Disclaimer: I do not own KHR

OOC warning.

Chapter Four: Unexpected Punishment

Saturday 11:00 PM

Amelia parked her car in the scarce parking lot and sighed tiredly, glad to be home after a long day of work. She climbed out of the car and hurried across the poorly lit lot, wanting to be inside as quickly as possible. The tenants had complained to the landlord to replace the lights in the lot, and he would promise he'd get on it, but that man was a notorious procrastinator.

I'll have to get on his case again, Amelia thought with a sigh.

As she neared the corner, she spotted a glint in the murky light and slowed her pace. When she approached the object, she saw it was someone's keys. Amelia recognized the keys as Stella's because of the white lanyard sporting her hospital's name and insignia. Amelia scooped up the fallen keys, scrunching her nose in disgust at the mud caking the now soiled lanyard.

I bet Stella's going out of her mind with worry, Amelia thought with a smile as she resumed her trek towards the entrance.

She pulled out her cell phone and called Stella's number before placing the phone to her ear. The phone rang for a long moment before it went through.

"Hey!" Stella's voice chirped happily.

"Hey, Stella, I found your keys—"

"Sorry, I'm not here right now, but please leave a message, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can!" Beep!

"Hey, Stella, I found your keys in the parking lot. Call me back or just come to my place and get them. Bye."

Amelia hit the disconnect button and stuffed her cell and Stella's keys in her jacket pocket as she entered the building and walked to the elevator, the elevator taking her to the fifth floor. She hummed quietly as she entered her apartment and went to her bedroom where she placed Stella's keys on her bedside table and quickly changed out of her work clothes into her pajamas. "Time to watch some Lina & Pete, baby!"

After Amelia finished watching the show, she checked her phone for any missed calls but saw none. She decided to call again, but again received Stella's voicemail and sighed as she ended the call.

It's getting late. I'll leave a note on her door.

Amelia scribbled a quick note on a notepad and stuck a strip of tape on top before heading out and taping it on Stella's door. She yawned as she returned to her apartment, cutting out the lights and heading for bed.

The next day, Amelia woke to a sunny room and yawned, glancing at the analog clock mounted on her wall to see it was ten in the morning. She sat up and stretched, enjoying the feel of her muscles loosening from sleep and hopped out of bed when she spotted silver keys on her bedside table.

Oh, yeah, I found Stella's keys in the parking lot last night. Amelia checked her phone for any missed calls or texts, but saw none and frowned. That's odd. I left a message saying I have her keys, but she hasn't gotten back to me.

Perhaps Stella lost her phone? Then, she remembered leaving a note on Stella's door and went outside to find the note still taped up on the door, the note in the same crooked position as when Amelia taped it. An unsettling feeling washed over her as something wasn't feeling right. While stuck in thought, the apartment beside her opened and Amelia's next door neighbor, Miki, stepped out sporting black short shorts and a teal short sleeved shirt while carrying a hamper overflowing with laundry.

"Oh, Amelia-chan! Good morning!" Miki greeted cheerily.

"Good morning, Miki," Amelia sighed.

Noticing her neighbor's troubling expression, Miki's brown eyes widened in concern and fear.

"Uh-oh. I take it by that heavy sigh you're still upset about last night? Do you know of the man's condition?" Miki asked worriedly.

Amelia shot Miki a strange look, not understanding what the black-haired girl was gabbing about.

"What are you talking about?" Amelia inquired bluntly.

"The guy you ran over last night, how is he?"

"Guy I ran over?! I have no clue what you're talking about, Miki," Amelia said, her fear and impatience growing.

Miki's frown deepened at Amelia's words. "Well, that's strange because last night you were crying and screaming to Stella about running over a guy in the parking lot."

"I… I did what?!" Amelia practically shrieked, and Miki flinched, stepping back.

"Y-Yeah, what's with you?" Miki asked, staring strangely at Amelia.

"Miki, I need you to tell me everything you heard and saw. What exactly did I say to Stella?" Amelia asked.

"Well, I was watching TV when I suddenly heard you wailing and screaming. Being the nosy and curious person that I am, I opened my door just a little to see you crying to Stella about running over someone in the parking lot. You had called the paramedics already, but you wanted Stella to check on the guy since she was a nurse."

"And it was really me?" Amelia asked softly.

Miki nodded. "I mean, I only saw your back, but it had to be you. It sounded like you, too…. Was it not you?" Miki asked, fear flickering across her face.

