"I have returned!" Tomoya entered the station to rolling eyes and scattered cheers. He made his way to Arya, presenting her with a large coffee. "Part of my thank you for enduring my moods."
She chuckled, "Thanks. Good to have you back."
He bowed, then glanced around. "My brothers behaving?"
"Yeah, they're fine."
"You're a bad liar." He laughed, seating himself. "What are we supposed to be doing?"
She tossed him a few folders while looking through another one.
He flipped through them with a wince. "Such upright citizens."
She nodded, "Yeah. Well let's get to it. I've heard there's a warehouse nearby that they might be hanging at."
He nodded, standing and extending a hand. "Your chariot awaits, milady."
She chuckled again and stood, following him as she sipped her coffee.
He opened the passenger door for her before slipping behind the wheel. "I really do want to thank you for putting up with us while we were recuperating. I'm sure you had better things to do than play nursemaid."
"It's alright, I had fun."
He chuckled and pulled into traffic, then sighed. "I just don't want to be a burden. I don't want to force you away…"
"You're not a burden, okay?" she smiled softly.
He swerved to the shoulder, killing the engine and turning to face her. "There's something I've been holding back for awhile.."
"Okay..?"
He leaned forward, his lips brushing hers lightly. He hesitated, his cheeks turning red. "This may be a big mistake..but I can't help it. I'm in love with you, Arya."
She was quiet for a moment before moving forward and kissing him hard.
He eagerly returned it, breathing hard when they separated. "Wow.."
She smiled slightly as she blushed. "What's this mean for us?"
He shrugged. "What do you want it to mean? It doesn't have to change anything if you don't want it to."
"I really like you. I'm just worried it'd be dangerous for you if we dated.. You know?" She sighed softly.
"Can't be any more dangerous than my life is already. I have a bounty on my head from both top yakuza families, Arya. Not to mention all the other scum I've put away over the years. But I had to let you know how I felt because of that fact. I had a lot of time to think while I recovered and I realized I've been keeping myself too closed off from the world. I need to live, not just exist."
She nodded, "Alright." She looked thoughtful, "Why don't you come over for dinner? I'm always coming over to your place, why don't you come over to mine? I'll cook something."
"You got yourself a date." He gave her a soft smile before restarting the car. He whistled as he drove to the warehouse district, then parked. He scanned the location warily, his hands automatically reaching for his pistol. "Which one?"
She checked her phone for the information then pointed at one. She got out and started toward it, slowly sneaking in an open door. She hid behind a wall, trying to listen. She suddenly froze, eyes widening as she heard a voice she recognized.
"That crate goes to the docks. This one goes to the truck. We can't afford any delays."
Arya motioned to Tomoya to leave, moving back out the door quickly.
He gave her a confused look, but followed silently. When they had reached the car, he touched her shoulder. "What's wrong? Why didn't we arrest them?"
She took a deep breath, "If we are going after them we need backup. That's not our target, they're Otas."
"In a Hanamoto warehouse? What the hell is going on?"
She shook her head, "I don't know. But I know that voice was someone with the Otas."
He growled under his breath. "First day back and we've already run into a problem. If we wait, they may disappear. If we go after them, we may end up dead."
She nodded, "What do we do?"
"Wish I knew." He brushed his hair back with a hand. "I could distract them while you call?"
"Let's call backup now, then we'll go in and see what we can do before backup arrives?"
"Alright." He quickly pulled his phone and dialed. "Soldier boy, you and runt busy? We could use some help." He listened for a moment, then rattled off the address. "See you when you get here." Hanging up, he gave her a bright smile. "The cavalry is on its way."
She nodded and took another deep breath, "Alright, let's do this.."
He quickly ran back to the door they'd used. "Drop any weapons you lowlifes may be carrying and assume the position!"
Arya followed, her gun drawn as she looked around. She spotted three faces she recognized and she tried to stay calm.
"Damn pigs!" One of the men swung a machine gun up at Tomoya.
"Drop it!" Arya ordered, aiming her gun at him.
He sneered, finger tightening on the trigger.
One of the others laughed. "Look who it is boys. And she's posing as a cop too. Wonder if she screams any better in uniform?"
Arya growled, "Shut it and drop your weapons or I'll shoot you."
"Aww playing tough, are we? Why don't we test it?" The man with the machine gun fired.
Arya rushed and pushed Tomoya aside, falling back as she was hit.
"ARYA!" Tomoya screamed, raising his pistol and firing. The machine gun clattered to the floor as the man fell, his head half gone.
The cop ignored the others as he cradled her, his hand putting pressure on the wound. "Don't you dare die on me!"
She weakly opened her eyes and looked at him, "Glad.. you're safe.."
"Idiot.." He reached for his phone, then stopped as he heard Kaien's voice ordering the other men to the ground. "She needs an ambulance now!"
