Long, involved chapter. It took me longer than I intended because I couldn't think of a clue though I knew where I wanted the two of them to go and that hung me up for a while. And I still can't find my long lost notebook and I don't think I ever will (cry)!!
In other news I finally started to load things onto my deviant art account. I'm known as CommonKnowledge25 there (someone actually already had CommonKnowledge-grrrr)
It basically going to be my stories from but sometimes, like now, I'm going to post something only there. I've posted a one shot that I wasn't sure if I wanted to put on this website because its got a bit of lime in it and I wasn't sure how appropriate that would be. If people want me to post that story here, I probably will.
Any way I hope you guys like this chapter! As usual this chapter contains my half assed editing style so sorry. Please read and review!!
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Chase Young was pleased, something that rarely happened. Things seemed to actually be going well in Wuya's insane plan for revenge. He'd had his doubts in the beginning but maybe, just maybe this might actually work out. Wuya would be too occupied and satisfied with her revenge on Pedrosa to realize that Chase was cheating her out of millions. And by the time she did realize it he'd be back in the spotlight as a model citizen with the Tohomiko Empire at his fingertips. And as an added bonus he'd have Kimiko back by his side and that was enough to cause a small smile.
Jack Spicer, though a worthless worm in the grand scheme of things, had served his purpose well. Not only had he provided Chase with the technology he needed but now he'd even gone a step further and helped to divide Kimiko and Raimundo who, in Chase's opinion, were becoming much too close.
'Raimundo Pedrosa,' Chase thought as his small smile turned to a frown. He'd never met the man before but from what his informants and the surveillance tapes showed him he obviously had a liking for Kimiko Tohomiko. And who wouldn't? She'd grown into an impressive young woman since he'd last seen her in person. He'd never considered himself a jealous man, especially not when it came to woman, but his recent observations of Kimiko had something stirring inside that was new and unusual to him. Kimiko had, at first, only been an important part of his plan but now she was also to be part of his reward. And Chase was getting impatient to claim his prize.
He'd never been a patient man, and now was no exception. Chase was sick of the life he was living. While is did come with the power and respect he deserved it wasn't in the world he wanted to be in. Glancing at one of the screens placed in the wall before him Chase's eyes settled on Toshiro who was watching a sleeping girl, Chase assumed to be Pedrosa's sister and was reminded of Toshiro's protective streak when it came to his own daughter. It was always well known that Toshiro was never going to force the company he'd built from the ground up onto his daughter. He'd always told anyone who asked that she was free to choose her own future and he'd be happy as long as she was.
How ironic that Chase wanted the company, badly, only to have it ripped from underneath him.
'But soon that will change,' Chase thought to himself, 'and I'll be back in my rightful place and Toshiro will have learned his.'
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It had taken a little effort but Tom had managed to get Clay on a helicopter flying from DC to New York within the hour. All Clay had to do was managed to make it to the helicopter in time for the flight. After thanking Tom profusely Clay and Cynthia had climbed back into his truck and made their was back toward the office where Clay said he wanted to pick up a few things and then make the excuse that his leg was giving him trouble so he could be excused from work. All the way back to the office Clay had profusely thanked Cynthia who was very quiet from some reason. Finally, Clay couldn't take the silence any longer and made a show of locking the doors as he pulled into a handicap spot near the front of the building.
"Alright," Clay say looking over at her, "what's going on with you?"
"I don't like you going to New York," Cynthia told him truthfully and Clay sighed while shaking his head.
"If it's because of my leg, I don't know how many time I have to tell you I'm alright."
"I wish it was just because of that," Cynthia said staring at the dash as if it had done something terrible to her.
"Then what is it?" Clay asked surprised and curious.
"I know you can take care of yourself, you're more than capable of that," Cynthia told him. "But," she trailed off and then looked him square in the eye. "You need to be careful in that helicopter. I swear to God if you crash and die I'll never forgive you."
"Where is this coming from?" Clay asked confused.
"I overheard Tom when I left the office to follow you outside," Cynthia told him. "I don't know who he was talking to but he just said 'Bailey's moving' and that was it. I have no idea why or who he was talking to but that can't be good."
"No not at all," Clay agreed looking troubled. He needed this flight to New York badly but there were obvious risked involved. He looked at Cynthia who was watching him with worried eyes. "What would you do?" he asked her and Cynthia blinked, surprised that Clay would ask her opinion in the matter. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath and spoke.
"You know I can't say, I'm a desk jockey."
"But you've got good judgment and I trust your opinion," Clay told her surprising her again. Opening her eyes Cynthia smiled.
"Then I'd go, be damn careful, and figure out what the hell is going on with Raimundo. While I stay here and figure out what the hell is going out with Tom."
"Alright then," Clay said popping the locks on the truck and smiling, "let's get to work."
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For a moment Raimundo considered trying to tackle or overpower her. He did after all have a height and weight advantage and the gun still had its safety locked on so the chances of it actually going off were slim. But just as he was thinking this Kimiko somehow managed to click off the safety without having to avert her eyes.
"Stand and keep your hands by your head," she commanded in a hard tone that matched her unwavering eyes. Mouth drawing in a thin line Rai rose and Kimiko moved seamlessly with him, the gun never moving an inch.
