and Hatsuharu were gathered on Haru's back deck discussing the rescue operation and drinking a couple of beers. All three of them had willingly agreed to go along but still had their doubts.
"I just can't believe he asked me to go with him" Kyo replied taking a sip of his beer bottle that Haru had just handed to him.
"I wouldn't be so surprised Kyo" Haru said sitting down next to Yuki who also had a bottle in his hand, "They trust us because we have been through the situation before."
"Yes besides" Yuki replied, "Katsuya respects you and they are rather young to be going into that sort of situation themselves. You should be more grateful then surprised."
"Who are you kidding you damn rat? My son went through a similar situation when he was five years old. He doesn't need me. But still it was nice to get asked."
"Sure was" Haru nodded taking a sip from his bottle, "I guess we old men aren't exactly out to pasture yet. But I think I understand why you're surprised Kyo" he leaned forward.
"Why's that?"
"Well think about it. The last time we were in the same situation we were their age and we didn't ask any of the adults for their help. We just went on our own, minus Master Kazuma of course, who insisted on going."
"That's true. Only this time it's my son in the situation not me" Kyo stood up and looked at the sun setting, "One thing is for certain though."
"What's that Kyo?" Yuki asked.
"In the end, Kaye's gonna have to face this guy alone. Much in the same way I faced Ushida."
"Are you okay with that?" Haru replied.
"You know, I am" Kyo smiled proudly to himself, "Because I know he can do it. And I have in my mind that just like me, he'll be successful and he will get her back."
Yuki and Hatsuharu nodded as Kyo joined them at the table once more and they talked a bit about their own plan of action if things got too out of hand.
(Till Next Time)
Authors Note: Okay! Three more chapters to go! See you tomorrow for the next!
Next Chapter: Seitarou's Number One Motive
Not telling! See ya!