He dimly heard acknowledgement, his attention focused on keeping her alive. "Stay with me. Please."
"They were... some that took me.." She admitted as she tried to stay conscious.
"They're dead men. I swear it." His voice hardened as he kissed her softly. He moved aside as the EMTs began stabilizing her. "You better be waiting when I get to the hospital."
She blinked slowly and tried to give him a smile.
He stood, stalking toward the cuffed men as the EMTs began pushing her to the ambulance.
Arya awoke in a hospital room, eyes opening slowly as they struggled to focus.
"Hey." Haru gave her a relieved look as he sat back in his chair.
"Hey.." She looked over.
"You get jealous of us and our paid time off?"
She let out a small chuckle before wincing.
"Sorry. How bad is the pain? Need the doctor?" He straightened quickly.
"Maybe more meds.."
"On the way." He pushed the call button, then ruffled his hair. "Want to tell me why Toya nearly beat two cuffed suspects nearly to death barehanded?"
"Sorry.." She sighed. "Should have stayed quiet. I.." She looked down, "For over a month, I was held by the Otas. They were part of the group that took me."
"Shit." Haru groaned. "Toya went berserk after you were taken away. Took both me and Kaien to drag him off. He's been suspended."
"I'm sorry.."
"How is it your fault? We knew he'd lose his cool again sometime. This is his third suspension in two years. He was on thin ice before, now it's cracking." He moved to the window as a nurse came in and injected something into her IV.
"I shouldn't have said anything to him about it," she said quietly.
"Something else would have set him off eventually." The undercover officer sighed, then shook his head. "Get some rest."
She wanted to keep talking, but the medicine soon pushed her back under.
She slept fine for a while, before starting to have nightmares. She was crying in her sleep as well as slightly whimpering.
A hand gently ran through her hair. "It's alright, Princess. Just rest. You're safe."
She slightly calmed and soon her breathing evened out.
After a while, she woke again, eyes opening and looking around the room quickly.
Tomoya sat beside her bed, his head on her hand. His hair obscured his face, but she could hear his breathing.
She gently reached with her other hand and brushed his hair out of his face. She smiled softly, watching him quietly.
He stirred, blinking his dark eyes open. A smile appeared as he caught sight of her. "Hey."
"Hey. How are you?"
"Physically, fine. Emotionally? Better now that you're awake."
"Heard you got in trouble."
He shrugged and waved his hand. "Don't care about that. I'm just relieved you're alive."
She smiled, "How long are you out for? Will you be back when I get back to work?"
"Not sure. IA is pretty pissed and the lawyers are threatening a lawsuit." He gave her a look. "I don't regret it. Even if they pull my badge. You deserved justice."
"Thank you. You don't even know all they did to me though.."
"Doesn't matter. They should never have touched you. I'd feel the same if I didn't know you. The scum have been running loose for far too long."
She nodded slowly. "I'm sorry I freaked out at first when I heard them.. it just brought back a lot of memories."
"No apologies necessary."
She sighed, "So.. guess we won't get to have dinner at my place for a while."
"Raincheck? Unless I take care of you.." He gave her a slow smile.
She chuckled, "If you want to.. only fair since I took care of you." She joked.
"Absolutely." He leaned over and kissed her just as his phone went off. He rolled his eyes and answered it. After a few minutes of listening, he answered "Yes sir" and hung up. "The Chief wants to see me. Promise you'll stay out of trouble while I'm gone?"
"I'll try. You try to not get in more trouble."
He grinned at her. "It's a deal, Princess." He waved as he disappeared out the door.
She sighed and relaxed back on the pillows.
The door opened, Yuuto's head poking in. "This the royal suite?"
She chuckled, "Hey."
He pushed the door wider, slipping in with Kaien behind. "You got tired of taking care of Toya?"
"Apparently it's his turn to take care of me."
"You should have waited for us." Kaien was shaking his head in disapproval.
"It's alright. I made sure he didn't get hurt again."
"You could have been killed." Kaien stared out the window as Yuuto sat down beside her.
She sighed softly in response.
Both men stayed silent as the door opened again.
Arya looked over at the door in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm your emergency contact, remember?" Her brother answered as he eyed the two men in the room.
She sighed, "I'm fine."
"You were shot, Arya. That isn't fine."
"There were Otas at one of the Hanamoto warehouses. We were looking for someone else entirely."
He looked thoughtful before shaking his head, "This is why I want you to quit that job and get married. You'll be safer that way."
"I can't help people that way."
"You can't help people if you die either!" Her brother argued.
"She's an adult. She makes her own decisions." Kaien raised an eyebrow.
"I wasn't talking to you," he answered.
Arya now had tears in her eyes.
"I'm just trying to take care of you, Arya. I wish you'd understand that."
She let out a small sob as the tears started streaking her face and she whispered "I wish you'd respect my choices.."
