Hello everyone! Here remains the third as well as the last chapter of "Vermilion birds". Thanks so much to Seafoam Green under Twilight, Cutetyhil, Black Witch of autumn, Wanderer's Cynefin (Eeee! I'm so happy to talk to you after a long, looong , loo...ooooong time, Abhi! *Hugs*) and Sohana Sarkar for reviewing. Also thanks a lot to ILoveMySweetIndia and Sohana Sarkar for faving it! :D
I want to give you a good, a big news which is really a matter of pride for a KaiHil fan like me. It is: I've completed writing for KaiHil on all the genres in this site. Not only that, at this moment, KaiHil is the first and the only pairing which has fics written on all genres in Beyblade archive of Fanfiction. Which genre do you want to read? Romance? Humor? Drama? Poetry? Adventure? Mystery? Horror? Parody? Angst? Supernatural? Suspense? Sci-fi? Fantasy? Spiritual? Tragedy? Western? Crime? Family? Hurt/comfort? Or Friendship? Romance after marriage or before marriage? Lemon? Or fluff? As kids? Or having kids? Everything, every aspect of life, be it fantasy or the reality, will be found in only 20 stories written from this profile, from a single pairing! Yayyy! T_T T_T (Why am I crying? ;P)
Anyways, I know that I'm crazy! Pardon my craziness :P
Besides, very very happy Diwaali/Kali Puja to all my Hindu friends in this site. Hope you've enjoyed the holiday a lot.
So...read, feel and learn! :)
"Thud!"
Pushing the door of the hospital cabin with sheer force, the Spaniard entered there, lifting her 15-month old little daughter wrapping an arm around her. Zohana cried again in fear, noticing the sudden and strange change in the behavior of her mother. The red-haired Russian had to take their daughter back from his wife in order to sooth her. Somehow giving the toddler to her husband, Julia rushed towards the hospital bed where her brother was lying. A white bandage was wrapped around his forehead, the right hand was hanging from his neck with the help of a sling. He was out of risk; he'd regained his sense too before a while. But the panic which invaded his heart was still there. Roberta was sitting beside the bed on a tool. Seeing Tala, Julia and Zohana, she stood up and Raul smiled a bit.
"Raul!" Julia rushed to the male Spaniard and shook his shoulders, "Are you okay?"
"Oh oh…calm down, sis…." He gulped, "I'm fine, you see."
"Thank God!" Pulling another tool, Julia sat on it and huffed, "You both almost scared me."
"Raul, what exactly happened in your office?" His brother-in-law asked, cradling Zohana in his arms.
The Spanish guy didn't answer, just cast a panicked stare all over the room, including his relatives. He was really tensed and scared after what had been done to him at his own cubicle in his office only for taking the side of the truth and justice. While torturing him, those beasts had cursed him in one hundred different colorful words and the politest phrase among them was, "Son of a bitch." His nails dunked the white sheet that was covering him, he creased his fingers. Raul really didn't have the nerve to tell everyone about that. Roberta felt a pain at her heart to notice the mental condition of her fiancé, she approached him and gave him a pat on the back.
"Relax, Raul," The pinkette assured him, "Just answer to the question of Mr. Valkov."
Somehow shifting his stares at the Russian, Raul finally started, taking a deep breath, "When I was working in my chamber, out of nowhere, some goons broke into my room without showing any courtesy and…and picked me up. Not exchanging a single word with me, straightly, they started beating me. I was asking them again and again that why they were doing this to me. While badmouthing me, one of them said that my…my fault was to publish the photo of a rapist on the front page of the daily who was from their gang, instead of publishing the photo of the victim."
Everyone in the room was utterly shocked. Specially, Tala and Julia clenched their teeth and fists in repugnance for the political goons. Till that day, they'd used to threaten doctors, cops and the people involved in security and law fields in order to get saved from punishment. But they themselves were bearing the humiliation. How could they except to get rid of the insult by thrashing an honest reporter whose only job was to expose the truth? Yet, Tala and Julia calmed themselves down. Before a few days, they'd also encountered almost similar situations. Raul was quite shy and quiet in comparison with them. They needed to be his support now.
