SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE. I WAS KIND OF DOWN WITH A FLU. SO TOOK TIME OFF! SORRY GUYS! AND THAT KIND OF PUT OFF MY CURRENT CHAPTER AND MY NEXT CHAPTER [ WHICH HAD TO BE DELETED AFTER MY LAPTOP GOT FORMATTED, ALL THANKS TO A TROJAN VIRUS]
PS: THANKS NEHA, FOR ALL YOUR REVIEWS! J
MIDNIGHT LIGHTENING
Four more months went by and Kaori was left with little time before she could finally become a mother. In the initial days of her pregnancy, Ryo allowed her to go ahead with her daily routine and activities like shopping or checking out the message board for new clients. But as time passed, her 'bump' became more apparent and for her safety, her partner advised her to stay at home while he would take on some of her responsibilities.
Since the time it was confirmed that she would become a mother, no matter where Kaori went, Ryo stayed be her side, like her shadow. The couple even sleep together in the same room, if not on the same bed. Moreover, unlike before, Ryo barely went out drinking till late at night, since he was concerned about his partner's safety. And even if he did, it was more for scourging information rather than late night partying or dating hostesses. On a late autumn night, Ryo was deep asleep when he heard a sound. No matter how listless he might have been or was, his training made him vigilant and calm having to stay alert for enemies, even in his sleep. He decided to make a quick surveillance of the house with his trusted python on his side.
"Nothing seems to be here" he thought, as he made a quick check around the bathroom and Kaori's room. He was about to return to his room when he suddenly heard a sound, coming from the eastern direction. "What's that sound? It's coming from the kitchen, I guess. It's better if I check it out" he thought to himself, as he pulled out his trusty python from his holster. He took his position and jumped into the kitchen with his gun to keep playing outsiders at bay, only to find Kaori taking out stuff from the refrigerator to dig into a midnight snack.
Ryo: "What the hell? What are you doing here, this late at night?" he asked with a lecherous smirk on his face, as he positioned his sight from his partner's face to her partly revealing chest.
Kaori: "Hey, that's my line! More importantly, what's the matter with you, barging in with a gun?" she replied angrily as she adjusted her night gown.
Ryo: "Well, I thought maybe it was an outsider. But never mind me. What's up with you and food these days? We had dinner just a few hours ago. And now, you're feasting like a mon- AHH" he said, but before he complete his sentence, Kaori pinned him down with a thousand ton hammer!
Ryo: "God, how the hell can she swing the hammer this hard with a belly that big?" he said as he crouched underneath the hammer.
Kaori: "And I hope you liked the taste of today's midnight meal!" she said as she stuck out her tongue to him.
Ryo: "Whatever! Anyway, let's get back to sleep" he said turning to go back when Kaori suddenly exclaimed "Wait!"
Ryo: "Why?" he asked with a confused look on his face.
Kaori: "You see I can't sleep because of this 'craving'" she said, looking away from him.
Ryo: "Craving? What kind of craving?" he asked.
Kaori: "You know I'm dying to eat udon with takoyaki. And I want it right now!" she asked tugging her partner by the collar.
Ryo: "What? Are you crazy, woman? It's one in the morning" he exclaimed.
Kaori: "No, I need it. Please, I really want to have some udon" she said in desperation.
Ryo: "No! Absolutely, positively-AHH" but before he could complete, Kaori took out one of her hammers, ready to pound him.
Kaori: "You were saying-" she replied confidently holding a hammer in her hand and a smile on her face.
Ryo: "Alright, alright. Put that thing away. You get ready. And I'll get the car ready!" he said as a large bead of sweat appeared on his forehead.
The duo soon left in search for a food joint.
Kaori: "Where are we going by the way?" she asked confused.
Ryo: "You'll see. It's a place, not far off from where we live" he replied while driving.
Kaori: "At least tell me where it is?" asked an impatient Kaori, sitting next to Ryo.
Ryo: "Can't you be a little patient? What's wrong with you? And why are you hungry all the time?" said Ryo as he twitched his eyebrows.
Kaori: "Stop over exaggerating and drive. It's not that every single second I need food like oxygen! It's just that-" she said as she blushed and rolled her eyes while talking.
Ryo: "It's just what?" he asked with a confused look on his face.
Kaori: "It's just that it's not just me, even 'he' feels hungry" she surmised, as she looked away enjoying the night view.
Ryo: "Whose 'he'?" he asked again.
Kaori: "You know 'he'-" she replied pointing towards her belly
Ryo: "How do you know, the baby's a 'he'? He could be a 'she' as well" he replied with his eyes on the road.
