"She had a boyfriend, but she was seeing Tezuka on the side," Kazuma told Kinta on their way to McDonald's after talking to Meiko's friends.

"I know! He found out that she was cheating, killed her, and kidnapped Tezuka. The jerk's probably torturing him right now!" Kinta cried out causing the other customers to look at their direction for a few seconds.

"There's no proof of that, Kinta. You can't make guesses like that without any evidence. Sit down!" Kazuma whispered ferociously.

"If my boyfriend cheated on me I'd be angry, but not that angry." Megu contemplated before taking bite out of a French fry.

"It has to be him! I have this feeling. Besides Megu, you don't even have a boyfriend." Megu glared at him and threw another French fry at him.

"Here's an idea," said Kazuma while getting up and packing his laptop, "Let's get out of this public place where everybody can hear every confidential word you're saying and go back to campus where we could discuss options, and, oh, I don't know, ask permission to bring him in."

To avoid the stares aimed at them from all directions, Kazuma, Kinta, and Megu decided to take his advice.

--

"There's nothing I can do for you, Ryoma, I'm sorry," Ristu-sensei whispered to the phone so quietly that Ryoma could barely hear him on the other end.

"I just need some money, 2 billion for bail," Ryoma pleaded. This better get him somewhere.

"For your Sacrifice (AN see bottom). The Sohmas passed down the news. You're quite famous in the black market," Ristu had an edge to his voice that practically guaranteed that something was going to go bad.

"You wouldn't..." Ryoma spouted in disbelief, this was impossible.

"I wouldn't, of course. But you would, if you had to." Oh, no. He did not like where this was going. It was true. He would. He had to.

"Not now. I-I have a case, and I need to get back to America to see Kevin and Samantha a-and, and—"

"I get it. You're somewhat trustworthy, Ryoma. At least I know you're not about to strangle me with your bare hands at any moment. How about I get you, say, one billion. We'll discuss your repayment at a later date." He hung up.

Ryoma's insides froze. He couldn't fail like this. He quickly dialed the number of the Sohma main house.

"Ryoma?" Akito-sama picked up, "What a surprise. What brings you to call your least favorite number in the world?"

"A-Akito-sama?" Once again Ryoma felt a loss of breath, "You've started answering the phone, I see."

"Is it such a surprise? What with the curse disabled and all, I've found a lot more free time. I can go out, see the world for once."

"That's good for you. Do you by any chance do business with a Sagasaki Meiko and a Tezuka Kunimitsu?"

"Why do you ask?" Ryoma could tell by the haunting edge in his laugh that Akito knew something and liked it. Of course, if Akito liked something it would most likely harm Ryoma.

"Because it matters."

"Poor girl, that Meiko-chan. She got in over her head and her boyfriend suffered for it."

"What happened, Akito. Tell me."

"Oh no, Ryoma don't try to control me. She was just in amateur business. Illegal advertising, steroids, drugs, that sort of thing."

"And what does a fourteen year old boy have to do with amateur business, Akito-sama?"

"Think, Ryoma-chan. Use that educated brain of yours. Tezuka wanted to make sure his team won the nationals. Meiko had what he needed. What do you think would happen."

"Wouldn't that usually be the coach's job?"

"The kid was young, determined, and older looking. That's all he needed. Give a boy a gun, you know all about that Ryoma." Don't go there, Akito, don't go there.

"…but your brother can handle that." Good.

"Thank you, Akito-sama. Your help is very appreciated, a can assure you of that."

"I wish this call was being recorded. No one is going to believe that Ryoma Echizen apologized to me of all people!" Shit. How did he know?

"You have to do better than that, boy. But don't get your knickers in a bunch, I will be willing to give you a loan of 50 percent. You have the means to produce the remaining money. Everything I told you is true and the proof is dancing naked in front of you. Sayonara, boy and you can feel free to remind Ritsu of my generosity."

"I will." Ryoma got out of there before it could get any worse.

--

Ryoma was walking down to the shack thinking up of a convincing story to tell Ryu so he would convince Hongo-sensei to search for evidence of a drug bust involving Meiko. In the end, he settled to just tell him the truth and hope (with 50,000 yen and a on call) for the best.

Yeah right.

"Let me get this straight, Echizen. You called the leader of the Sohma house and borrowed 500 million yen. He also told you that Sagasaki Meiko was involved with the export and import of drugs and illegal steroids and that "'the proof is dancing naked in front of you.'" Ryu said exceptionally unconvinced.

"Yes." Things just got better and better.

"I see."

"You see."

Ryu laughed lightly, "I can't believe you, Echizen. Who's side are you on?"

"I can say the same thing about you."

Ryu came up to him their faces mere centimeters apart. His breath smelled of peppermint. "Prove it."

"No. But you can prove this. I don't have the authority to conduct investigations, but you can. This isn't about us, it's about Tezuka and Meiko." Ryoma's voice was professional and devoid of any emotion other than analysis. He didn't care what Ryu wanted.

"All right Echizen, I'll take your word for it this time. I want 500 thousand."



Oh to hell with it, he was a target anyway, "Deal. Keep your promise."

For now, there was a truce. No way would it last.

--

AN: in Loveless there are couples that engage in a "spell" battle of sorts using words. In these couples there is a Fighter, the partner that says the spells, and a Sacrifice, the partner that tells the Fighter what to do and receives all the damage from the spells inflicted upon the Fighter. Think BDSM without the bondage Fighter-sub Sacrifice-dom