Chapter 3:

Confusing Emotions

"Hello, Kami. I am Aoishi Shinomori, leader of the HARM syndicate."

Kami's POV

I heard about him. He was the youngest entrepreneur ever to create his own syndicate.

"What do you want with me?" I said, curious to know why he had protected me.

Shinomori's eyes twinkled in amusement while his face retained that cold emotionless demeanor.

"Battousai wasn't ordered to kill you because that was not his job. His job was to transport you safely to his house." Shinomori said in that cold emotionless tone.

"But, my instructions from NOIR were that he was sent to kill me."

"Ah but it wasn't our syndicate that was after your life. In actuality, your own syndicate wanted to destroy you because I was interested in hiring you."

"WHAT? This is a bunch of bullshit. NOIR isn't a backstabbing corporation, unlike HARM!" I yelled at him, every fiber wanting to punch this man's damn calm face.

Shinomori glared at me, silencing me off.

"Did you really trust your butler with your life? How could you be so blind? That butler was to kill you before the Battousai could reach you. Luckily, Battousai got to you first," he said, his voice hiding the angry glint in his eyes.

Before I could process what he had said, I heard a moan behind him. The Battousai had fallen to one knee, his breath coming out in loud rasps. He had more cuts than the few I gave him…

Shinomori motioned with his hand and two figures came out of the darkness. One was a medium sized young man dressed entirely in black with spikey black hair and dark eyes. The other was a wisp of a girl in a tight pink and blue outfit and stunning green eyes framed by dark blue-black hair.

"Yahiko, Misao, bring Battousai and Kami to the infirmary and see that they are treated," Shinomori said before walking towards Battousai's car.

He climbed into the car and revved up the engine.

"I'll meet you there. Kami," he said turning his attention from his subordinates to me. "I'll explain your situation as soon as you arrive at the mansion and receive treatment."

And he was gone.

I turned around and saw the H.A.R.M subordinates prop Battousai up under his shoulders.

The young man, Yahiko, then glanced up at me.

"Hey there ugly. Come on and lend us a hand with him. You're too muscled up to be a girl," he added, his voice was smug, much like that of a 5-year-old.

"Who do you think you're talking to you, you little brat!"

The other, Misao, conked Yahiko on the head before smiling at me.

"Ignore him. He's an obnoxious guy, just ignore him. It's a pleasure to meet you! I mean you are the Kaoru Kamiya, the famous actress in all of my favorite movies! I especially liked you in Don't Cry for Me, Tokyo! That was great! And you're the famous assassin, Kami, in your secret life! Mou! I wish I had two careers!" The young girl said, her voice beaming with genuine admiration.

I must admit I started to feel a little soft spot for her after that little introduction. I even felt a little soft to that annoying Yahiko kid.

"Alright let's go."

The infirmary was large and sterile white and steel; the only furniture was steel beds and decks and crisp white drapery and bed covers. I sat down on the infirmary bed, stretching my limbs, feeling the constraints of the bandages Misao had applied to my lacerations on my arms and the side of my torso. I didn't see the Battousai anywhere in the infirmary.

"Hey Misao? Where is the Battousai?"

Misao smiled toothily at me before answering. "That man is a loner. I think Yahiko is taking care of his wounds in the other wing of the infirmary with the professional doctors. He usually takes care of them himself, but he had lost consciousness on the ride here."

"Oh. So that's where all the doctors were. I was wondering why H.A.R.M didn't have any medical staff. Well either way, you're pretty good at treating wounds. Thank you," I said hoping I sounded genuinely sincere, avoiding the necessity of my fake acting voice.

She smiled at me before turning away to place all the utensils and medical equipment she used on me. I looked out of the window beside the orderly white bed I was sitting on, gazing outside. The grounds of the headquarters were quiet; the garden's outside silent all except for the occasional flash of light from a guard. H.A.R.M headquarters was very different compared to N.O.I.R.'s. The grounds were calm and peaceful, but still one could see the many cameras and tight security precautions. The headquarters looked like the size of my mansion on the outside. But, there were 12 floors underground, according to Misao. This place was far bigger and superior in security than N.O.I.R.