After a few questions and interrogations, some exchanges of words, Julia, Tala and Zohana bade Raul and Roberta farewell and came out from the chamber. When they exited the hospital, the little red-haired angel demanded to eat some chocolates. Julia wasn't agreeing with her but Tala spoke, "Wait, let me buy for her."
The dual-haired lady smiled at the pampering father as he bought a candy bar for Zohana. When it was handed to the baby, she squealed in happiness, spreading her arms to go to her father. Tala held their little daughter and rubbed his nose against hers which made her giggle joyfully. Seeing the bond between the father and his daughter, Julia was feeling really very happy. It was her family, joyous, satisfied. But abruptly, when the fears regarding their professions struck her mind, she shivered. What if something happened to either of her or Tala? How would Zohana live? How would she grow up? Who would protect her from the cruel world?
Soon, the night arrived in the sky of Russia. Since it was the night of a new moon, the silver spherical asteroid couldn't be seen with the bunches of the stars. Only thick clouds were roaming aimlessly there, pouring more ink on the black canvas of the blue and deepening its darkness. Some bats and owls were flying by, from trees to trees. Chilly gusts of wind were blustering across the frozen deserts of the icy country. Almost all the Russia was asleep, except a couple. They were feeling sleepless, lying on the same bed in their room lit in a hazy bluish glow of the dim-light and watching their one-year old son peacefully sleeping in his swaying cradle. The tensions of the current affairs about their relatives and the country snatched all their siesta.
"Kai…" Placing her head on the chest of her husband, the brunette asked, "Did you hear about Tyson?"
"Hm." He nodded.
"I'm feeling so sad to know about Tyson and Dew," Hilary sighed, "Is it the price of honesty, Kai?"
"Hil, the path of honesty and truth is not easy at all," Kai took a sharp breath, "But in the end, the honest always win the game and get the reward."
"Till then, how much loss do they have to face?"
At this innocent question of his wife, the Russian inspector kept silent, facing the ceiling. The query was simple but the answer was much difficult. Realizing it, Hilary tried to change the topic, "What have you thought, Kai? Will you really free those rapists?"
"I don't have any other choice," Kai sighed, "If I don't do it, Balkov will create a havoc in the police station. I cannot risk the lives of my colleagues, you know."
"You…." Tears gleamed in the eyes of the brunette, "You'll sell away your honesty too like others, Kai? What's binding you? Your wife and son? Don't think about us, Kai, just follow the path of justice."
"Hil…I am really not afraid of punishments like death or shifting," The dual-haired Russian caressed the head of his wife, "But…I worry the most when I think that the new policemen taking our places may be worse than we and support Boris Balkov to the final extent which we don't do. Then, crimes may increase and…."
Kai couldn't finish his words as the phone of the brunette rang. Getting up, she received the call and spoke, "Hello?"
"Tachibana ma'am!" The phone was set in loudspeaker, causing both the husband and the wife to frown, "Another rape victim in the hospital! This time, the case is serious!"
"What….." Hilary gulped, "What happened this time?"
"She is a four-year old girl," The nurse replied, fear coming out from her vocal cord, "After molestation, her uncle enlarged her vagina with a blade so that…..anyways, she's losing blood badly. Please, come soon!"
The phone dropped on the bed from the hands of the brunette. With a horrified face, she looked at it, once at the worried and angered face of her husband. A four-year old toddler…who didn't even start going to school properly…was tortured and assaulted to this extent by her own uncle who was probably in the same age group of her father? Did the world destroy finally? The coffee-haired lady was struggling hard to believe it. Understanding how shocked she was, the cop held her closer to his chest and whispered, "Don't panic now, Hil. The girl needs you. I'm here with, Gou."
