A/N: I apologize for the great delay in updating. I guess you could say that I have been struggling. As always, leave your reviews. :3 They are very dear to me.

Jirou sighed as he debated whether or not to pull Mimiko closer and hold her against his chest. Bearing a lopsided grin, Jirou twitched his fingers into action- and just as his gloved appendages brushed against his skin the bay window exploded inwards thanks to a cinderblock. Frightened, Mimiko instinctively shrank into Jirou for protection with a whimper. Tightening his hold on Mimiko, Jirou strained his ears, listening for any other related disruptions. When Jirou was satisfied that the cinder block was the only offensive item he leaned back to look at Mimiko- who happened to have her eyes scrunched shut as if to make the ordeal simply un-happen. Jirou tapped her nose with his finger to get her attention.

"It is all right. I think that whoever responsible has already fled… You can relax now, you know."

Mimiko opened her eyes slowly and took in the damage. Her apartment was still there, only the window had been destroyed. She pushed herself off of Jirou and clucked her tongue at the mess- she had JUST finished moving herself in. Surveying the damage, Mimiko found the intrusive cinderblock- and it had a note attached to it. Barefoot, she was not about to trek over broken glass to retrieve the note.

"Hey, Jirou. I think there's a letter attached to that brick over there." Mimiko pointed in the general direction of the cinderblock as she sheepishly looked at her bare feet and back to Jirou, who simply smirked as he stood to fetch the item in question. He scanned the envelope for any clues as to who had so kindly 'delivered' the message but found none. Jirou opened the note and went white as he read the contents. Mimiko, worried, stood on her tiptoes to read the letter over Jirou's shoulder and paled as well.

Jirou Mochizuki, Silverblade, Kin-Killer.

We have your younger brother. Kindly come unattended to warehouse DHU-29F so that we may discuss the conditions of his safe return.

Love, the CStRtK.

"Mimi, do you have a safe place to go and wait this out? I fear that your apartment is no longer safe for the time being." Jirou stood tense and motionless, his anger building and threatening to reign unchecked.

Without skipping a beat, she replied, "I still have access to that warehouse from before. It's still under the Company's name, so I should be safe there… Also, warehouse DHU-29F should be located in the-"
"-fishing district. I know," Jirou interrupted, "Now you need to get out of here and stay hidden until I come for you." Jirou added in a whisper, "Stay safe, my Mimi."

With a reassuring smile, Mimiko grabbed her still unpacked go-bag and bolted outside still wearing her too-large overworn sweatpants and tank, grabbing a zip-up sweatshirt as an afterthought.

Jirou stood still in the shattered glass of Mimiko's bay window, listening to Mimiko's footsteps to reassure himself that she was safe. Angrily, Jirou crumpled the letter clutched in his hand as he leapt through the remains of Mimiko's window, racing towards the warehouse and Kotaru.