"Going to shoot me Kimiko?" Rai growled making note that she was backed up to the bed and if he got an opportunity to act he could use that to his advantage. But as he was calculating Kimiko did something that immensely surprised him. Flawlessly, with what seemed to be a simple flick of her wrist the gun flipped position and was now facing straight at her. Both were frozen, Rai's faced etched with shock while Kimiko's gave nothing away.
"Go ahead," Kimiko said in a level strong voice, "take it." Before she even finished speaking Rai had snapped the gun away from her and found no resistance. He jumped back to give them both some distance and watched expectantly with the gun still trained on Kimiko. "This is your opportunity Raimundo," Kimiko told him narrowing her eyes somewhat. "I won't fight and I've handed over your gun." She'd slipped off her jacket earlier so when she raised her arms up Rai could see she was hiding nothing. "So come on Rai, stop fucking with me and just take me to my father."
"What?" Rai questioned feeling as if this whole thing was surreal.
"You heard me," she snapped back quickly. "Stop wasting my time and energy if everything is going to lead to this in the end- just take me to wherever this all leads or kill me."
"What are you going on about?" Rai asked lowering his gun and clicking the safety back into place. Kimiko's eyes seemed interest as she watched him place the gun behind him on the dresser he'd backed up to. Her eyes then grew stormy again.
"JUST STOP IT RAI!" Kimiko shouted not caring who heard.
"Stop what?" Rai yelled back.
"You are the most frustrating human being I've ever met in my life!" Kimiko half groaned half yelled.
"Well your personality isn't the greatest either," Rai snapped at her. "You're damn lucky you're cute," he added in a mumble that Kimiko didn't seem to hear. "Do you mind explaining why you thought it necessary to pull my gun on me?"
"I was testing you," Kimiko said finally lowering her arms and folding them tightly under her chest.
"Come again?" Rai asked dumbfounded.
"I didn't feel like sitting around and waiting for it so I set up the opportunity for you to attack," Kimiko explained in a slow voice as if she were talking to some sort of child.
"I'm thoroughly confused," Rai admitted.
"Please stop playing dumb," Kimiko said fisting her hands at her side and stomping her foot for good measure. "I have neither the time nor the patients to deal with this right now. So fess up, take me to my father, or get out!"
"What the seven circles of hell are you talking about!" Rai exclaimed. "I thought we were doing pretty well here and then you go and pull this crap. Can you not talking circles for once?"
"I am speaking perfectly clearly right now," Kimiko practically growled. "Jack told me not to trust you."
"And you trusted him?" Rai said in an exasperated tone. "I'm going to kill him," he added for good measure.
"Of course I didn't trust him," Kimiko shook her head. "I just met him and he's got stalker written all over him."
"I thought you said you trusted me," Rai asked her remembering back in the first hotel and being so touched by when she'd admitted it.
"I do," Kimiko said in an annoyed tone, "that's why I was testing you."
"That makes no sense you crazy woman," Rai told her.
"Don't you talk to me like that!" Kimiko snapped and Rai blinked at her confused.
"What in the hell," he sputtered. "This is insanity!"
"You didn't attack me and you didn't shoot me," Kimiko said out of the blue in a level voice.
"Please tell me that's a good thing," Rai practically moaned. "Cause if it isn't then I really have no idea what's going on."
"Of course that's a good thing," Kimiko shook her head. "How could it be anything but?"
"Because I honestly have no idea what is going on right now," Rai told her shrugging his shoulders. "One minute you're going on about how you trust me, and then you kiss me," he stuttered and blushed before continuing on, "and then you pull my gun on me. How the hell am I supposed to understand anything that's going on right now?" Kimiko stared at him blankly and then couldn't help a laugh though she tried to stifle it. "And now you're laughing," Rai shook his head in a mix of shock and surprise as Kimiko continued to laugh, sinking to the bed and seemed to double over, her body shaking with suppressed laugher. But suddenly, Raimundo realized that she was no longer laughing but crying silently. He hesitated momentarily from going to see if she was ok, thinking that this was just like a few minutes before when he'd gone to comfort her and ended up with a gun trained at his heart.
But Raimundo couldn't keep from coming closer to her, his natural protective instinct urging him forward to comfort her. But at the same time he knew that it wasn't just his protective streak, but that he was beginning to truly care for this girl. It was only a few steps to reach the bed's edge where Kimiko sat but it seemed to take an eternity to reach her. He was just hesitantly reaching for her when Kimiko suddenly launched herself at him. For a moment Rai thought about fighting back but quickly realized that she was seeking comfort, not to attack. Even though he hadn't known Kimiko for very long Raimundo somehow knew that this was not a normal behavior for the girl that was now trembling and sobbing in his arms, wrapping her own arms around the surprised Raimundo.
After allowing himself a few seconds to compose himself Raimundo responded by wrapping his arms securely around Kimiko who only seemed to burrow deeper into him. Her cries were muffled against him and was the only noise in the room as Raimundo navigated so they were both sitting on the bed. When it seemed that her cries had subsided some Rai dared a question as his hand stroked comforting circles on her back.