"I've tried. I've entertained you with this cop thing long enough. When are you going to respect my choices?"
She was quiet for a moment before sighing, "I'm sorry, Aniki."
Yuuto's face darkened. "Don't you dare apologize to him, Arya. He doesn't deserve it."
Her brother growled, "I'm just trying to take care of her! I'm not even forcing her into the business! I'm just trying to keep her safe. If you're her friends, wouldn't you appreciate that?"
"If I believed you had any real concern, yes. But I believe you're more worried about your status in the business. A cop for a sister isn't really good for the image, is it?" Kaien stared at him. "How is trying to force her into marriage respecting her?"
He rolled his eyes, "I'm not here to argue with all of you. I just came to check on her."
"I'll be alright," she said quietly, wiping at her eyes.
"I'm glad. I'd love to catch up, but I can tell I'm not welcome here, so I'll get out of your hair." He turned to the door.
"Thank you.. for visiting."
"Any time. I love you, Ary."
"Love you, Aniki."
He slipped out the door as Arya looked down and wiped at her eyes again.
"Should have arrested him." Kaien's voice was low and angry as Yuuto sighed.
Arya stayed quiet, wondering if they were right about her brother or if he really did care.
The ring of a phone broke the silence. Kaien answered his cell, listening to the other end. His hand clenched around it, and he took a deep breath. "Understood. See you later."
"Something wrong?" Arya asked quietly.
"Found out some information on Haru's shooting." He forced his voice calm. "I've got to go track his idiot ass down."
She nodded in response.
"I've got classes tomorrow." Yuuto stood and kissed her forehead. "Take it easy."
"Alright. Have fun."
Both men laughed as they left, Kaien whispering something to the now entering Tomoya.
The cop nodded, clapping his brother on the shoulder before closing the door. His attitude changed as he sat down. "Hear I missed the chance to punch your brother."
She sighed and nodded.
"Oh well. I'm sure there will be another one." Tomoya took her hand. "I've got good news, bad news and crap news. Which one do you want first?"
"Starts with the bad ones."
"You're stuck with me for your recovery."
"That's not bad," she answered.
"Depends on how sick you get of me." He chuckled softly. "Good news is I'll be back when you are."
Arya smiled, "Well, that's good."
He gave her a soft smile. "I don't deserve you. But I'll try my best."
She chuckled, "You're fine as is. Any more news?"
He dropped the smile. "Haru was definitely targeted. I know by who too. Do you have someplace safe out of town?"
She frowned, "Why?"
"Because I don't want you dead just for knowing us. And this is a personal vendetta."
"I'll manage. What's going on?"
"My ex partner has resurfaced. They are intent on wiping our family out."
She sighed, "Alright."
"So you'll go? Stay safe until one of us calls."
"I'm going to help you find them."
He paled, his hand trembling in hers. "Please.. I don't want to bury you. Or have you join forces with her.."
"I'm your partner.. it's my job to help you track people down."
"No tracking involved. I intend to let her get to me. So it will be done before you get off leave."
"You're going to need help.. Even if I'm on leave, I can help a bit."
"She'll hurt you for fun." His eyes were haunted as he met her gaze.
"I'll risk it. I want to help."
"Do you want to know what happened?" He released her hand to clasp his together.
"Sure, if you want to share it?"
"We were partners for five years. Lovers for three. We kept it secret from everyone. Then I found out she was a mole for the Otas. She tried to get me to run away with her. When I refused, she shot me in the heart and left me for dead."
Arya nodded slowly.
"I'm ashamed. I don't want you hurt anymore. Maybe you should transfer away from me.."
She stared at him a moment, not knowing what to say. Finally, she asked, "Are you saying you don't want to work with me?"
"I don't want you dead!" He cried out, walking over to the window. "You shouldn't be dragged into this.."
"One, I could die anyway. Living a cop's life is dangerous. Two, you're almost as bad as my brother. Telling me what's best for me.."
His shoulders sagged in defeat. "Sorry. I'm a huge idiot, aren't I?"
"I just.. I want to be a cop and I want to be your partner.." she admitted quietly.
He gave a soft chuckle, returning to her side and kissing her gently.
She gave him a small smile when he pulled away. "So what now?"
"I'm working on getting you released into protective custody. My brothers and I will guard you."
She sighed, "I'm fine. I don't need all that."
He bit his tongue, forcing himself calm. "Why are you so stubborn?"
"Hey, you're just as bad sometimes," she answered.
He smiled wryly. "Touche. But I don't want you hurt worse. And I am supposed to be helping your recovery."
She sighed, "Alright, I guess. At least we get to spend time together."
He gave her a gentle look, his eyes soft. "Am I pushing you too fast?"
She shook her head before adjusting her position, wincing slightly. She relaxed back with a small sigh. "So when can I get out of here?"
"Tomorrow morning. I got permission to stay past visiting hours. You should rest." He ran a hand through her hair.