Kaori: "Well that's-" she said, rolling her eyes.
As she continued with her explanation, Ryo thought about the change in his life and character since he came to realise fatherhood. The much feared and revered man in the underworld, 'City Hunter' Saeba Ryo, found himself winding his car through the twists and turns of the road, enjoying the bright city lights and the scarcely populated streets, with his partner, Kaori, whom he feared and revered even more. While his pretty partner was chattering away, Ryo ran his train of thoughts.
Ryo's POV: Man, I can't believe I'm actually doing this! The great 'City Hunter' fulfilling the not-so-great demands of his not-at-all-a-lovely partner. The man who used to drown himself in the company of beautiful babes and alcohol till late at night is now babysitting and fulfilling the 'desires' of his partner. To think that this day would come in my life? It's seriously unimaginable. It's lucky enough that I know this food joint for super tasty Japanese cuisines in Shinjuku Park, which remains open till dawn. Otherwise, I would have had to go scourging the city all night long, thanks to Kaori's incorrigible demands. We reached the park soon enough. While I parked the car close outside the park, Kaori waited for me in front of the entrance. Kaori and I entered the park, in the wee hours of the night. God I still believe I'm doing this! And boy, I just hope that old man, Ren's place is open.
Kaori: Where is this place? Don't tell me it's here, in the park!
Ryo: Just walk, will you? It's close by!
Kaori: Well, at least tell me the name, will you?
Ryo: "I hope that guy's place is open" he thought as he looked around.
On noticing the food joint open with a few customers actually ordering at this hour, a baffled Ryo was thankful that God had finally heard his prayers.
Ryo: "Thank God!" thought Ryo.
Ryo: "It's here" he said pointing at the food joint to Kaori.
The couple ordered a few dishes. And soon after, they continued eating ravenously, off their plates. As they ate, they chatted amongst themselves as well as with the owner, from time to time.
Ryo: "The food's great, right?" asked Ryo.
Kaori: "Yeah! I've never had such tasty udon in my life! And I guess even he'll be happy" replied an extremely satiated Kaori, who took a bite of takoyaki.
Ryo: "Why you referring the kid as 'he'? What if he's a she?" asked Ryo.
Kaori: "No, I just feel it's a boy since whenever some of your pretty female clients or Saeko or Reika dropped at our place for a visit, I felt 'his' kick. But whenever, a guy would come like Umibozu san 'he' would never kick!" surmised Kaori with confidence.
Ryo felt a huge bead of sweat appear at Kaori's assumption.
Ryo: "I guess he's my son after all" thought Ryo with a smirk on his face.
Kaori: "Say, Ryo, if he were a son, would it be ok if we would name him Hideo?" asked Kaori.
Ryo: "And what if the baby were a girl?" counter-questioned Ryo.
Kaori: "How about Yukari?" replied Kaori as her eyes sparkled with happiness.
Ryo: "If it's a girl, then we can name her Saori?" insisted Ryo.
Kaori: "Why Saori? Why not, Yukie or Yuka?" asked a confused Kaori.
Ryo: "I thought it would rhyme well with Kaori" surmised Ryo while he ate and added "Besides-"
Ryo was just going to complete his words as well as his bowl of udon, when he faintly heard the sound of someone cocking a gun, not far off. He immediately left Kaori, asking her to wait at the joint and went off towards the other end of the park, in the trail of danger.
Ryo's POV:
Ryo: "What was that sound?" Ryo thought, as he headed off in the speed of wind towards the direction of the sound. He kept running with the trusty colt python in his hand. His feet came to a stop when he noticed two to three people harassing a hooded figure. "What's this?" he said as he hid behind a bush. When the matter was beginning to get worse, Ryo ambushed upon the men with the shot of his gun.
Unknown man 1: "Who's that?" asked the one of them, as he looked around for intruders.
Ryo: "What's the matter, guys? Did I disturb your play? Sorry, but you see playtime is over" replied Ryo, playing with his gun.
Unknown man 2: "Why you-" he said, and tried to hit Ryo with a sharp knife. But before he could do that, Ryo knocked the man unconscious.
One of the two shady men held a sharp knife, close to the hooded person's throat and warned Ryo of dire consequences.
Unknown man 1: "I warn you, don't come near or else, the girl dies." he said, as he dragged the girl to make a quick getaway in their car. But before he could do that, the girl stomped the man's feet and this gave Ryo a chance to injure his hand with a bullet.
Unknown man 1: "Darn you!" he said, as he tried to get hold of a weapon to attack Ryo. But before he could do that, Ryo kicked the knife away, stomped on his injured hand, while pointing a gun at him.