"So I don't have to worry that you're going to pull a knife on me do I?" Rai asked sheepish and to his relief he heard and felt Kimiko laugh as she started to pull away from her some. Raimundo only let her go a short ways as she replied with a shaky 'no' while bringing her hand up to wipe away a few tears.
"I knew I could trust you," Kimiko said leaning back against him and making Raimundo's temperature rise a few degrees. "It was just this feeling I had."
"I trust you too Kimiko," Rai told her before he even realized what he was saying. Both seemed to catch on and Kimiko pulled back a little bit more so she could peer up into his face. Rai seemed as surprised as she did by the admission since just earlier that morning he'd told her that his trust was hard to come by. 'But,' he realized with a smile, 'it's true. I do trust her.' Rai turned this smile on her and remembered how she'd kissed him only minutes before. He'd admit that she was using it as a distraction but it was a kiss none the less and he wanted a repeat. Before he really knew he was doing it Raimundo was ducking his head to find Kimiko's lips. Kimiko was caught unaware; her head turned downwards, and was surprised to find Raimundo's lips on hers. Wide eyed Kimiko tried to instinctively pull back but one of Raimundo's hands had shifted from her back to cup the back of her head and kept her from pulling away. And, very suddenly, Kimiko found she didn't want to pull away. Instead she leaned closer, eyes fluttering shut as she found herself kissing back.
The moment Raimundo felt her kissing back his grip on her tightened and his kiss turned more aggressive. He was just beginning to tilt her back to lie on the bed when Kimiko suddenly went rigid and pulled away, breaking the kiss and pulling out of Raimundo's arms. As she stood a few feet away Rai watched Kimiko obviously try to compose herself and looked over at him with an embarrassed look on her face.
"I'm sorry," she apologized, "but"
"I get it," Raimundo broke in feeling foolish. "You can't."
"We can't," Kimiko corrected. "Our sole focus should be on getting my father and Amelia back. We can't," she paused as she choose her words, "have distractions right now." Somehow how Kimiko had said 'distractions' stung Raimundo and it was all he could do to keep from flinching. Kimiko seemed to sense that he was upset and felt awful for acting so inappropriately. But…he had kissed her.
'But you initiated everything by kissing him before, even if it was a much different kiss,' Kimiko thought and looked at Raimundo who was staring hard at the floor.
"Rai, I," Kimiko started to say but Rai cut her off as he stood suddenly.
"Its fine Kimiko," he said looking at her but past her all at once. "Its cool, we're cool," he assured her. "I mean, you trust me and I trust you. That's all we need, right?"
"I guess," Kimiko admitted begrudgingly but not liking it.
"Then we're all set," Rai said still not looking at her and Kimiko tried hard to resist the urge to hit him. Unfortunately she didn't succeed. "Ouch! What was that for?" Rai exclaimed rubbing his shoulder where Kimiko had punched him solidly in the shoulder.
"For being an idiot!" Kimiko snapped looking ready to hit him again.
"How am I being an idiot?" Rai said jumping up from the bed.
"Don't act like some disappointed spoiled child just because I have more focus than you do," Kimiko told him, fighting to keep her voice from getting any louder.
"You are the craziest woman I've ever met in my whole life and I've only known you for a couple of hours," Rai said in a frustrated tone. "I mean honestly, can you blame me?"
"Now I have no idea what you're talking about," Kimiko told him and Rai looked at her disbelieving and realized that she really did have no idea that it was all he could do from grabbing her and kissing her again. With a tiny moan Rai fell back on the bed and rubbed his closed eyes.
'Amelia,' Rai thought, 'focus on Amelia. Kimiko's focusing on her dad and probably staying true to Jermaine as well. Be like Kimiko and stay focused.' Feeling the bed shift Raimundo opened his eyes and saw Kimiko sitting next to him on the bed.
"I think," Kimiko said slowly as she focused on her hands, "if it were any other situation…" She trailed off but Raimundo could understand what she was really saying. 'If our loved ones weren't kidnapped by a crazed crime organization and I wasn't dating and living with someone for the past four years and we'd met under normal circumstances then maybe we could like one another.'
Rai sighed and sat up, looking over at her. Before he could help himself he gave her a platonic kiss on the cheek.
"I get it, its ok," Rai told her though the second part was a complete lie.
"Really?" Kimiko asked.
"Really," Rai confirmed and stood up. "Now we've got two options. Option one- I go and find and kill Jack. Option two- we work out the clue and save the Jack beating for later." Kimiko laughed and it made Raimundo feel better.
"I think we better go to option two," Kimiko told him. "I'll help you with the Jack thing later."
"Sounds like a plan," he grabbed Kimiko's bag and pulled not only her PDA out but some of the snacks he'd packed in there previously. He handed Kimiko the PDA and opened a granola bar, breaking it in two and handing half to Kimiko. She thanked him but didn't eat it just seemed to be focus on the screen. "That bad?" Rai asked after swallowing a bite.
"See for yourself," Kimiko said handing over the device and picking up a bottle of water. Rai read the new clue and understood Kimiko's frustration.
Looking out over the land that shares my name
And many times over I've shown in fame
A mix of work and play occupies my time
Though I am blind others pay to see
What those around me can show
And into the sky they would go
"Any ideas?" Kimiko asked as she watched Raimundo read and then reread the clue.