She nodded, her eyes blinking slowly showing just how tired she was. "Okay.." Her eyes soon shut as she fell asleep.
When she woke next, she let out a small yawn. She looked around after wiping her eyes.
Tomoya was stretched out on the neighboring bed, fast asleep.
She let out a small chuckle, watching him for a few minutes. She sat up, grabbing her phone off the small table and began checking through her calls and emails to waste some time.
He twitched, his forehead furrowing before his eyes blinked open. As they focused, he gave her a smile. "Sleep well?"
"Hard not to with these meds."
He gave a small laugh, sitting up and stretching his arms.
The door opened, Keisuke entering with her chart. "Good morning."
"Morning," she answered quietly.
"Toya, give us a few minutes. Then I'll release her."
Tomoya nodded, kissing her cheek before leaving.
Arya looked up at the doctor, watching him in silence.
He placed her chart on the chair. "Let's take a look at your stitches." He waited for her to pull her gown away.
She moved it and waited, laying her head back a moment and staring at the ceiling.
He gently removed the bandage, probing lightly. "How is the pain? Shall I prescribe you something stronger?"
"I think I'll be fine with what they've been giving me."
He nodded, rebandaging the stitches carefully. "Do I have to warn you not to work like Toya? Or do you actually rest when injured?" His voice was slightly amused.
"I'll try to rest," she chuckled.
"Nice to see a good influence on him." He made a notation on the chart, then smiled.
She smiled, moving to sit up more. "So I'm free to go?"
"Yes. Would you try to do something for me?"
"Sure?"
"Keep Toya from ending up in here again?"
She chuckled, "That's how this happened.. pushed him out of the way."
He gave her a small smile. "So that's why he refused to leave for so long." He seated himself on the edge of the bed. "Can I tell you something in confidence?"
She nodded.
"I'm guessing he's told you his history. His brothers know and now I'm going to tell you. Toya is not well. He's never fully recovered from the injuries he received the night his parents died or the one his former partner gave him."
She sighed and nodded again.
"We've tried to encourage him to leave the force without forcing medical retirement, but he's stubborn."
"Well, I don't think I can get him to leave, but I can help protect him."
Keisuke nodded. "I hope so. But I hope you take care of yourself as well. I'll go finish the paperwork."
She nodded, "Thank you."
"You're quite welcome." He gave her a smile and opened the door, chuckling when Tomoya was revealed. "She's all yours."
Tomoya blushed, nodding as the doctor moved past him. "I got your change of clothes from your locker. Everything alright?"
She nodded and smiled, "Thanks." She slowly pushed herself off the bed and moved to take the clothes.
"I'll wait outside." He quickly exited, closing the door behind him.
She slowly got dressed, then reopened the door.
Tomoya was getting a prescription bag from the doctor. He moved to her side with a wheelchair. "Sit down. I'll take you to the car."
She rolled her eyes slightly but did as instructed.
He wheeled her carefully outside, pausing to open the passenger door. He extended a hand to her.
She took it and stood before moving into the other seat.
He closed the door and returned the wheelchair to the entrance. A moment later, he was sliding into the seat beside her. "Let me guess, you won't hide."
"I'm sure we'll be fine at my place."
"Alright. Give me the address."
She told it to him before looking out the window.
He drove quietly, his attention focused on the road.
She watched as her apartment building approached in the distance.
Tomoya whistled under his breath. "Nice." He parked and helped her out.
She led him inside, opening the door to her large apartment. There were a lot of windows, and being on an upper floor, it allowed them to see across the city.
"Makes my place look tiny." He stared out at the view, his eyes distant. "Is there something wrong? Keisuke was in the room longer than to check you out."
"Nothing wrong. He was just warning me not to get hurt again and to keep you out of trouble too." She gave a small smile, "Sorry if my place is too big. It's the smallest Aniki would let me get."
He turned to her with a smile. "It fits you. And I've heard Keisuke's lecture so many times I have it memorized."
She chuckled before moving to a couch, "Anything you want to watch?"
"Your choice. If you'd rather go to sleep, I can find something to occupy myself."
"It's alright. But when I do sleep, if you are bored, I have a small library," she pointed to a door.
He gave her a fleeting smile, turning back to the window.
She sighed and turned on the tv, finding something to watch before relaxing into the pillows.
A few moments later, he joined her on the couch. "Sorry I'm jumpy."
"It's alright. You have a crazy person after you, I'd expect you to be slightly jumpy."
"I'm more worried about everyone else honestly. If it was just me that was being targeted, I wouldn't blink. But it's not." He sighed, looking down at his hands. "I just don't understand how she fooled me for so long…"
"I don't know," Arya sighed, "but I'm sorry you have to deal with all this." She looked thoughtful for a second before chuckling, "We could put a hit out on her?"