Somehow nodding, she got up, put on the apron, hung the stethoscope round her neck, tied her hair into a messy bun with a punch-clip as fast as she could. Before leaving, she rushed to her husband once, hugging him tightly and burying her face in his chest. She didn't even give him a chance to speak without bursting into tears, drenching his light-gray tee immediately. Kai embraced her back, understanding that she needed his support at that time. Though the brunette wept almost inaudibly, not causing any disturbance to the sleep of their little son, it was still painful for both of them.
"You're a doctor, Hil…" Kai patted her back, "A doctor should know to control emotions."
"Before being a doctor, I'm a human being, Kai…." She sobbed, not raising her head, "How will I control myself? I'm…I'm feeling traumatic now! Kai, will these victims never get justice in their lives? Even if this little girl survives, can you feel how her future will be? How will she live?"
"Let her live at first," Kai loosened the hug, "She needs you now. You go there, I'm seeing what I can do."
He spoke these words to his wife only as condolences. When she left, wiping her tears furiously, he fell in hesitations. Of course, he never wanted to free the rapists but the pressure of Boris was increasing, being an unbearable pain to his neck as well as the necks of his co-workers day by day. Bryan, Ian and Spencer were on the verge of giving up, saying everyday that they would resign if something happened to Kai. Well, as for Tala, he was still by his side but he had a family too. Hanging his head low and clutching it frustratedly, sitting on the bed, the dual-haired Russian painfully exhaled.
What else could be done?
It was a typical Sunday, a day-off for everyone. Getting the chance, Hilary had called Tala, Julia and Zohana in their house. The dual-haired Spaniard and the Japanese brunette felt really very happy meeting each other after a long time. Kai and Tala could meet everyday but it wasn't possible for Hilary and Julia. Gou and Zohana were also very excited to see each other, squealing and jumping in each other's arms. They both kept stroking the brown teddy-bear of Gou, sprawling their legs on the ground. Seeing and enjoying their activities, their parents giggled happily. Letting the guests sit, Hilary went to kitchen for preparing light meals and lunch.
"Kai, I really want to know your decision," Tala leaned forward, "Whatever it will be, I'll respect and support you as always. Just speak it out."
Still, he was silent. His baffled stares said that he was suffering from hesitation, failing to decided what to do actually. Tala sighed, not able to see his colleague aka friend confused in this way. Kai never suffered from indecision. His decisions were always firm and useful. He never showed any mercy to the hardcore criminals. He was an honest, true and brave policeman, knowing and performing his duties far well. What happened to him all of a sudden?
"If you don't mind," Julia looked at both the cops, reading their faces, "May I give a suggestion?"
"Sure." Tala nodded. Glancing around, the dual-haired girl took a breath and let her idea out. Both the cops were flabbergasted to know it, including the doctor who was arranging the tray of the cups of tea and snacks. Somehow, she controlled herself from dropping them from the rectangular table. All their eyes were widened. Hell, why hadn't they thought it before?
"What happened?" Julia gulped, "Didn't you like my idea?"
"Jules…." Tala muttered, "It's…brilliant! Why the hell didn't we think it?"
"Because you were so blind in your own honesty that this thought didn't come to your mind," Julia simpered, "But I'm a lawyer. A lawyer shouldn't be honest always. They have to learn to tell lies and present false things. I also have to do these things sometimes but only for the betterment of the society. Just get crooked, people. It helps a lot, you know."
"But for this, we need someone so that the whole matter could be proven legit," Tala spoke, "Who'll be that?"
"Hmm…." Julia screwed her brows, "If you want, I…"
"No way!" The redhead stood up with a jolt from the sofa, "I won't let you do it ever, Jules! I cannot even tolerate it!"
"I'm expert in martial arts," Julia demanded, "Believe me, I can do it."
"We all know it far well, Jules," Hilary sat beside her, "But the matter is: Those goons will get scared even at the sight of your face. They need someone who is apparently soft and harmless. And it's me."