"Not one," he replied and looked over at Kimiko. "You?"
"None," Kimiko answered.
"Then we're back were we started?"
"Yup," Kimiko sighed. "Screwed."
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In a hotel room positioned just on the edge of Time Square and agitated assassin waited for her phone to ring again. Since discovering that the electronic tracker had been abandon she was at a bit of a loss as to where to go. She could continue to simply stalk her prey but she had a time limit and finding the two again would take some time. And not only that, she now had to deal with the annoyances of Chase Young's own hunters who were moving around the city as well. When she'd been approached by Wuya to take the job she'd been thrilled to have such an opportunity to test her skill. Now she was just angry that so many unseen roadblocks seemed to be springing up in her way.
'But,' she reasoned, 'it's not as if I don't enjoy that challenge.'
In fact she was anxious to get going. She'd seen the two in the Meat Packing District but hadn't pursued them though she knew they'd spotted her. She was merely making her presence know, and making a visual conformation that the two were still alive. After all she wouldn't want anyone else to get to them before she did. She knew that Tubbimura and Vlad weren't much of a threat when it came to stealth. But when it came to brute force they would be something to reckon with.
Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity her phone rang again and Katnappe hurried to answer it.
"Change of plans," Wuya told her before Katnappe even said anything.
"What?" Katnappe hissed angrily.
"Chase is up to something and I need Tohomiko as collateral so you'll bring her directly to me," Wuya commanded.
"And Pedrosa?" Katnapped asked.
"If you are able to bring him in alive do so," there was coldness in Wuya's voice as she answered, "you know I'd like the pleasure of finishing him off slowly myself. Another warning, it just came through to me that Pedrosa's partner Clay Bailey is on his way to New York. I'm sending you the stats on him but know that he is expendable."
"Fine, but how do you propose I find them without the tracker," the younger blond asked with a tiny hiss.
"You're the hunter aren't you?" Wuya asked. "So hunt them and finish it quickly." The line went dead and Katnappe hung up on her end.
"She's taking all the fun out of it," she whined to the empty room and then a wicked thought filled her mind. "Maybe I'll keep Pedrosa to myself for a while," she smiled evilly, "that could be a whole lot of fun."
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"Are you sure you're going to be alright?" Cynthia asked as they stood at the edge of private airfield used solely for helicopters so it was small enough to fit within the city limits.
"Yeah I should be," Clay said readjusting the pack flung over his shoulder. "Did I say thank you enough yet?" he asked looking over at her to find looking down on the ground. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"I'm worried about you and Tom," she sighed. "I just don't understand how he got involved in whatever Raimundo is involved with and why it concerns you?"
"That's one of the things I'm going to try to clear up by going to New York," Clay told her placing a comforting hand on her shoulder and he felt her sigh again through his hand as her shoulders rose and fell.
"Just take care of yourself," Cynthia cautioned looking over at him.
"I promise I will," Clay said squeezing her shoulder before removing his hand. "And if you do try to confront Tom be careful as well," Clay cautioned.
"Something is going on there," Cynthia said narrowing her eyes and folding her arms in front of her, "and I want to figure it all out."
"I know you do and that you care about him but you do need to be careful." He looked a little embarrassed as spoke again. "I'd feel awful if anything happened to you since you helped me out so much."
"Thanks Clay," Cynthia smiled.
"Alright," Clay said squaring his shoulders. "This is it." He walked off and called over his shoulder, "Take good care of my truck while I'm gone." Cynthia gave a small nod, smile, and a wave as Clay walked toward the waiting helicopter. When his back was turned her smile wavered and she had an awful feeling that she may never see Clay again.
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"I can't concentrate," Raimundo complained as he lay back on the bed, his knees bent over the edge. "I'm too distracted."
"Well I'm fresh out Ritalin so you'll just have to deal," Kimiko said from where she sat with her back to the headboard.
"I'm too busy thinking of ways to kill Jack," Rai lied. Well, he was thinking up ways to torture Jack but that wasn't his main distraction. He wanted to think on the clue but he kept replaying the kiss he'd given to Kimiko over and over in his head. Kimiko had apparently been right about distractions because he couldn't get her out of his head. It didn't help that she was in such close vicinity and that despite the fact that she had told him to back off he was still having various visions of her that often involved the bed they were on, with a lot less clothing and much more motion.
"I need some air," Raimundo said sitting up suddenly.
"I'll go with you," Kimiko offered standing up and stretching so that her tank top pulled up to show Raimundo a nice view of her flat but toned stomach.
"No," Rai said in a hurried voice that surprised Kimiko. "I just need a minute or two," Rai explained. "You stay in here." Kimiko looked at him curiously but nodded and let him leave without anymore protest and Raimundo was grateful for that. He took the stairs because the elevator was annoying slowly and stopped in the tiny convenience store in the hotel lobby and bought a pack of cigarettes. It was a habit he had kicked after leaving college but he never felt the need for a cigarette more than now. Moving to the side walk Raimundo bummed a light off someone passing by and took a long drag as soon as it lit. Leaning against a building Rai scanned the area for any sense of danger but found no sign of Vlad, Tubbimaru, or the still unknown hunter. But even with the noise of the city all around him and the calming effect of the cancer stick in his hand Raimundo couldn't get Kimiko or their situation out of his head.
