Chapter 8

I'm not even on a regular updating schedule now... I've completely abandoned that *thumbs up*

After the rough night (and a good bit of the next day), both of you were exhausted, but not in a bad way. You would gladly be exhausted every day if it meant seeing your dear Makoto.

But alas, good times cannot last, and the three days of Makoto's freedom were up. Before you checked out of the hotel, though, he presented to you a piece of news.

"I'm getting a promotion!" he blurted excitedly, reminding you of a small child.

Your eyes widened at the news. "Another promotion?" you repeated, not believing it. You didn't even know there was a higher position than what Makoto was doing now.

"I now oversee all the investigators of the department of security," he puffed up, like a proud cat who had just caught its first mouse.

You stared at him, mouth slightly opened.

"Also…" It seemed like he wasn't done with his news yet. "I get more time off next week!" He bounced, energized. He didn't look like someone who had power over more than three dozen high-ranked investigators within the government. "The whole week!"

"The whole week?!" you hated that you were reduced to someone who only echoed what other people said, but you honestly could not think of anything else to say. This was great news, of course, but your mind was having trouble wrapping itself around the enormous possibilities this could bring.

Half a minute passed by without either of you saying anything. Makoto was looking at you, his eyes sparkling, and you were staring back, trying to comprehend what he had just said. Finally, you flung yourself at him and wrapped him in a hug, trying to convey all your emotions that way. Makoto snaked his arms around your waist and held you tight, picking you up and spinning around excitedly. When you were released, you felt breathless.

"This is the best news I've received since you told me you had three days off!" you said softly, your heart beating so quickly it was about to burst. All the opportunities!

After another minute of celebration you walked out of the hotel, surrounded by a few bodyguards, as usual. "I'll see you next week!" Makoto turned to you and gave you a peck on the cheek.

"Give me a fucking proper kiss, you asshole!" you laughed and tugged him in for another go. The bodyguards seemed slightly uncomfortable with the public display of affection, which just spurred you on further.

"Bye," you waved as Makoto headed down to where the car that was picking him up was. You didn't live that far away - only a five-minute walk from the hotel - so you turned to walk down the street, humming a little tune to yourself.

You were in trousers and a T-shirt with a high neckline. You didn't feel like hiding your pendant right now, though, and gripped the purple stone tightly with one hand, running your fingers over the smooth surface while your mind wandered. You had walked this street so many times you didn't have to think about it when you moved. Every crack in the sidewalk was as familiar as the layout of your house.

In your mind, you were smoothing out the details for Makoto's leave for the week. You would have to take leave from work, and of course you would also have to get the message across that you wouldn't be attending the weekly meetings of this society you were part of, Nightshade. You loved the society. It was a third home to you - second to Makoto's arms, of course. Thinking of your boyfriend made you sigh happily again, lost in your fog of thoughts.

This made you less alert than usual, which was a bad thing.

You were so focused on organizing things in your head that you didn't notice the shadows detaching themselves from the alley right across the street from you. If you had seen them, you'd have noticed that the way in which their held themselves was flawless, and they had a formation that provided the optimal defense level. You would've immediately classified them as professional killers or something similar, if you had noticed.

But you didn't see them. Until it was too late, of course. You felt something - or someone - creeping up behind you, and you spun around quickly. All you saw was a flash of a gloved hand before you felt a cloth press up against your face. You didn't recognize the chemical - perhaps it was ether? - before you felt the effects. You vaguely felt unfamiliar arms and hands moving you into somewhere dark - and then you were moving much faster.

A small part of your brain registered all this while the rest was just going crazy. The small rational part knew that you wouldn't be in this condition forever, and as soon as that thought had managed to diffuse through your brain you immediately felt the effects of whatever that was clearing up. It was then you realized you were curled up on the back of a moving vehicle, so you sat up.

And failed. Miserably. You knocked your head on something hard above you and promptly fell back to your original, fetus-like position. It seemed like this place where you were being kept in was tiny - it was all you could do to crouch slightly in the cramped space, and that strained your legs after a while. You were blindfolded too, and your wrists and ankles were bound together. The knots were tight. Where were you going? To your delight you didn't have a gag in your mouth, so you tried to emit sounds.

And failed. Miserably. Whatever chemical was on that cloth, it had dehydrated you severely. Or maybe that had just been the time passing. All you managed was a soft croaking, which was pathetic. You've never felt so helpless before, but a bright thought entered your head - if your kidnappers had gone to such lengths to ensure you couldn't do anything, it must mean they recognize your strength and ability, and they fear it.

Oh you couldn't wait to get out of these bonds and wreck havoc on the poor sods who had gotten their hands on you.