Again, with his horrified purple orbs, the dual-haired Russian gawked at his wife, feeling a sudden amount of electric shock at his heart. As their eyes met, Hilary went to him and squeezed his shoulders, "Kai, I know you're feeling worried. But let me do it. If we succeed in our plan, I'll feel much thankful and great because of getting a chance to serve the society and utilizing it properly. Please, let me go."
"Hilary is right, Mr. Hiwatari," Julia agreed with the brunette, "She'll be perfect for our mission. Think about it once."
"Hmm…." Closing his eyes, the slate-haired Russian leaned against the sofa, crossing his arms on his chest and got absorbed in deep thoughts. Everyone was waiting for his approval, staring worriedly at him. But no one was worrying more than he was. He loved his wife so much and he was very protective of her. He couldn't think what would happen to him if something happened to her. Who would want to push his dearest person into the open jaw of death knowing and understanding everything? Then again, Hilary was insisting to do it. Obvious she was, she became fed-up by dealing with so many rape cases everyday in the hospital. That day, the four-year old girl had survived but she was still traumatized, Hilary had told him. She didn't want to miss this chance.
"Okay…." Being a supportive husband, Kai got up finally, "If you want, you can do it. But…."
Not letting him finish his words, Hilary held his hands, "I promise, Kai! I'll ensure my safety. Besides, you guys will be there at the entry of the old lane. Why should I worry?"
"Then, it's fixed!" Julia looked at the children, "Mr. Hiwatari, make the arrangements of the bails of those goons. Little people, tomorrow night, you'll stay together at uncle Raul's place, okay?"
They couldn't understand what the dual-haired lady had said but they felt that it might be very joyous. Again, gaping at each other, they squealed, throwing their arms in the air. Hilary gave a sympathetic look to her husband who sighed, getting up. Now, he had to do an important task though he didn't really wish to do it.
Amidst the blowing winter breeze of Russia, the wheels of the wagon were crossing the silent concrete highways. Night it was, still, with no sign of the moon and the stars in the condensed, murky sky coated with the thick, cottony layers of the clouds. The street sodium lamps standing by the roadsides were showering some golden beams, enlightening the cold roads. Kai was driving the car; the wipers were cleaning the fog of the early winter from the front glass. Behind him, Tala and Julia were sitting with earphones plugged in their ears. Beside him, the brunette was sitting, tying the seatbelt around her. Though music was going on in her earpods too, she didn't seem to be attentive to it. In the looking glass, the inspector could see her biting nails.
"Hil," He asked, "Are you ready?"
"Hmm…." Hilary clutched her seatbelt, hearing him due to the low volume of music in the earphone. Sweaty beads appeared on her forehead, she gulped. She herself had agreed to do it and made her husband agree too. Then why was she feeling that?
"You're sweating," Her wet forehead in the airconditioned car didn't avoid the eyes of the inspector, "Are you nervous?"
She didn't reply immediately. Grabbing an arm of the Russian, she took a sharp breath. With a hand, she wiped her forehead. Then, she stared at him and tried to give an assuring smile.
"Not at all, Kai," She confidently replied, "After all, it's for those women who haven't got justice. It's for killing those bastards who have made the lives of thousands of women living hell. For them, I'm ready to put my life and dignity at stake. Besides, I've full faith on you, Kai."
Kai smiled back, rotating the steering wheel. Taking another breath, Hilary turned her face forward.
"I'm prepared, Kai. Let's go."
Soon, the vehicle stopped in front of the dark alley. There was no lamp-post, enlightening the lane. Almost producing no sound, all the four got down from the car. Seeing Hilary's legs quivering, Julia tried to encourage her a bit, "Calm down, Hils. We all are with you."