"Fuck," he whispered and tossed the spent cigarette down and pulled out a fresh one. "Why'd she have to be a good kisser?" he asked the air around him. He didn't get an answer, nor did he expect one. Instead he looked around again, eyes scanning over various stores and tourist stands but nothing really jumped out and caught his attention. He decided that was probably best in the end since no news was good news in this instance. His mind wandered to Amelia and he felt a hollow pit form in his stomach at the thought of his youngest sister. Kimiko was right he decided, there couldn't be distractions right now, even if his distraction was incredibly pretty, a great kisser, and had a body to die for.
"I need a drink," Rai groaned and sank to sit on the balls of his feet and hung his head to study the sidewalk. He hadn't been balancing there for more than a minute when someone giving a suggestive cough caught his attention. Rai looked up and saw a boy, no more then nineteen years old looking frazzled and a bit nervous.
"Umm I'm sorry sir but is there anyway you could, um, move?" he asked in a voice that sounded like it hadn't made it through puberty very well.
"What? Why?" Rai asked angry as he rose up and towered over the other boy.
"We're ah, we're getting ready to shoot a scene here and we need to get set up and," the boy, apparently some sort of lackey for a movie being filmed, tried to explain but Rai waved him off and walked away without another word. He was about to walk back into the hotel when he paused for a moment and glanced back out on the street he'd been on. Sure enough there did seem to be some sort of set up for filming and a small crowd was forming near the end of the street.
"What's going on?" a voice asked next to him and a middle aged, obviously tourist couple appeared in his line of vision.
"I guess they're shooting some scene for a movie or something," Rai shrugged honestly not interested.
"Ohh," the woman squealed. "Anyone famous?"
"No idea," Rai shrugged and turned back into the hotel and even before the sliding doors had shut back behind him an idea struck and he was off at a sprint. Rai climbed the stairs at amazing speed, skipping steps and nearly bowled over a group of giggling teenagers going the opposite direction. When he finally made it to the fifth floor Rai fumbled with his key card and was about to just kick the door in when Kimiko wrenched it open for him.
"What's wrong?" she asked with worried creases forming around her eyes.
"Nothing," Rai said catching his breath and pushing past her into the room. "Come on," he urged collecting their things.
"What's going on?" Kimiko asked not moving.
"I think I got it, I think I've figured out the clue," Rai told her grinning at her.
"What? How?" Kimiko asked with a happy smile.
"A very lucky turn of events," Rai told her and explained about the movie filming outside.
"I'm already lost," Kimiko admitted.
"Well if I threw in that there was a souvenir shop outside would that help?" Rai asked handing over her bag that was considerably lighter due to the lack of snacks and laptop.
"Still not putting the pieces together," Kimiko told him and grabbed his arm. "Tell me," she pleaded.
"Actually we should probably double check before we go running off," Rai admitted. "Let me see your PDA," he asked and Kimiko handed it over without a second thought.
"What cha doing?" Kimiko asked looking over his shoulder at the screen after he sat on the bed. "What are you looking up?"
"Hold your horses," Rai cautioned at the search engine spit out results. "Yup, over ninety movies and even more commercials and of course it share's the name of the state's nickname."
"Please explain," Kimiko asked.
"Never learned your state trivia in school?" Rai teased.
"I went to school in Japan until college and fun facts about US states wasn't really a part of the curriculum," Kimiko said dryly.
"Well each state has an official nickname, you know for license plates and all that crap," Rai told her.
"Oh of course," Kimiko said with a roll of her eyes.
"Well New York's is the Empire State," Rai grinned and saw her eyes light up.
"Looking over the land that shares my name," Kimiko repeated the clue, "and many times I've shown my fame. It all fits! The Empire State Building! Why didn't I see it before? It was so obvious."
"Well that's why there are two of us," Rai told her standing up off the bed. "You ready?" he asked extending a hand and to his immense joy Kimiko didn't' hesitate once in taking it.
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"I hate heights," Kimiko said with a gulp.
"You don't like being below ground and you don't like heights," Rai said enjoying the way she was clinging to his arm, with her arms literally wrapped around his as they rode the elevator up to the top observation deck.
"There's nothing wrong with liking to be on a normal level," Kimiko told him. "And heights don't really bother, its extreme, one hundred two stories high that bother me." Rai couldn't help but laugh.
"Its ok," he told her ignoring the look the tourists that shared the elevator were giving the pair. "It'll be ok and you can hold my hand if you want but I am going to need my arm back eventually."
"Oh," was all Kimiko said as she let go of his arm with an embarrassed apology. Rai just smiled again and took her hand as the elevator came to a stop with a 'ding'. The two fought their way out of the tour group they had rode up with and emerged on the windy observation deck, completely in closed so that no one would throw anything, or anybody, over the edge.
"Ok, so man with all of the answers," Kimiko said holding tight to Raimundo's hand, "what's next?"
"I think," Rai said glancing around, "well no, I actually have no real idea anymore." He looked over at her. "Any contributions?"
"I can't really think at the moment," Kimiko admitted, "too busy trying not to fall down."
"Are you going to be ok?" Rai asked concerned.
