Chapter Eleven

Visits

"It's about time," Frannie scolded.

Riku looked at the floor, "I'm sorry, Frannie."

Riku had thought this would be easier, especially since Frannie had made it clear that she placed absolutely no blame on Riku. She even had her dad, Karl, Okamura, Mao, and Lulu with her. So why was it still so hard to look Frannie in the eye. "Sorry for what?" Frannie smiled, "I'm just really glad you're here. I'm going to get to get out of this hospital room soon. You know… they say that doctors make the worst patients. They should add doctor's assistants to that list. I think everyone here hates me now."

"I don't think everyone hates you," a familiar voice said.

Riku cracked a little smile, and looked up. DJ, of course, was at her side. Riku wasn't sure if he'd left it since Frannie woke up. "Thanks, Frannie," Riku smiled a little more.

"For what? Hey, how's your training coming along? I heard you're learning to use a sword."

Karl sighed. "I'm not that bad," Riku scolded him.

Frannie laughed. "It's good to see you're doing alright, Frannie," Kai smiled, "I'd like you to meet some old friends of ours. This is Mao, Okamura, and Lulu."

"Old, Kai?" Mao raised an eyebrow, but then she smiled.

"Oh, yeah! I've heard all about you guys. It's nice to finally meet you," Frannie smiled.

She was the same. Nothing about Frannie had changed. Riku was so relieved. "It's nice to meet you, too. And you must be Julia and David's son," Okamura said.

"Yeah. I'm DJ. It's nice to meet you guys."

"So… what's next on the agenda?" Frannie asked, "Are we any closer to…"

Kai looked a bit down. Riku frowned, "Nothing so far. Collins probably could've given some insight on Mahler, but they took him. We don't know if he's dead or alive… I think you already know that, though."

Frannie nodded slowly. "David and me are going back to see Argiano. Collins wasn't the only one messing around with their blood… Karl reminded us of that," Kai patted him on the back.

Riku suppressed a smile when she saw him blush a bit. "He said nothing to you, DJ… when you and Luis went?" Frannie asked, curiously.

"He kept to his 'I'm an old man' story. If he knows anything he's doing a damn good job of hiding it," DJ sighed.

"He knows something," Karl replied, "I was there. Remember?"

"This time I'm going," Riku told them.

"Is that really a good idea?" DJ asked.

"I don't think that any harm will come to her," Kai replied, "What can Argiano do in front of me and David."

'I know no harm will come to her,' Karl thought, 'Because I'll be right outside the visitor room's door.'

"I'm getting out tomorrow. Wait on me. I'll go with you, too," Frannie told them, hopefully.

'There's that Chevalier desire to protect,' Karl thought, smiling a little to himself, 'It had to show sooner or later.'

The only one to respond to Frannie's request was Kai. He smiled, "Okay. We'll wait for you."

"Thank you," Frannie smiled, pleased.

II

"I'll be right out here with Francis," Karl told her, reassuringly.

"Alright," Riku nodded.

When they entered the room Argiano was waiting for them in, Riku didn't expect it to be so cold. The old man looking up at him was Julia's age… yet he looked twenty years older than Julia. "I'll be damn…" he smiled, and then went on in French.

"Argiano…" Kai sighed.

"I remember you. You were a boy when I first saw you. I don't think we ever officially met. I am Van Argiano. And you are…"

"Pissed that you've been lying to us," Kai glared.

"I haven't been lying to you," Argiano suddenly looked irritated.

"You worked closely with their blood… the Chevaliers. Choose your words carefully, Van. We have someone who knows that you did," David warned.

"I don't know who that could be…"

"That's for us to know," Riku glared, angrily, "You… you knew her. You helped her hurt people. Why? You're a human. Why would you ever want to help them… help her?"

"You resemble her… not identical, but… you favor her enough to be mistaken for her," Van smiled.

"You son of a bitch…" cursed Riku.

"Riku!" Kai warned, "You'd better remember this. Don't ever say anything like that to Riku again… unless you want to get hurt."

"Are you going to tell us what we want to know?" David sighed.

"I've told you and your son… and your partner… I know nothing. I am an old man, and…"

"Liar," Riku sneered, "I know he wasn't hers. He wasn't her Chevalier. Confirm it for us! We already know… just tell us something. My sister's life is at stake here!"

Argiano sighed, "Yes, I've heard about your sister. You may not believe me, girl, but I am truly sorry."

"If you're really sorry, Mr. Argiano… tell me something."

He looked at Riku for what seemed like a long time, before finally saying, "You're right to say that he wasn't one of your mother's. They all had the same blood… except Nathan Mahler. His was different. He didn't have her blood. That's why your aunt's blood couldn't kill him. The one who can kill him… is long dead."

Riku's sighed, "Is there a way?"

"I don't know. Decapitation… fire… the Red Shield knows these things, but… they aren't easy," Van spoke as if he'd seen them tried… and failed.

"Thank you," Riku gave him a nod.

"I take it back," Van sighed, "You could never be mistaken for her."