"Thanks, Jules…." She tried to smile though no smile was wanting to come in her lips. She turned her eyes to her husband who secretly showed her a thumb. Going to her, she offered him a light a hug which he accepted, returning the same back to her. Brushing his lips softly on her forehead, he spoke, "It's the time, Hils. Good luck."
"Y…yeah…" Nodding, she wheeled back. Not staring behind once at her husband or Tala and Julia, she proceeded her feet forward. The lane was so dark that she was failing even to see her own hands before her eyes. She lit the flashlight of her phone. Her left wrist had a smartwatch and the data of her phone were saved there, she could easily contact with them. It had also a GPS tracker through which they could find them. She was fully prepared, so were they. Yet, her heart wasn't ready to be brave properly. Somewhere, she was scared. Nervous. Petrified. Afraid of the dirty, lustful stares of the rapists.
Spencer, Bryan and Ian didn't come with them but they had investigated a lot, finding out that the rapists had been seen in and around the same lane many times. They would be probably there. They all had worked very hard. Hilary couldn't let all them go in vain only for her fears. Let the world turn against, she had to win against her qualms. For the prestige of her husband and giving justice to the victims who used to visit her hospital frequently. There might be a little risk but Hilary could overcome it. A lot of women had to come outside with the same fear. Why wouldn't be Hilary able? Walking through the alley, she was thinking the same.
"Ah!" Someone commented, "This hoe is seeming tasty!"
"Yummy!" Another person licked his lips.
Gasping, the brunette moved back. Five or six pairs of licentious eyes were gulping her silently, glimmering just like those of any dog or jackal in darkness. Before understanding, they all surrounded her from all the directions, rotating around her. The poor brunette struggled to find a way to escape from them but failed miserably.
"Hey!" The first man excitedly yelped, "Isn't she the wife of that bastard inspector?"
"Hell yeah!" Another blew out the white, stingy smokes of cigarette held in his hand, puffing it, "The same Hiwatari who left no stone unturned to make our lives hell in the prison."
"Lucky bastard….." Finally, the leader dropped the brown glass bottle from his hand, his mouth smelling dirty like alcohol, "People, you won't get a better chance of revenge."
Hilary's hands and feet shuddered. For the first time, she was getting the feeling that was the worst of all the bad omens in her life. In front of her eyes, one by one, the images of the rape patients who'd come to her ever started floating. Their painful expressions, panicked eyes, bit lips, gritted fists-nothing was out of the list. Setting the same fear in her ruby orbs, she glanced around her. Wherever her eyes were going, they could meet only those dogs howling at her, saliva trickling down from their tongues as if they'd seen any delicious food. Hilary quickly managed to press a button of her smartwatch, pretending to have its glimpse once.
"Please….I'm getting late…." She pleaded, trying to inspect the environment, "Let me go…."
"Honey…" The leader was approaching her as she was retreating, "Where will you go? Come, let us give you a ride."
While stepping back, she collided with one's chest and the person grabbed her wrists tightly. Hilary's heart almost rose to her throat in fear, she wheezed again. Even in the winter, she was sweating bullets, breaths were on the verge of getting abnormal. But she was Hilary Tachibana Hiwatari, the wife of inspector Kai Hiwatari. She might not be strong but she was not a coward too, nor a fool. She kicked one of her legs as a knife came out from the heel of her shoes. Not hesitating back, she trampled the feet of the assaulter. Leaving her, he screeched in pain. Utilizing the opportunity, the brunette rotated and operated the same leg in the direction of his neck, knocking him down.
She'd noticed the dagger in the pocket of the fallen one before a while. Pulling it out, the brunette pointed it at the rest who were surprised, "Don't near me….I told you…the consequences won't be good…."
"So, you…." The leader smirked, "You'll fight us? A helpless, docile, soft doe against five hungry, fierce tigers?"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Five times, continuously, a gun rumbled as the bullets discharged from it penetrated the private parts of the beasts. They all screamed together and collapsed on the ground, rolling here and there and pain, covering the hurt area with their hands. Finally, a smile rose in the lips of the brunette as she guessed who'd done it. Wheeling back, she discovered her husband and the red-haired Russian, still clasping the pair of 9mm pistols. Julia was there too. Breathing deeply, she rushed to the dual-haired guy.