His head shot up, his eyes wide before laughing. "That's awful. But tempting."
"Well, if you want to, I can make some calls," she smirked.
He laughed harder, throwing his head back. "I have a feeling our partnership is going to be very interesting."
"As if it hasn't been already?"
"True. Who would have thought a chance encounter in the park would lead to this?" He leaned back and watched her.
"I really should have been more alert that day. I should know better by now," she chuckled.
"It wasn't a problem. I was the one too slow."
"Thank you again for saving me." She gave him a small smile.
"Glad to be of service." His voice was amused, his eyes twinkling.
She grinned before glancing at the tv.
He closed his eyes after a minute, sighing quietly. He rubbed his chest absently.
She looked over and watched him a moment before yawning. She let her eyes close and she was soon dozing.
When she opened her eyes again, she looked over to where he'd been sitting.
The couch was empty.
She got up and glanced around, sticking her head into the library to see if he'd gone in there.
There was no sign of him, the apartment quiet.
She checked the other rooms, seeing if he had gone into a guest room to sleep.
The front door opened silently, his eyes widening as he saw her. "Thought you'd sleep longer."
"Everything okay?" She asked quietly.
"Just grabbed a few things from my place. And picked up dinner so you can rest." He showed her the takeout bag as he sat down a small duffle on the floor. He locked the door securely, then moved into the kitchen. "Time for your meds."
She nodded, finding the bottle and taking a couple. "I have two guest rooms you can pick from." She helped unpack the food. "They don't get used much," she admitted.
"Probably won't be sleeping much. I'll just crash on the couch if I need a nap." He winced slightly as he plated up the takeout. "Eat, then go to bed. You need to rest."
She sighed and started picking at her plate.
"What's wrong?"
She shook her head, "Just wish I could heal faster then I could help you more with finding her so you wouldn't have to worry."
He paused, then took one of her hands. "Arya, I appreciate the sentiment. But this is my mess to clean up, not yours. I've put you in more danger and I'm sorry."
"We're partners, which means it's my job to help you with your messes." She sighed.
"Not this one. This is squarely on me. She's not work, she's personal." He put his chopsticks down, gritting his teeth as he rose.
"Are you okay?"
"It's nothing." He squatted, rummaging for something in his bag. He quickly pulled out a pill bottle and swallowed one dry before returning to the couch. He drank some water, then resumed eating.
She watched him as she continued eating, wishing she knew how to help him.
Finally, he pushed the plate away, concentrating on breathing slowly. He closed his eyes, then reopened them slowly.
"Are you sure you're alright?"
"I may have overdone everything the last few days." He rested his head on one hand, hoping the room would settle.
"Just rest. I'll be awake a while longer, I'll wake you if anything happens."
"I'm supposed to be protecting you." His voice was quiet.
"I might be injured but I'm not useless."
He raised his head and gave a small chuckle. "Never thought you were. Frankly, lately you've been more competent than I have." He was pale and the pain was evident in his face.
She gave a small smile, "Just rest."
He lay his head back, his posture stiff at first, then relaxing as his eyes closed.
She finished eating, then got up and cleaned the plates up. She glanced out the window before sitting back down, watching the tv quietly.
Tomoya's cell began to ring.
Arya watched him for a minute to see if he'd wake before picking it up and answering, "Hello?"
"Arya?" Haru was surprised. "Where's Toya?"
"He needed to rest, so he's sleeping right now. We're at my place."
"Everything alright?"
"I think so."
"I was calling to update him. Yashiro has gone to ground, so keep your eyes open." He paused, then asked "I know you probably don't want to answer this question, but I'm asking it anyway. Is he sick?"
"I'm not sure.. he seems like it though."
"Having trouble breathing? In a lot of pain?"
"Yeah."
"Dammit. Keep an eye on him. If he starts seizing, call an ambulance. Ignore whatever he says."
She sighed, "Alright."
"Sorry about this. Would you rather one of us pick him up?"
"It's fine, I'll take care of him."
"You don't have to. This isn't what you signed on for."
"It's alright."
"Not true, but I won't argue. Night."
"Night." She hung up and set the phone down.
Tomoya moved his head slightly, his hair parting to reveal a small puckered scar above one temple.
She frowned for a moment before sighing and glancing at the tv.
"My brother is overreacting again, isn't he?" Tomoya didn't open his eyes, his voice soft.
"Maybe. Maybe not."
He chuckled slowly. "I'm in trouble now, aren't I?"
"No."
"By your tone, I'd say you were lying." He finally opened his eyes to look at her.
She shook her head before updating, "Haru called to say Yashiro has gone to ground."
Tomoya growled under his breath. "Great." He started to push himself up.
She watched him quietly.
He got halfway to his feet before his face went white and he grabbed his head.
"Sit back down and rest more," she ordered.
"I have to catch her.." He forced out between gritted teeth as he massaged the scar.