"Yeah," Kimiko laughed, "vertigo." Rai also laughed remembering her excuse for stumbling after jumping off the subway platform.
"Ok, ok," Rai said bringing them forward toward the edge and Kimiko's grip on him tightened. "Come on Kimiko," Rai tried to comfort her, "it really is pretty. Take a look." Kimiko took a breath, that Rai could feel because she had pressed her face into his should to avoid looking down, and looking out at the landscape.
"Wow," she breathed looking out as the towered over the landscape. Since the Twin Towers had fallen the Empire State Building had become the tallest building in New York and so there was an unobstructed view as far as the eye could see. "This is my first time up here."
"I would never had guessed, "Rai said sarcastically and Kimiko poked him in the side.
"Excuse me," a voice asked from behind causing Kimiko and Raimundo to turn and see a large woman with a very heavy Southern accent standing behind them. "Are you using that?" she asked indicating to the coin operated viewer that Rai and Kimiko were standing in front of.
"Oh no, sorry," Kimiko apologized as she and Raimundo stepped off to the side.
"Its no trouble at all dear," she assured with a smile, "it's just that so many of these things are busted that you gotta grab what you can." Kimiko didn't bother to respond but dragged Rai away and whispered excitedly in his ear.
"Paying to see! Being blind! Whatever we are looking for is somewhere near one of the broken viewfinders!" Rai blinked and then smiled.
"Lets divide and conquer," he suggested looking around and settling on one of the out of service machines. "We'll start here and work out way around. Look around for anything that might be what weren't looking for."
"Most likely a box," Kimiko reasoned as Rai tried to discreetly check over the machine. Rai nodded and the two went separate directions. Rai didn't encounter many out of work viewers but caught a few looks when he did inspect the ones he'd found. He saw Kimiko a few viewers down looking over one of the broken machines and there was only one more broken machine between them. Trying to remain as inconspicuous as possibly Rai move to the last untouched machine and stuck a tentative hand under the 'out of service' bag covering it. He almost gasped in surprise when he felt the outline of box tapped to the front and quickly pulled it away. Out of the corner of his eye he saw someone speaking to one of the security guards that patrolled the building and was pointing in Raimundo's direction. Moving quickly, Rai met Kimiko who was coming to meet him and turned her around without breaking stride.
"We need to get to the elevators," he told her.
"But what about the clue?" Kimiko asked.
"I've got it but someone talked to the guards about us," Rai told her as he shoved his way the front of the line of the elevator. "Sorry," he apologized when someone started to verbally object, "but my girlfriend really isn't feeling good." Kimiko took her cue and clung to Raimundo, making a small whimpering noise. The crowd seemed to soften at this and no one objected when they slipped onto the elevator. Both waited for the doors to close with anticipation and saw the security guard moving toward them. Kimiko ducked her head down and shoved Rai back further so as not to be seen and the doors thankfully closed without incident.
"When we get to the ground floor," Rai whispered in her ear, "stay close to a tour group." Since September eleventh people had become so much more observant of things and even Rai could admit that their behavior was strange enough to warrant some sort of concern. Kimiko nodded and then surprised him by reaching up and pulling her ponytails out. Waves of black hair fell down around her face and Rai caught the scent of Casablanca off of her for the second time that day.
"That makes me a little less noticeable," Kimiko whispered, "don't cha think?" Rai nodded and swallowed a lump in his throat, not wanting to tell her that her long, almost shinning, ebony locks would probably catch more attention from the opposite sex than her previous hair style. An image flashed in Raimundo's head of a sleepy eyed Kimiko smiling at him with her hair down and messed around her face. That might not have been so bad if the image in his head didn't involve his bedroom back in his townhouse in DC.
'No distractions,' Rai chanted in his head. 'Think of anything else. Think baseball, think soccer, think video games, think anything!'
"Here Rai," Kimiko whispered, "Give me the box." Rai handed it over to her, trying not to touch her but it was nearly impossible in the crowded elevator. If Kimiko noticed his discomfort she didn't say anything and simply slipped the thin box into her bag. Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity the elevator came to stop on the ground floor and just as he told her to do Kimiko did her best to blend in with tour group, holding tight to Riamundo's hand so they wouldn't be separated. They made it out off the elaborate lobby with no incident despite the fact that there was a growing crowd of security guards discussing something. Once they were outside Kimiko continued on, walking quickly for two blocks before finally coming to a stop.
"That was close," she breathed heavily, finally letting go of Raimundo's hand and putting it to her chest, silently thinking that the pace of her walk was only half of what was making her heart race.
"Yeah," Rai agreed and dragged her into the nondescript pizza shop they'd stopped near. He left Kimiko to find a booth and went to the counter to order something. Kimiko motioned to Raimundo that she was going to use the restroom and when she came back out, hair pulled back neatly in a single ponytail on the back of her head, Rai had already started in on his slice of pizza.
"All this junk food," Kimiko muttered, "you're going to get me fat." Rai just shrugged and took another bite of the greasy pizza loaded with various different types of meat. Kimiko's was plain cheese and for that she was grateful and took a tentative bite, deciding that it wasn't the best she'd ever had but certainly not the worst. After another bite she put the pizza down and reached into her bag. Raimundo had started on a second piece when Kimiko set the box on the table. "Where do you put it all? And how can you have an appetite all the time?"