Ryo: "Now get going fast, otherwise, I'll send you, your boss and your entire unit on a one way free trip to hell!" warned Ryo, while playing with his gun.
Unknown man 1: "Darn! You'll pay for this!" warned the man, ready to strike back.
Ryo: "What? What did you say?" said Ryo as cocked the trigger, ready to shoot.
Unknown man 1: "No nothing! Yes!" he said, as he got ready to leave.
Ryo: "Oh yes and don't forget your friend too!" as he kicked the unconscious man in his stomach.
Unknown man 1: "Yes"
The men left with their car, as Ryo trained his gun on them and pulled the girl close to him. When they left, Ryo asked the girl "Are you al right? I think we're safe, at least for now."
Girl: "You completely forgot me, right, Ryo Saeba?" asked the hooded girl.
Ryo: "Who are you?" asked a befuddled Ryo.
The girl removed the hood, revealing herself as Eri Kitamura, Kaori's school friend.
Eri: "Now do you remember me?" she said.
Ryo: "Eri chan! Long time, no see! How are you and what just happened?" asked Ryo as he put his gun back in the holster.
Eri: "I'll explain later. But for now thanks!" she said, as she hugged Ryo to show her gratitude.
Kaori who followed his partner, after hearing a gun shot, found him getting all cosy with a girl. She lost her temper and pounded him with another 1000-pound hammer as she said "Why you, loser son of a ...! Here I was getting all worried about you, while you were getting cosy with a girl!" She took out another hammer to punish him, when her partner resisted.
Ryo: "Wait! It's not what you think!" as Ryo managed to give her hammer, the slip.
Eri: "Kaori, wait. It's really not what you think. Saeba san saved my life tonight!" explained Eriko.
Kaori: "Eri, Eri chan, how are you? And what just happened?" said Kaori, who by then put away her hammer.
Eri: "It's a long story. But what happened to you, Kaori?" asked Eriko gesturing towards her belly.
Kaori: "Long story" said Kaori, eyeing Ryo angrily, who was grinning.
Eri: "Congrats! So you two finally realised?" said Eriko with a smiling face.
Kaori: "What! No! It's was very sudden!" explained a very confused Kaori.
Eri: "Oh really!" she said teasingly. But before the girls could continue their chatting, Ryo intervened.
Ryo: "Look I hate to break it to you girls. But it's getting late" interfered Ryo with a thoughtful expression on his face.
Kaori: "Oh yeah. I completely lost track of the time" replied a grinning Kaori.
Eri: "Anyway, listen, can I stay in your place for a few days? Actually I need your help" said Eriko.
Kaori: "What happened?" she asked
Eri: "Can't explain here. I'll explain when we reach your place" replied an anxious Eriko.
Ryo: "Yes. Let's go back" said Ryo, while heading back to the car.
They drove back home. By the time they reached, it was nearly 3 AM in the morning. As Kaori served coffee to her partner and her old client and friend, they asked Eriko to explain the situation, to paint a clearer picture.
Kaori: "So" said Kaori, as she handed Eriko her coffee cup "How did you get yourself into this mess?"
Eri: "Well, it all started around a year back, when my friend, Ciara and I, came up with a new fashion concept, 'Natsu girl', for this year's spring-summer collections. Ciara was planning to introduce her own line of shoe brand with this fashion show, which is supposed to have been held at various locations around the world, including Japan, Italy and the US. But six months ago, we got a threat call from a mysterious guy, Quentin Walker, who reportedly controls the fashion world in the US, demanding that we stop the show and hand over the original 'Ciara' shoe piece to him. Otherwise-" said Eriko with streaks of seriousness and sadness, reflecting in her eyes.
Ryo: "Otherwise?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
Eri: "We would have to face dire consequences and people involved in it will start disappearing. At first, we took it as a joke. But slowly, people started 'disappearing', with many either being kidnapped or killed. The crisis reached a boiling point when our showstopper, supermodel, Ellen Diaz was murdered by a professional, at her home in Santa Monica. That's when we realised the gravity of the situation and panicked really bad" said Eriko, with downcast eyes.
Kaori: "Why didn't you go to the police then?" asked Kaori.
Eri: "After Ellen's murder, we spoke to the police about likely suspects and people who could have a hand in her murder. The same night, our costume designer, Sonia Henderson was kidnapped. The kidnapper threatened us that if we became party to the judicial inquiry process and gave anymore further info to the police, Sonia would be killed. The kidnapper also claimed that he simply raped Sonia for now, but if they wouldn't learn their lesson, what happened with Ellen, would happen to her. And then a week ago, Ciara was kidnapped from London's Fleet Street, when she was shopping for the show. The kidnapper informed me that Sonia and Ciara with the Japanese Yakuza but then he could not guarantee their safety. So asked me to come with 30 million $ and the original 'Ciara' pair, and meet him at Shinjuku in Tokyo.