"Kai!" She tightly hugged him, "I-I…."
"Relax…." Kai patted her head, "You've done really good. I'm proud of you."
In happiness, the ruby eyes of the brunette twinkled with tears. Leaving her, Kai and Tala gathered the bodies, some of them being still alive. Quickly, Julia brought the carton which had hammers, nails, ink, chalk powder, short-sized rectangular white boards and markers. Holding them against the nearby walls, the policemen pinned the bodies against them, penetrating nails in their wrists, thighs, dicks and at last, in their throats and dipping them deep in the wall with the hammers. Smearing their faces with ink and chalk powder, they wrote something on the boards and hung them round the necks of the rapists. Though they screamed a lot, ripping the night, Kai and Tala were silent, not delivering a single word. They felt that they shouldn't waste their vocal energy behind those beasts. They read:
"I'm 'X', the rapist of 'Y'. (Note: X and Y are aliases here) This is the ultimate consequence of a rapist. I deserve it.
-From, Vermilion birds."
"Hey, the name is pretty cool, you know." Hilary appreciated. Kai smiled at her, giving a silent nod.
"Vermillion birds are red, red is the color of bravery and good strength," The brunette added, "Whereas, black is the color of evil strength. With red, we have defeated the black today."
"Jules?!" Tala was curious, seeing his wife removing the money from the pockets of the tormented, dead mongrels, "What are you doing?"
"They have no right on their money now," Julia retorted, "According to the rules of this country, their money belongs to the rape victims and their families. I'm just ensuring it."
"That's my lawyer!" The redhead pinched the cheeks of his wife who was taking photos of the persons after gathering all the money.
"Tala!" The Latina pouted, "I'm not Zohana!"
"Your cheeks are as soft as hers." The redhead whispered in her ears, turning her red. Nudging her husband softly, she kept taking the photos. She would give them to Raul so that he could publish them on the first page of his daily where he worked as a crime reporter.
"Julia," Hilary demanded, "Send these photos to me too. I'll give them to Tyson who's in Japan. Thus, he'll be able to apply this trick too."
"Okie." Julia nodded, chuckling.
After completing all the jobs, they all got into the car and started for Raul's house. This time, Tala decided to drive it, Julia sat beside him. Pulling the hand of the dual-haired Russian closer to her chest on the back-seat, the brunette spoke, "Kai, just check if I am alive or not once."
"Hey…." In return, softly, Kai held Hilary closer, her head leaned against his broad shoulder, "You aren't only alive, but also you've taken a new birth."
"Yeah…." Hilary said, placing a hand on his chest, "I'll accompany you in every mission against the rapists like this, always in this way."
Kai smiled, his wife gently snuggled against his chest and purred, drifting into a deep sleep after a while. The Russian didn't mind. After a long time, Hilary was enjoying a peaceful siesta. Why not? After all, she'd seen the rapists getting punished according to what they deserved really. As the car proceeded, the slate-haired man also became asleep, resting his head on hers. The peace in their heart washed all the turmoil and panics of the last few days. It was needed, they deserved it. After it, they would follow the same crooked, yet, effective way to punish the rapists.
Being the vermillion birds, washing all the black energy away with their red.
Thus...it ended!
Dear people, how was the punishment of the rapists? Did anyone feel bad? Let me say, I didn't feel bad at all while writing the scene. I think probably this should be done for getting rape stopped from the society and the world. Again, let's hope for a rape-free world where we girls and women can roam without any tension, anytime, anywhere, at any state.
Do read and review. Pardon the grammatical and spelling errors. Take care and stay safe. Once again, happy Diwaali to my Hindu friends :D
-Misty ^_^ ^_^