"No, it wasn't. At what time did this happen?" Amelia demanded.

"Um… nine o'clock? Yeah, I was watching a rerun of Lina & Pete, so it was around that time," Miki said, nodding in remembrance. "So, wait, that truly wasn't you?! Then, who was that, and why did they pose as you?"

"More importantly, what did they want with Stella?" Amelia muttered to herself, ignoring Miki's questions.

"Oh, that's right, Stella did go with the person," Miki remembered. "Oh, my gosh, we need to call the police! Stella's probably in danger!"

Amelia stared at the keys in her hands, having found them last night in the parking lot and since this Amelia fake had lured Stella to the parking lot, it was safe to say that's where the abduction took place.

"Okay, yeah, you call the police since you're a witness," Amelia said.

"Right! I'll do it now."

Miki hurried back inside, shutting the door while Amelia entered her own apartment, closing the door behind her. She gripped the keys so tightly in her fist until her palm throbbed in dull pain from the metal pinching her skin. Stella has been missing for approximately twelve hours. Who could have taken her and why? The person had posed as Amelia to trick Stella, and even used her profession against her. For them to know Stella was a nurse meant they must have been studying her. But for what purpose?

Amelia chucked the keys onto her worn gray couch while growling in frustration. Who the hell cared about their purpose?! She just wanted to focus on getting her friend back. Miki was calling the police, but could they really help? Where would they even start their investigation? There were no leads. Or no, that's not true….

Last week, Stella had shared with Amelia her story of caring for a stranger who suffered from a bullet wound. His name was Sawada Tsunayoshi. Amelia bristled at the memory, recalling her spastic reaction to the name. Sawada Tsunayoshi… the name was vaguely familiar because her brother spoke of someone with the same name a long while ago. Amelia flinched when she recalled Stella's bewildered expression after Amelia revealed she had a sibling. She and her brother, Dino, weren't close though that was Amelia's fault. She and Dino were step siblings, her mother having married his father when Amelia was twelve.

Dino was ten years older than her, but the age difference wasn't a factor in the lack of closeness, but rather it was when Amelia found out Dino and her stepfather were involved in the mafia. Don't get her wrong; she loved Dino and her stepfather, but she wanted nothing to do with the mafia world and so limited contact with Dino. And because of her stepbrother's mafia connection, she would not broadcast the fact that she had a brother.

But this Sawada Tsunayoshi person… Amelia remembered Dino telling her about him, referring to him as his 'little brother,' so of course Amelia assumed Sawada was also involved in the mafia. That's why she warned Stella to stay away, but some good that warning did her. Now, Stella was in trouble, and Amelia didn't have a first clue of what to do to save her friend. Where would she even start? She had no idea who took Stella in the first place.

Wait, this is most likely happening because of Stella taking care of that Sawada person… if anyone has even a slight of a clue as to who took Stella, it might be him. He's the only lead I have right now.

Now, she just had to get in touch with him. Amelia sighed, knowing she would have to call him.

"Ah!"

I released an ear-splitting scream as I plummeted to my doom, flailing my arms about in hopes I would latch onto the balcony's stone railing. I succeeded in grabbing hold of the top railing and kicked my feet as I struggled to hoist myself up.

"Grab my hand!" Mami cried, offering her hand.

I grasped it while swinging my right leg on the edge of the balcony, and with Mami's help, hauled myself up and over the railing.

"Too… close…!" I wheezed.

"That was so close! What were you thinking climbing along the ledge?" Mami asked.

I couldn't answer because I was still shaken over the fact I almost fell to my death.

Oh, I think I'm gonna be sick, I thought as overwhelming nausea took the place of fear.

"Mami-sama? Are you alright?" someone called outside the room. I scooted out of view, pressing my back against the brick wall and placing a finger to my lips. "Mami-sama?" The voice belonged to Luna. "I heard screaming."

"Yeah, it was me. I saw a huge bumblebee. It flew towards me at such fast speed! I thought I was going to get stung for a second…." Mami said, sighing in relief and placing a hand to her chest.

"Oh, I see. Perhaps you should come inside now?"

"Yeah, I will," Mami said, skipping inside and closing the door behind her.

I remained slumped against the wall, not paying attention to the conversation taking place inside and closed my eyes in an attempt to quell the nauseous sensation. The light breeze and the sun's warm rays helped calm me, and the nausea finally subsided.