"Hey, Kami?"

I turned my head sharply at Misao, breaking my train of thought.

"What is it, Misao?"

"Is it alright if I called you Kaoru? It sounds kind of sweeter to the tongue you know?"

This would be the first time my real name would be used by someone. I never let anyone call me Kaoru if they do knew of the dark side I had. I didn't know what to say.

"Uh…"

"I mean I won't if you don't want me to! Well, I guess you're hesitant because you just met me, but later, think about it. I'm sure I'd want my real name said once in a while."

I smiled at her.

"I'll think about it."

We spent the next few hours talking (well mostly Misao blabbering on and on and my nodding of the head). Then there was a knock at the door right when Misao began to discuss the hottest guys in the movie industry that I should consider dating.

There stood the tall, handsome leader of H.A.R.M Corp, Aoishi Shinomori. Misao jolted up at attention and gave a swift bow to him before exiting swiftly out of the room. Aoishi stalked toward me, his body looking like that of a young panther, muscles moving in harmony under the dark material of his suit.

"I hope you are well. I came to talk to you about your previous employer."

Damn that bastard. I hated being told things I didn't know. Especially if it involved my career as Kami.

"What?" I said, my voice soft, hiding the growing heat building under my skin. I wasn't angry, but maybe I was just frightened to know the truth.

Aoishi cleared his voice before answering.

"You know you have some amazing powers. Powers any normal human being shouldn't have. We have received some evidence that there were several experiments ran on injured soldiers during the New Rebellion 7 years ago, and you were one of the test subjects. We haven't found out anymore data regarding that incident but if you stay with us for a while longer, we'll find the truth. The truth is an interest to us as well."

Well, it wasn't that big of a shock I was experimented on. I mean most of this stuff I already deduced. I was curious about the interests H.A.R.M had in my problem though…

"Umm…"

"Listen," Aoishi said cutting me off. "I know you have more questions but this is about as far as I know of and how much I can say. So get some rest, and we'll begin tomorrow on our research."

With that last comment, he left shutting the door softly behind him.

I laid my head back against the crisp folds of my bed spread, shutting my eyes and letting my weariness take over my body…but I'm forgetting something…where's the Battousai?

I got up and stepped over to the main door of the infirmary. A map was lamented on the left of the door. So he's relatively close here…

Following the map's directions, I reached a large set of glass double doors with the label, Intensive Carewritten in bold letters at the top. I pushed the door slowly, feeling a bead of sweat drip from my brow. I peered inside, my heart thudding inside my throat.

There, in the middle of a cascade of wires and needles and machines lay the Battousai on a cushioned medical table with a soft white blanket over top of him. His red hair unbound tumbling softly on the table, looking like soft swirls of hot-red flames. I trembled slightly as I pushed the door open, slowly placing one foot in front of the other until I reached the side of the table.

I looked down on his face; his usual frown replaced by a look of content. I gently brushed a few of his strands of hair from his face and stood there looking at him. His breath came out in slow regulated intervals, soft then loud then soft again. I don't know what compelled me to watch him, but I guess I felt partially to blame for putting him in such a condition. I knew that Aoishi inflicted quite a few injuries himself but I injured Battousai even though he was trying to protect me.

I still didn't believe that my own corp would try and kill me, but I felt like I should hear N.O.I.R out before dismissing them in ignorantly.

Snapping back into my senses, I noticed Battousai's hand quiver a little and his face contort slightly into a semi-frown. Out of in pulse, I reached out and held his hand between my own. His hands were cool and shivering against my warm hands. He murmured a few incomprehensible words before is breath came out in steady rhythms again.

I smiled and rubbed his cold fingers softly, something I had done in one of my soap operas to my "boyfriend" in the hospital. However, this action was not written in a script, something I felt for him, maybe his stubbornness, his will, his beauty…

I suddenly felt the shadow that had followed me since I could remember lift slightly off my shoulders.

Well I know this is a pretty short chapter, but I can't figure out where I plan on going with this story line. I know this chapter was kind of mushy but bear with me. Thanks for all the helpful critisim I have recieved thus far. This is after all my first fanfic. Please Review! Thanks!

-KishofWings