Suddenly, there was a loud pound on the door which made Van jump, and Karl shouted, "Riku! David… Kai!"

"I… I know that voice," Van's brow knitted in confusion, "Who is that?"

"Guys!" Frannie screamed… something was happening outside.

III

"I hate waiting like this," Frannie told Karl.

"They're fine," He replied.

"You don't talk much, do you?" Frannie smiled.

Karl raised an eyebrow, "I apologize."

"Oh, no, no! It's fine. I guess I talk to much," she said, and then she suddenly smiled, "You've been spending a whole lot of one on one time with our little Riku, huh?"

"What are you getting at?" Karl asked, annoyed.

"Nothing, nothing. Just making conversation."

The two hadn't been waiting long. Still, Frannie felt a little anxious. This was the first time she'd actually been out on the field, and she was really nervous, too. She tried really hard to hide it, but she suspected that Karl suspected. "What…" Karl suddenly turned to his right, and peered down the hall, "What is that? Do you feel it?"

Frannie turned, too. At first she just looked at him, confused. Feel what? A draft? But then she did feel something, and it gave her chills. Something was coming. Something terrible. Karl banged on the iron door of the visitor's room, "Riku! David… Kai!"

Seconds later, it came. Whatever it was slammed right into Karl knocking him into the hard, heavily painted, blue brick wall. "Guys!" Frannie screamed, as she watched the event.

She backed up, and her back hit the wall. Karl's hand transformed. The scientist in Frannie made her think, 'Wow! Julia did a hell of a job cloning him! He even got to keep his Chiropteran powers!'

He tore at the face of the young man who was holding him. Brunette, tall, with the build of a body builder, and at the moment red eyed, he would've been quite handsome if he wasn't trying to do away with them. "Get off of him, you bastard!"

Frannie started to run at the two. "Stay back!" Karl ordered, fighting with everything he had.

"Karl!" Frannie heard from behind her.

She turned to see a frightened, and worried Riku. David, Kai, and someone who was obviously Van Argiano followed her out.

Karl had finally managed to push the rabid looking young man off of him. Karl fell to his knees, but it didn't take him more that a couple of seconds to be back on his feet. "My God!" exclaimed Van, his eyes on Karl, "How can this be?"

"What are you after?" Karl demanded, as they circled each other.

The young man gave a grim smile, "Him," he pointed to Van, who took a few steps back.

Riku ran to Karl's side. She took out a small dagger Kai had given her before they journeyed to the prison. "It's a family keepsake,' he'd told her, looking at the cross shaped dagger affectionately.

David and Kai both pointed their guns at the young man. The only thing keeping them from firing was the fact that it wouldn't do anything except waste bullets. He was obviously a Chevalier, and only Riku could kill him. Even so, they kept their guns on him. Shooting him would at least stun him and give Karl and Riku an advantage.

Frannie felt helpless, as she watched Karl and Riku fight the mad man. 'I'm going to have to ask DJ to help me… I have to learn to fight too… if I'm going to help out any at all!'

'He's strong, damn it!' Karl sneered at him, as he applied pressure with his hand to his ribs… the place where the young man had swung his long, sharp claws and hit… tearing his jacket, his shirt, and a piece of flesh away.

Riku cut her hand with the dagger, and rubbed her blood all over it. 'I know what to do. This has to go in him… my blood has to mix with his.'

Karl went back for another round. This time, Riku joined him. She used everything Karl had taught her so far. She may not have been perfect, but she landed more hits than she missed.

The young man took a swing, and caught Riku right in the chin, which sent her flying into the wall. She gave an 'oof,' and then sank to the ground stunned.

"Riku!" Kai and Karl seemed to shout in unison.

Gun fire… the young man stumbled a bit. More gun fire, and the young man was on his back. Kai and David were both about to fire again, when something out of nowhere snatched their guns away, "That's not very nice, is it?"

"You!" Kai shouted, angrily.

"The name is Chera. I'm hurt that you don't remember it, Kai. Give us Van Argiano."

"Go to hell!" Kai spat, "Give me my daughter!"

"David…" Van began, "Don't sacrifice yourselves over me, David. I'm not worth it. Let them have me!"

"Just stay quiet, Argiano," David sighed, not showing he was a little surprised by Argiano's comment.

The young man got to his feet. The slugs in his chest, and forehead fell to the ground with a clinging noise. He grimly smiled at Karl, who had rushed to check on Riku, and then rushed toward him with speed so fast, it caught Karl off guard for a moment. 'Too late to counter,' Karl though, reading himself for the impact of the young man's claws.

There was a loud crash. The pain Karl should've felt never came. He was, however, pushed back onto the floor from another sort of impact. Something large and hard had collided with the young man's body. "What the hell!" Chera cursed.

Another figure had joined the fight, and the weapon he carried was large, dangerous, and unique… 'That damn Cello case,' Karl thought, and for the first time since he'd known the owner, he was glad to see it.

That's when he heard Kai shout, excitedly, "Hagi!"