I went to Shinjuku as I was instructed expecting the safe return of Sonia and Ciara. But I didn't realise that I was in for the shock of my life. Instead of turning up with Sonia and Ciara, the kidnapper's men, gave me a box instead. On opening the box, I was shocked to find photographs of Sonia being raped and killed. Soon after, I got a call from Quentin claiming that he was the one who raped and killed her and was planning to do the same with Ciara, as well. That's when you intervened, Saeba san. Thank you"
Eri: "Please help me. Please!" she said with tear-filled eyes.
Kaori: "Its al right. Everything will be fine. Don't worry; we'll take care of them. Now, at least smile" she assured her friend, who held onto to Kaori for support.
Ryo: "It's ok. Leave it to me" he said as he knelt down and held her hand and added "I'll accept it, but only on one condition" he said nodding his head.
Eri: "If it's money you're talking about. I'll pay" she said smilingly, wiping her tears.
Ryo: "No it's more important than that. A mokkori ippatsu" he said, as he grabbed her by the waist. "Now come on, let's go" he said charmingly.
Kaori: "What the hell are you thinking?" said Kaori, as she took out a 10000-pound hammer, ready to cement her partner.
The minute she was about to hit him, Eriko stopped her and asked her to put away her hammer.
Kaori: "But why?" asked Kaori as the hammer disappeared from her hands.
Eri: "It's not good to lift anything heavy, not at least in 'this' condition" replied Eriko pointing at her belly. Besides-" she said as she turned away and added "How did you end up like this any way? You were saying about something happening suddenly?" she replied eyeing Ryo, who was by then sweating heavily.
Kaori: "Well that's a very long story. It's all, this guy's fault!"
Eri: "Fault? But how?" she asked raising her eyebrows as she surmised "Let me guess, a night of passion play?"
Both Ryo as well as Kaori chose not reply as they both blushed heavily and avoided eye-contact.
Eri: "Well, I guess I understand. But I think we should go off to sleep" said Eriko stretching herself.
Ryo: "Yes we should" said Ryo as his eyes lighted up on an opportunity of a night visit.
Kaori: "Ryo?"
Ryo: "Yes?" he asked with a smiling face when suddenly he heard a clicking sound and found his hand cuffed onto Kaori's. "What the hell, Kaori?" he asked angrily.
Kaori: "Well, that ought to keep you in line for tonight. And besides I flushed the key down the toilet" she said.
Ryo: "Well I don't care. Any way I might have a master key in my pocket" he said as he scourged his pockets for the key, but in vain. "What the hell, where did it go?" he asked.
Kaori: "If you're searching for the master key. You won't be able to find it without my help. So my advice- Sleep like a good boy. Otherwise you'll have to face the wrath of the hammer!" she said with a calm expression as she held a mini hammer in her hand.
Ryo: "You what! Are you crazy? How will I get rid of these cuffs tomorrow?" he said.
Kaori: "Oh, don't worry about tomorrow. I'll find a way. But till then be a good boy, will you?" she said as she patted his head.
Ryo: "No way, you've got to be joking! And sleep in the same bed, with you?" he replied, apparently in a state of shock, by then.
Kaori: "You got a problem?" said Kaori, taking out one of her mini hammers.
Ryo: "No let's go" replied Ryo as laughed out to hide his embarrassment.
Eriko: "Well, I'm off for tonight. It's getting kind of super late" she said heading off in the direction of the guest room.
Kaori: "Yes good night. I hope you'll be ok in the guest room tonight" she said with a smiling face and added while narrowing her eyes on Ryo "And I'll make sure Mr. Mokkori here behaves!"
Eriko: "Yeah don't you worry Kaori. And besides, he isn't as bad as you think. The problem is both of you are kind of confused" said Eriko.
The last comment made the couple retort in unison "Confused about what?"
Eriko: "Oh nothing. Any way I'm off to sleep" said Eriko as she left for her room.
While Eriko went off to her room, Kaori dragged her partner like a child, back to their room. For the first time, Ryo was unable to carry out his nocturnal duties naturally. But then somehow he was glad that he could keep his partner and his client safe from the hands of evil, at least for now. He knew that whoever kidnapped Eriko's friend would come back to harm her again. And then there was Sonia's life hanging on the thread. He felt he had no other choice but to challenge the killer to a murder game.