"Not right now. Just rest."
"I hate to ask, but can you get me the pills from my bag?"
"Yeah." She got up and went to find them, grabbing a cup of water before returning.
He tried to get the bottle open, but his hands were shaking too hard as he grimaced. "Why now?"
She gently took the bottle and opened it for him.
He shook out two, quickly downing them with the water. He looked at her. "Pretty pathetic, huh?"
"No, not at all."
"I think it's pathetic."
She shrugged, "Well, it's not."
"Go ahead and ask. You have the right to know."
She frowned, "Ask what?"
"Why I look like I'm about to drop dead in your apartment?"
"Ah, okay. So what's going on?"
"I'm guessing Keisuke told you something, right? I have a bullet lodged in my head."
She winced, "So what all does it do to you? Why couldn't they take it out?"
"Causes migraines. I've had a few seizures. When it happened, it was in a bad spot. As I've grown, it's shifted. Keisuke says I could have it removed, but it's dangerous. Then again, if it shifts more, I could drop from a hemorrhage."
She nodded, "So the medicine helps?"
"Yeah. But it gets less effective as time goes on. Fifteen years is a long time."
She nodded again, "So are you feeling any better? Is there anything I can get you?"
He took a deep breath. "I think I'm going to have to lay down. I hate to be a burden when you're injured, though."
"You're fine. Do you want the couch or a bed?"
"I don't think I can manage to get to a bed."
She stood, "Do you need help laying down or are you alright?"
"I can do it." He answered, gently laying down with a sigh. "I'll understand if you don't want to be partnered with me now."
"You're fine. I'm not going to stop being your partner over something like this."
"I'm getting to be a liability."
"You are okay. It's not a problem."
"Right now maybe not." He closed his eyes, the sadness in his voice overwhelming.
"Don't worry, everything will be alright."
His breathing evened out and he relaxed into the cushions.
She watched him for a while after she moved to the recliner. Eventually, she looked back at the tv, giving a silent prayer he'd be alright.
There was a knock at the door several hours later.
Arya grabbed the small pistol by the door just in case before cracking the door open.
Kaien gave her a smile. "Came by to see how you two were doing." He nodded at the pistol. "Good idea."
"I'm used to growing up in the mob, I always have a gun by the door." She placed it down and opened the door to allow him in.
"You look pretty good considering." His eyes strayed to the couch. "How bad is he?"
"He's been asleep for hours, so hopefully whenever he wakes he'll be better."
Kaien nodded, catching a glimpse of the view. "Nice place."
"Thanks. Want a drink or snack?"
"I don't want to be a bother."
"You're not."
He gave her a raised eyebrow. "Can I ask you something?"
"Okay?"
"Why aren't you fed up with us yet?"
"Why would I be?"
"Let's see, Tomoya is reckless and doesn't have the self restraint God gave a rabid dog. Haru is hyper and always worried. I am a pain in your ass and it's amazing you haven't shot us all yourself."
She chuckled, "You guys aren't a problem."
"You're quite forgiving." He cocked his head at her, then smiled. "You have beer?"
"Let me check," she went to the fridge and searched through until she found some. She then handed him a bottle.
"Thanks. You look like you need some rest. I'll sit up with him."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. Consider me another bodyguard." He took the recliner, eyeing the tv warily.
She handed him the remote. "I'll be in my room if you need anything."
"Sleep well."
She headed to her room and climbed into bed. She was soon fast asleep.
When she woke, she got up and changed then went out to the living room.
Both men were gone.
She sighed and checked around the house for them.
Tomoya was dozing in the library, a book on the history of the ninja open on his lap.
She moved quietly, slipping back out to not wake him.
The phone rang.
She sighed and answered, "Hello?"
"Hey, sorry about leaving." She could hear Haru singing to the radio in the background. "We got a possible match for Yashiro. We're on our way to check it out. Breakfast is in the fridge and Toya was in the library unless he snuck out as well."
"He's dozing," she chuckled. "Let me know how it goes and call if you need any help."
"You're on medical leave, you know."
"I know, but if you need anything anyway, I'll come help."
"I'll keep that in mind. Gotta go." The line clicked in her ear as Tomoya shuffled into view.
"Something wrong?"
She shook her head, "Kaien and Haru are checking a lead."
"You look better." He pulled his hair back, securing it with a clip. "You want something to eat?"
"Sure. Kaien said breakfast is in the fridge?"
"Yeah. Sit down and I'll reheat it." He headed for the kitchen.
She followed anyway, getting a glass of water and taking her meds.
He gave her a smile as he reheated a plate in the microwave. "How's the pain?"
"Just a little sore, not too bad."
"Good." He put the plate in front of her, then looked out the window.
"You okay?"
"Much better. Just worried about you."
She chuckled, "I'm fine." She began eating slowly. "So, other than dealing with your brothers, do you ever do anything outside of work?"
