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Kyohei struggled instinctively, pulling out of the man's grasp. He thought he might actually have a chance until the man pulled out a gun. Kyohei froze. You can't outfight a bullet.

The man grinned, a horrible smile. How had Sunako stood it, knowing this man was after her? Kyohei shuddered, and a hideous thought ran through his head. I never told Sunako how I felt about her. Is it too late?

"You won't get away with it," Kyohei stated with more conviction than he felt. "The police will catch you."

"Fool," the man laughed. "I own the police!"

"Did you hurt her?" Kyohei demanded. He feared the answer.

The man laughed again. "Not yet. I knew I might have to use her to catch you."

Kyohei narrowed his eyes as the man took his arm and began guiding him down the street, the gun planted firmly in his back. Nevertheless, he had no choice but to follow.

"Although you are very fine specimens," the man continued. "It's almost a shame to have to kill you. But then again, I killed my own daughter. Why not you?" His laugh chilled Kyohei to the bone.

They arrived at a normal-looking house. Kyohei stepped through the door with his shoulders squared. He had no idea what to expect.

The first thing he saw was Sunako, her hands tied behind her back.

"Kyohei!" she cried. He saw that her face was deathly pale and she was shaking.

"Sunako," he managed, though his mouth was dry as cotton. Not caring about the murderer at his back, he went to her, wrapping his arms gently around her.

"I love you," he whispered into her hair. She stiffened, and he knew she had heard. She leaned against him.

The man locked the front door. "I'm sorry it came down to this, Sunako," he said.

"Sorry you got caught," she snapped. Kyohei shifted oh-so-slightly and began working on the knots that held Sunako's wrists captive as she distracted the man.

"Don't you see?" he asked. "That man two-timed me. He was going to turn me in."

"So you killed him. And your own daughter." Her voice was strong, but the man did not flinch.

"Like I said, you girls should never have seen that."

"Because it shouldn't have happened!" The last knot came loose. Sunako maintained her position for the moment, however.

"You would put two more murders on your conscience?" Kyohei asked, stepping in front of Sunako. She shifted. Kyohei stepped closer to the man. "Doesn't it pain you that you killed your own daughter?"

"Haven't you guessed by now that I don't have a conscience?" the man responded. He and Kyohei were almost nose-to-nose.

Kyohei kept his eyes locked on the man's. "I think you should get one," he said as he grabbed the gun. "Even if someone has to beat it into you." He aimed his new possession at the man. "On the floor!" he shouted. "Call the police," he said softly to Sunako. She obeyed.

The man lowered himself to the floor. "You won't shoot me," he said. "You're too young and afraid."

"Don't test me," Kyohei snarled. "You almost killed the woman I love."

"Love?" the man laughed. "Don't you know there's no such thing as love?"

Sunako hung up the phone and walked over to the man. "I'm sorry you think that," she said gently. "You don't know what you're missing." She met Kyohei's eyes and smiled.

As the police escorted the man away, Sunako turned to Kyohei. "Did you mean it?"

He knew what she meant. "Yes, I did. Did you?" He held his breath, waiting for her answer.

"Of course I did," she said, blushing. "I don't say things I don't mean."

He leaned toward her, breath quickening with anticipation. She was waiting for him. Their lips met, their breath mingled. It was their first true kiss, and it was perfect.

Kyohei pulled back and smiled at her. "What are we going to tell your aunt?"

"Does it matter?" she replied with a smile, lacing her fingers through his. And he realized that no, it didn't.