The doors opened again and Mami poked her head out and grinned widely. "Okay, coast is clear! You can come in now."

I entered the room, staring in awe at the large fancy bedroom. It was much bigger than my entire apartment.

Holy crap, is that a moon bounce? I gaped at the large pink princess castle moon bounced standing near the back of the room. "This is your room?" I asked the girl.

"Yup! I'm Mami, by the way. What's your name?" Mami questioned.

"I'm Stella. Thank you very much for saving me," I said, bowing.

"What were you doing climbing on the ledge anyway?" Mami asked.

I straightened to my full height as I wracked my brain for an acceptable explanation. "I was goofing off and avoiding work," I lied.

"Work? You work for Onii-san?" Mami asked, tilting her head as she studied me. "I've never seen you around before."

"That's because today is my first day."

"And you're already slacking off?" Mami seemed unimpressed with my explanation, and I stifled a sigh.

"Y-Yeah, not a good look, I know," I laughed awkwardly. "Well, I better get back to work! Don't want to get into any more trouble."

"No, wait! You should stay here and play with me!" Mami said, grinning. "Onii-san ordered me to stay in my room, but there's nothing to do in here."

Well, that was hardly believable. The amount of toys in the girl's room could fill a toy store. It was crystal clear these people were loaded. I opened my mouth to refuse the girl when an idea popped in my head: if I could get on this girl's good side, perhaps she would help me escape? Plus, remaining in the girl's room might be the safest place for now since I could get Mami to cover for me like she did earlier.

"Okay, fine, I'll play with you," I decided, smiling.

"Yatta!" Mami rejoiced, jumping up and down.

"Okay, I need a break," I said, breathing heavily after having finished jumping a good half hour on the moon bounce.

I plopped back on my butt, the moon bounce dipping and shifting beneath me from the movement. Mami landed next to me, and I yelped when I was thrown a few inches in the air before finally coming to a rest.

"You're tired already?" Mami asked, her pale face flushed red and glistening with sweat from exertion.

"Is it that unbelievable? We have been jumping for about thirty minutes," I pointed out.

"I just think you're out of shape," Mami said, pouting.

"That's rude! My weight happens to be healthy," I spoke proudly.

"Then come on! Let's play some more!" Mami said, tugging on my arm. Before I could reply, my stomach growled with ferocity, and I blushed in embarrassment. "You're hungry? I'll order food!" Mami hopped toward the entrance, sliding to the bottom and rushing to the phone that sat on her bedside table. "What would you like? Yuki can make pretty much anything!"

"Anything, huh? I could go for some udon noodles. Could you order Kitsune Udon?"

Mami scrunched her nose in disgust. "Ew, doesn't that have tofu in it?"

"Yeah, you don't like tofu?"

"I hate it. I tried it once… it didn't go well." Mami shuddered at the memory as she picked up the phone.

"Aw, you should give it another chance!" I suggested.

"Bleh. Never," Mami insisted, shaking her head. "Hey, Yuki! I'm ready to order lunch. Can I have curry-fried rice? Extra spicy please. And also Kitsune Udon…. Yeah, I know it has tofu, which is fine." Mami said this while twisting her face in disgust. "Thank you!" Mami replaced the phone on its receiver and turned to me with a bright smile. "Yuki says it'll take forty-five minutes," Mami told me.

I nodded in acknowledgement, my eyes trailing to the small picture frame of a happy family enjoying a picnic. The mother was snuggled against the father, both wearing adoring expressions, while the mom held a five year-old Mami. Enma, who appeared ten, was sitting atop his father's shoulders, a bright smile on his adorable face.

Whoa, Enma seems so carefree and cheerful. I wonder what happened to change that…? "These are you parents, right? Your mom is very pretty," I remarked, admiring the woman's face enhanced by her bright smile.

"Yeah, they passed when I was five," Mami spoke solemnly.

"Oh, I'm sorry about your parents. How did they die?" I asked. Mami's expression darkened, and she grasped at her white dress, clenching it tightly. I could tell I hit a nerve and placed a comforting hand on the young girl's shoulders. "I'm sorry for asking."

"N-No, it's fine," Mami sniffled, wiping at her face. "It was the Vongola."

"Vongola?" I repeated uncertainly.