He shrugged. "Occasional movies. We go camping and I run."
"Nice," she nodded.
"I'm guessing you don't?"
"Don't what?"
"Have fun." He chuckled at her look.
"Well, I read a lot.. but that's about it."
"You have quite a nice collection." He stiffened as he saw something outside.
"What's wrong?"
"Chief just pulled up. I'm going down." He headed for the door, resisting the urge to run.
"I'll go with you."
"No. Stay here." He disappeared out the door.
She got up and looked out the window.
Tomoya stopped next to the car and the two spoke quietly for a moment. He began to tremble, but managed to compose himself. He said something, then the Chief pulled away. The detective began to return to the building, his steps slow.
She frowned and waited for him to return.
He entered the apartment, his eyes distant. He sat down on the couch, his hands clenched.
"What's wrong?"
"Yuuto was attacked and they lost contact with Kaien while he was reporting in."
"How is Yuuto?"
"In surgery. Witnesses say a tall, attractive woman approached him, then stabbed him repeatedly." His voice was low and angry. "She's calling me out."
"So, we have two options. Go to the hospital to wait on Yuuto to see how he is, or go looking for Kaien."
"I am going to look for them. You are staying safe here." He rose, reaching for his jacket and holster.
"I should be out there with you."
"You're injured, remember?"
She hung her head, "I know.. but I want to help."
He moved to her side. "I know you do. But I want you safe. Please."
"Fine." She sighed quietly. "Just promise you'll be careful."
He kissed her forehead. "I promise. I'll call when I find them, alright?"
She nodded before moving to kiss him.
He smiled, returning the kiss. "Watch some tv. I'll be back soon."
"Okay."
He disappeared out the door with a wave.
She finished her food then got up to lock up the door. She then went back to the couch, trying to not worry about Tomoya and the others too much.
An hour later, her door was kicked open.
She moved quickly, trying to get to one of her guns.
A tall woman strode in, a gun in her hand. "Stop."
Arya turned toward the voice, looking the woman over.
"So Tomoya has gone to the killers of his family? He has changed."
"I'm a cop, I'm not with the mob."
"A cop? You're like me then? A mole, only for the opposite team. Does he know?"
"I'm not a mole, just a cop. I didn't ask to be raised in a mob family." Arya answered. "And yeah, he knows."
"And he's still with you? Now I really want to kill you." She advanced on Arya, then paused. "I want him to see you die and that's a bit of a problem right now. Guess you get to breathe a little while longer… unless you don't find him in time." She gave a cold smile, then turned and walked out the door without looking back.
Arya quickly grabbed her gun and headed out of the apartment, looking around for her. After not finding her, she tried dialing Tomoya's number.
It continued to ring, never being picked up.
Arya cursed and went to her car, pulling out and driving around for a few minutes. Finally, she called the Chief and got information on where Kaien and Haru were going before heading out there.
Their car came into view, a form on the ground beside it.
She rushed to it to see who it was.
Kaien was unconscious, a tranquilizer dart sticking out of his neck. Haru lay slumped in the passenger seat, also unconscious.
A minute later, she saw Tomoya's car overturned nearby.
She rushed over and looked inside.
It was empty aside from his holster with his pistol and a large amount of blood.
She searched around, going into the nearby building to look for him.
She heard the hiss of air escaping from somewhere.
She looked around, trying to find the source.
Suddenly a chamber appeared, the hissing sound beginning to die out.
She looked the chamber over in confusion.
It appeared to be a cryogenic tube, long abandoned by the rust discoloring it. The pipes connecting it to an old computer bank were new though, and it seemed intact.
The hissing stopped and a computer voice spoke. "Oxygen depletion is complete. Freezing will commence in five minutes."
Arya worked on opening the chamber, pulling hard at the door, ignoring how it pulled her wound.
It came open with a screech of metal and Tomoya fell limp into her arms, blood streaking his face. He was pale and lifeless.
She checked for vitals before starting CPR to try to get them back.
After a few minutes, Tomoya began to cough. His eyes flew open and he stared at her in shock.
"Just take it easy. I'm calling an ambulance to come check you over."
"My..brothers?" His words were halting as his eyes went unfocused.
"Unconscious but alive."
"That's..good.." His eyes rolled back as he began twitching uncontrollably.
She made sure the ambulance was on the way before cradling him carefully.
The twitching turned into a full seizure a moment later, his body jerking spasmodically.
She held him through it, praying the ambulance would arrive soon.
Five minutes later, it did. The EMTs rushed in, quickly transferring him to a gurney.
Arya went out to check on Haru and Kaien.
They were both awake, answering questions from another ambulance crew. Both their eyes went wide as they saw Tomoya.
She went over to them, "If you guys are alright, let's get to the hospital and check on Yuuto and wait for them to take care of Tomoya." She ignored the blood starting to spread on her shirt from popped stitches.
