A taxi stopped before a five star hotel. Saori stepped out and paid the taxi driver. This was something she had never done before - riding out by herself. In the past, it was always Tatsumi who arranged her rides. This time, however, she wanted to be alone - meaning with no one, not even Tatsumi. She remembered to bring cash but then realized that she forgot her phone. That's okay, she told herself. She came here to see Julian and to call off their engagement. Julian was a guy obsessed with music and his mermaid fantasy. He'd take it well.
The door was opened for her as she stepped into the hotel.
"Miss Kido? This way please." A man dressed in a red suit greeted her.
"Sorrento?"
"Yes," he said. "Julian told me about you."
Same here, she thought. Looking at the way he dressed, Seiya's words rang in her head. Julian and Sorrento.
They entered the elevator and nervousness came to her when she saw Sorrento pushed number 13.
Thirteen was never a lucky number.
When she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Julian. He smiled warmly and gave her a hug.
"Saori, I'm so happy to see you" he said.
A table was set and Saori saw it was set up for three instead of two.
At the Kido mansion, Seiya was resting in a couch and staring at the ceiling with a bottle of bear half finished. Hyoga and Shun were playing cards as Tatsumi paced back and forth in panic.
"It's five in the evening and she still hasn't returned!"
"Maybe they are having a long conversation," Seiya said.
"She shouldn't have gone by herself!" Tatsumi said.
"I offered to come with her, but she insisted on going alone," Shun said.
"She left this morning and it's evening. This so-called conversation is now eight hours long! What could they be talking about that take them eight hours? I have to call her. "
"Don't," Seiya said. "Let her be."
"Break up," Hyoga added. "Dividing properties, his and hers. These things can take days."
"What are you saying?"
"This guy Julian has been bugging Saori-san," Seiya said. "He wanted to see her. Saori-san already knows it's not working out and plus, the ring is destroyed. So she is telling him that she wants to end the engagement. I don't know what property they have together but they did talk about combining mansions together, his and hers. I guess now with the engagement off the table they have to re-do that plan."
"And you know all this..." Tatsumi was surprised that Seiya knew all the details.
Seiya ignored Tatsumi. He now wondered if he shouldn't have told Saori his perspective on Julian. To him, it was obvious; if Julian was indeed utterly convinced that his best friend - a guy - bears the soul of a fish he rescued, what else could it mean? After she left in the morning, Shun told him that she looked upset.
To stop pondering on this matter, he got up and grabbed another beer.
"Seiya," Shun noticed. "This is the third beer you had today. Since when you liked to drink?"
"Hyoga's influence," Seiya replied.
Hyoga said nothing.
"By the way, how did you know these details about Ojou-sama and Julian-sama?" Tatsumi asked. It seemed they know more than he does.
"She probably told Seiya," Hyoga replied. "Seiya told me and I filled Shun in."
Three hours went by and it was eight. Saori still hadn't returned. Tatsumi finally decided to call her, but only to find that Saori's phone was on her nightstand.
"She doesn't have her phone!"
Now the Bronze Saints felt the same nervousness Tatsumi felt.
"Do you know where this Julian is?" Seiya asked Tatsumi.
"He doesn't have a place in Tokyo," Tatsumi said. "But he always stays at this place when he's in town."
By the time Tatsumi got into the car, he found only Shun with him.
"Seiya is on his way," Shun said. "Hyoga went after him on a bike."
"Bike?"
"We can't catch up with him!"
"But does he even know where he's going?"
"The cosmo," Shun explained. "He knows."
"Next time if Ojou-sama insists going by herself, you follow!" Tatsumi rebuked.
"Sorry, but the Goddess' order is higher above yours," Shun said apologetically. "And you know Saori-san, she is as stubborn as Seiya."
By the time they arrived, Seiya was at the door with Hyoga. Their entrance was barred.
"I'm sorry but you can't go in there," a hotel porter said, eyeing their casual outfit.
"Wait," Tatsumi ran to them with Shun. "You remember me? I worked for Mitsumasa Kido!"
Unlike the Bronze Saints, Tatsumi dressed in a suit.
"Oh yes," the porter replied, changing his tone completely. "Do come in, I apologize."
Tatsumi rushed to the register. "I'm here looking for Mr. Julian Solo."
"I'm sorry but Mr. Solo does not want to be disturbed," the front desk clerk told them. "His concierge informed us that he is preparing for his upcoming concert."
"Miss Saori Kido was here earlier, have you seen her?"
"I have to say that I haven't," the front desk clerk replied.
As Tatsumi was talking, Seiya went out. Hyoga and Shun followed.
"Saori-san is here," Seiya said. "I know this Julian is no good."
"How we are going to get to her?" Shun asked.
"By starting from the top," Seiya said. "Your Nebula Chain can help."
Pulling the crest from his neck, Seiya donned the Pegasus Cloth. Hyoga and Shun did the same. Throwing his Nebula Chain to the roof top, the three Bronze Saints climbed up to the thirteenth floor.
All doors were guarded by well dressed hotel staff. They didn't move or speak to the Bronze Saints. Hyoga noticed their hands were shaking. He stopped Seiya and Shun from going further.
"Does anyone want to leave before we begin?" Hyoga asked.
Instantly, the hotel staff ripped open their suits and revealed the scales they wore underneath.
"Remember I told you I have a bad feeling about this?" Seiya asked Hyoga half-jokingly.
Saori opened her eyes and all she saw was darkness. Her head hurt and she could feel the scar on her forehead.
You complain about Seiya, but in reality, you really like him because you like being challenged.
That was what Julian said before she was hit in the head.
She tried to move but found her space limited. With her hand and her feet, she found herself confined in a wooden coffin.
No food, no water, no light.
The air was thinning.
She was buried alive.
Seiya...