"Yeah, it's a rival mafia family. They killed Mom and Dad and would have killed me, too, if Enma hadn't saved me." Mami walked past me and hopped in bed, scooping up her plush bear and squeezing it to her chest. "Enma vowed to avenge our parents and make the Vongola pay for what they did, and I believe Onii-san will fulfill his promise! After all, he's the boss of the Simon Family!" Mami declared, lifting her plush bear in the air.

I allowed Mami's words to sink in as one word in particular stuck out to me: mafia.

Did I hear Mami correctly? She say rival mafia family, and that Enma was the boss of a mafia family?! The mafia… I was kidnapped by the mafia. The overwhelming fear and nausea returned as I recognized the seriousness of my dilemma.

"Stella-chan? Are you okay?" Mami asked, staring at me in concern.

"Uh—"

"Mami-sama?" Adelheid called, knocking on the door and startling the both of us. I put a finger to my lips before diving under the bed. "Mami-sama, I'm coming in."

The door creaked open and Adelheid entered the room followed by a male servant wheeling in a cart carrying the lunch Mami ordered.

"Ooh, lunch is here!" Mami said excitedly, hopping out of bed.

"Yes, and I couldn't help but notice this is a lot of food for one little girl to eat," Adelheid remarked, fixing a cool gaze on Mami.

Mami kept her gaze on the food and smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, I really worked up an appetite after jumping on the moon bounce."

"Is that so?" Adelheid picked up a fork and poked at the deep fried tofu resting atop the noodles in the Kitsune Udon. "I thought you hated tofu?"

"I did, but I figured I could give it another chance," Mami replied, shrugging.

Adelheid dropped the fork and turned to Mami, her face pulled in a stern expression. "Where is she, Mami-sama?" Adelheid demanded bluntly.

I flinched at the woman's brusque tone and the fact we've been discovered.

"She?" Mami repeated, blinking and feigning innocence.

Adelheid's eyes narrowed, and Mami shrunk beneath the woman's shrewd gaze.

"Harada Stella, if you reveal yourself now, you will receive a light punishment; however, if I find you…." Adelheid allowed her threat to trail, her gaze still fixed on Mami.

It's over, I thought, sighing resignedly.

Accepting defeat, I crawled from under the bed when Mami rushed in front of me, throwing her hands to the side.

"Can't she stay a while longer? At least, let her eat her lunch," Mami pleaded.

"She can eat it back in her room," Adelheid said, holding out a pair of silver handcuffs. "I'm mildly impressed that you found one of the hidden passages," she remarked as she locked the cuffs around my wrists. I remained silent, glaring coldly up at the woman. "You've caused me a lot of trouble with your disappearance act, but I'll make sure it won't happen again."

White sparks jumped from the silver cuffs before white energy enveloped my entire body, and I released a bloodcurdling scream as my body seized from the continuous flow of energy before blacking out and slumping to the ground.

"Stella-chan!" Mami cried, kneeling by my unconscious body.

"That was her punishment for escaping and causing trouble," Adelheid said.

"You still didn't have to go that far!" Mami snapped at the older woman.

"You should know, Mami-sama, this woman saved the life of the enemy."

"What?" Mami asked, surprised. Adelheid snapped her fingers, and a burly servant entered the room, picking me up and carrying me out the door with Adelheid following behind. "Wait! Where are you taking her? Adel-chan!"

Adelheid paused at the doorway and turned around. "I think it's best if you forget about the woman, Mami-sama." Adelheid shut the door behind her before Mami could reply and turned to the servant carrying me. "Return her to the room in the basement and make sure the door is locked or it'll be your head."

"Yes, ma'am," the servant replied dutifully, turning and striding down the hall.

"Hey, you found her!" Julie exclaimed behind Adelheid. "Good, good. I was starting to get worried for a second, but I should have known you'd have it under control." Without looking, Adelheid swiped at Julie's head, but he smoothly stepped back, grinning as he lowered his fedora. "I get it, you're upset that I hadn't locked the door."

"You useless oaf; you had one simple task!" Adelheid growled, whirling on her comrade.

"What are you talking about? I lured the girl, didn't I?"

"So, it was too much to ask you to also check if our prisoner was secured? Honestly…." Adelheid stalked past Julie, who grinned after her.

"Yare, yare, someone's a bit uptight…."

Sorry that Enma and Tsuna were absent in this chapter, but rest assured you'll see plenty of them in the next chapter… I'm pretty sure. I have a general idea as to how the next chapter will go XD