"What happened to Yuuto?" Haru froze.
"Stabbed repeatedly." She sighed.
"That bitch.." Haru growled as Kaien touched Arya's arm.
"You need medical assistance as well. Let's go." He carefully helped her into the passenger side as Haru slid into the back.
Arya sighed again as she looked out the window. "Well, my place isn't safe right now. So other than the hospital, where are we going to go?"
"I have a safehouse." Haru spoke quietly. "Off the grid. Not even the department knows about it."
She nodded, "Alright."
Kaien drove in silence, his hands white knuckled on the wheel by the time they arrived at the hospital.
Arya slowly climbed out of the car, wondering where Yashiro was now.
A nurse came out with a wheelchair, gently pushing her into it. "I will replace your stitches." She wheeled Arya into an exam room after directing the brothers to the elevator with a room number.
Arya stayed quiet, wanting to go search for the woman who hurt Tomoya, but knowing she didn't have a clue where to start.
Ten minutes later, Kaien reappeared. "You okay?"
"Yeah. How is Yuuto?"
"Stable. Somehow missed all the vitals." He hesitated, dropping his eyes.
She stood, "Let's go wait on Toya."
"He's been rushed into surgery. The bullet shifted because of the blow to the head and he started bleeding…"
"He's strong. He'll make it through this," Arya said confidently, even though inside she was terrified and worried for him.
Kaien nodded slowly, helping her back into the chair. "You want to wait in the family room or with us in Yuuto's?"
"I'll wait with you guys."
He nodded again, taking her up in the elevator and pushing her into another room. Haru greeted her quietly, his eyes never leaving the sleeping form of his older brother.
Arya quietly sat there for a while before wondering if her brother could help her find Yashiro. She considered texting him, unsure if she should.
"I'm going to kill her." Haru's voice was subdued, the words clipped.
"Any idea on where to find her?"
He shook his head. "Only idea is to bait her. She and I always distrusted each other, so I think I can get her to show herself."
"Well, I know for a fact she wants to kill me," Arya answered. "I could be the bait. Or I could see if my brother has any information on her."
"You should stay out of this from now on." The undercover officer looked at her. "You should go to the safehouse and wait for one of us to contact you."
"Yeah, and if I stayed out of it, Toya would be dead right now. I don't know why you guys don't want me helping."
"Toya would kill us if anything happened to you." Kaien spoke matter of factly. "He is finally moving on and if Yashiro kills you, he'll lose his mind. Either get himself killed or a broken badge."
Arya sighed, "I just want to help.."
"Don't listen to them." Yuuto's voice was strong. He opened his eyes and gazed at her. "Do you love him?"
She blushed and gave a small nod.
He gave her a soft smile. "Then fight for him."
She smiled slightly and nodded.
The door opened, revealing a weary Keisuke. He entered, seating himself and rubbing his eyes.
Arya watched him quietly.
"He's in recovery. I removed the bullet and stopped the bleed before it got too bad. We'll see any aftereffects once he regains consciousness."
Arya nodded.
"I'll check in periodically, but right now I need a nap." He gave a small smile to them as he left.
Arya glanced at her phone before deciding to send a text to her brother asking if he had any information on Yashiro.
A few minutes later she received a reply with an address and a message to be careful.
She smiled slightly, trying to come up with a plan.
Haru and Kaien both watched her with suspicion. Kaien spoke first.
"Something we should know?"
She shrugged, "Just texting my brother."
"Anything on his end? Yashiro must be an impediment to him." Haru finally stood, pacing back and forth.
Arya sighed, "He gave me an address."
"Let's go then!" Haru bounced up and down as he waited for her answer.
"Shouldn't we wait and see how Tomoya is first?" She wondered.
"I'm not waiting. He should wake up and find her no longer a problem. If you two want to wait, I won't stop you. Just give me the address." The younger man wiggled his fingers at her phone.
"I'm going." Arya stood and started to the door.
"I will wait." Kaien gave them a look. "Don't get killed."
She nodded and headed out to the hall.
Haru was halfway to the elevator, his hyperness overtaking him.
Arya caught up to him, "So, what's our plan?"
"Lure her out and put a bullet in her head. Maybe multiple ones, depending on my mood." He stabbed a finger out to the button as he bounced on his heels.
Arya sighed and stayed quiet.
"Sorry." He looked down at the floor. "I just want Toya safe and happy. He's sacrificed a lot to keep us safe, now it's my turn."
"You're alright. And I understand."
He gave a small smile as the elevator opened. "You don't think I'm reckless like everyone else does?"
"Maybe a little, but I can't say much because I'm a little reckless too."
"Really? Hadn't noticed." He chuckled and leaned on the elevator wall. "I'm pretty sure you are less reckless than all my family put together."
She chuckled as the elevator door opened and she exited. "Let's go do this."