"One of the advantages of being a guy," Rai replied and earned an eye roll from Kimiko as she popped the top of the box and both looked inside.
"It's a comb….cute," Rai said slowly and Kimiko seemed unimpressed.
"These are getting weirder and weirder," Kimiko shook her head and turned the comb over in her hands, running her fingers down the teeth of the comb and the across it curved back.
"Anything on the PDA?" Rai asked after a swallow of soda. Kimiko pulled the little handheld out and checked their website. Sure enough there was a new link that lead them to another address and then a seemingly random array of letters, numbers, and this time a decimal point.
"Hey, I know this address," Kimiko realized.
"What is it?" Rai asked.
"It's a library on the NYU campus," she said softly, her eyes narrowing with worry.
"I'm sure it's alright Kimiko," Rai said recognizing her worry. "Come on," he said jerking his head towards the door, "let's get going."
"No, its ok," Kimiko argued, "finish your pizza."
"We're working on a tight schedule," Rai told her standing up out of the booth. "Pizza can wait," he added with a smile that Kimiko returned as he followed him out of the door.
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After a mostly silently ride on the subway Kimiko and Raimundo made their way to a library on the NYU campus just off of Washington Square Park. Rai followed her, know she was in her element at the moment and enjoying every second of it.
"I spent a lot of time in this library as an undergrad," Kimiko told Rai as they moved down the street toward the library. Many coeds that would have turned Rai's head in the past went unnoticed as he listened to Kimiko talk and smiled with how confidently she weaved in and out of the campus traffic.
"What about now that you as a grad student?" Rai asked as they ascended a set of stone steps that led to the library. "I remember you saying that you graduated with degrees in American and British Lit as well as world history. So what are you focusing on now?"
"Umm," Kimiko answered uneasily as she fished her school ID from her wallet just in case they might need it and slipped it into her back pocket. "I haven't exactly decided on one yet," Kimiko admitted as Rai held the door open for her.
"Really?" Rai asked surprised. "I thought that was one of those things that you decided before you became a grad student."
"Well I'm lucky that one of my professors is taking mercy on me and including me in a research project that he's doing so I won't have to reapply once I do decide."
"What are you thinking about?"
"We don't have time to go over the list," Kimiko sighed heavily.
"I'm not an expert on this or anything but shouldn't you have decided that ages ago?" Rai asked rubbing the back of his head.
"Ughh, you sound like Jermaine," Kimiko complained as she made her way to the electronic card catalog to look up what they'd realized on the way over was a call number for a book. Because she had her back turned she missed the pang of jealousy streak across Raimundo's face momentarily. "Jermaine hung out in this library a lot too," Kimiko went on as she waited for the program to load, "even though we weren't really the same major. He took American Lit as a minor because he thought it would help when he went to grad school to work on recent American history stuff." Raimundo didn't say anything, just moved closer to her, planting a hand near where hers rested near the computer's keyboard and nearly leaned over her to see the screen. He wouldn't admit it but subconsciously he knew it was his way of saying 'well I'm here now so focus on me.' And he could tell as Kimiko's faced turned slightly pink that he was causing the desired to effect.
'Distraction,' the word rang out in Rai's head like a gong followed by the word, 'taken.'
"Here we go," Kimiko said when her information pulled up on the screen. "Its up on the third floor back in the archives."
"Lead on," Rai said as he stepped back watching Kimiko nod and lead him to a flight of stairs in the back corner.
"This should take us right back into the stacks," Kimiko said as they climbed.
"I thought you said we were going to the archives?" Rai asked confused.
"It's just another name for it," Kimiko shrugged. "It's supposedly where people meet to, ahhh, relieve academic stress."
"So it's a place where people come to make out in the library," Rai said deadpan.
"Ahh, yeah," Kimiko agreed.
"Kinda gives new meaning to the words 'study break' doesn't it?" Rai asked with a grin as they reached the third floor.
"Pervert," Kimiko muttered.
"What? Never bring your boyfriend up here?" Rai asked hating himself immediately for it, not liking the image it put in his head.
"Eww, no!" Kimiko practically squeal, much to Rai's relief. Kimiko stepped forward to study the faded paint that marked the book shelves to tell people where to go. "This way," Kimiko motioned them to the left and they walked a short ways before Kimiko paused and ducked down one stack of books, Rai following silently behind. "I think this is the place," Kimiko said stopping to stare at the shelf in front of her. There was a fine layer of dust settled on the wood and over the books which showed that they hadn't been touch in a good while and that made Kimiko shudder slightly. Rai noticed this and questioned her on it. "These books haven't been touch in a while," Kimiko told him and Rai nodded in agreement having noticed that as well. "The amount of time and planning that must have gone into all of this," Kimiko shook her head as she trailed off. Rai sent her a comforting smile and reached for their desired book, pulling it off the shelf.
"So do you think that we leave the comb in its place or whoa," Rai said when the full weight of the book hit his hand.
"What?" Kimiko asked surprised at his reaction. Rai didn't answer but instead studied the book that looked absolutely normal though he now noticed that it title was so badly faded that it was unreadable, but probably no one would noticed with it shoved back in the archives. It looked as it must be at least four hundred to five hundred pages long but weight practically nothing in his hands.
"Feel this," Rai said handing the book over to her.
"That's strange," Kimiko said as she too weighted the book and then opened the cover. "Well, that could be the reason why," Kimiko said dryly as she showed the book had been hollowed out in the middle, leaving a nice whole that would certainly fit the comb inside and no one would be the wiser.
"I guess we should just leave it like the others," Rai finally said reaching into Kimiko's bag and pulled out the box that held their newest item. Sighing he took it out of the box and placed it into the hollowed out book before shutting it and replacing it on the self. Both watched it, as if expecting something to happen but as usual nothing did. Rai sighed, wrapped his arm around Kimiko's shoulder and directed them back toward the stairs.
"Wanna stay in here for a little while as they walked down the stairs?" Kimiko asked once they were back on the ground level. "Air conditioned, lots of people, and a ton of resources at our disposal? We could try to work out the new clue here."
"Sounds good," Rai agreed after a moment of consideration as he let Kimiko lead them to a cluster of empty desks, his arm still draped across her shoulders. They hadn't taken more than a few steps when some one called out Kimiko's name in a questioning manner. Spinning around Kimiko broke from Raimundo's hold on her and Rai saw a smile blossom on her voice like he had never seen.
"Jermaine!" Kimiko greeted happily and Raimundo looked away just as the two went to embrace. A heavy rush of painful jealousy and disappointment coursed through his system as he tried not to let it show on his face. After a calming breath he looked back over at the two, now separating from their hug, and who knew what else. Rai tried not to envision it as he watched Jermaine grin back at Kimiko.
"Well that was quite a greeting," Jermaine told her as Kimiko continued to beam.
"Well I'm just happy to see you," Kimiko told him.
"And here I thought after my early wake up call you'd never speak to me again," Jermaine said sheepishly. Kimiko remembered earlier in the day how she had been annoyed at Jermaine but that seemed to be so far away. Then she remembered Raimundo and turned to see him staring off in the other direction with a dark expression on her face. Confused she stepped away from Jermaine and closer to Raimundo.
"Jermaine, this is a new friend of mine, Raimundo Pedrosa," Kimiko said touching Rai's arm to gain his attention. "Rai this is Jermaine," she went on with the introduction. Rai looked somewhat reluctantly back and tried to put on an indifferent face as he extended a hand to Jermaine.
"Nice to meet you," Rai told him in a level even voice with just a hint of pleasantry that Kimiko unfortunately noticed and elbowed him lightly in the side.
"Same here," Jermaine said looking slightly puzzled and Rai couldn't blame him. If he had a girlfriend liked Kimiko and she showed up with a random new guy he'd be a bit apprehensive as well. "So yeah, what brings you two to the library? Finally decide on an area of study?" Jermaine asked the last part cheekily.
"No," Kimiko grumbled out, "and I thought I'd just so Raimundo around." Jermaine nodded but looked skeptically at both of them.
"I'm going to use the restroom," Raimundo lied deciding to give Kimiko and Jermaine some privacy for the moment.
"Right over there," Kimiko said pointing back near the stairs. Rai nodded and resisted the urge to give Kimiko a kiss on the cheek as he left. As soon as he was out of sight Rai doubled back to listen to what Kimiko and Jermaine, who had gone to talk between two rows of shelves, where saying.
"I just met him this morning," Kimiko was saying when Raimundo reached where she and Jermaine were standing. Rai peeked through the books he was hiding behind and saw the back of Kimiko's head as she leaned against the shelf Rai was on the other side of. Jermaine looked unconvinced.
"Huh?" was all he said.
"Really, I was in the grocery store getting the orange juice you so desperately wanted, and we got to talking. He's, he's transferring next semester to the law school and is taking this time to acclimate to the city. I just thought I'd show him around."
"Nice try Kimiko," Jermaine told her, "but we've known each other long enough that I can tell you are lying."
"Am not," Kimiko argued back unconvincingly.
"I'm just worried is all," Jermaine frowned. "Is something wrong?"
"No, not really," Kimiko tried to wave it off but Jermaine just shook his head.
"Whatever," he muttered looking somewhat annoyed. "Listen," he went on changing tactics, "you never messaged me back earlier. Let's go out to dinner tonight. We can go to that Thai place you like and, why are you shaking your head?"
"Sorry Jermaine," Kimiko apologized, "but I can't tonight. In fact I'm not even sure if I'll be back to he apartment tonight, just so you don't worry." Jermaine's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?" Jermaine asked confused. "Is everything ok?"
"Its just a little crazy right now, and I'm showing Raimundo around and," Kimiko tried to wave off but Jermaine cut her off.
"What does this Raimundo guy have anything to do with it?" he asked. "What are you doing with him that would keep you out all night?"
"It's a complicated right now Jermaine," Kimiko snapped back, "I'm just asking you to be understanding right now."
"I just want to make sure you're ok," Jermaine said sounding concerned. "You're acting strange and I don't know who this Raimundo guy is that you're suddenly hanging out with."
"Raimundo's a really good guy," Kimiko assured him and Raimundo smiled from his hiding space. "You don't need to worry about me there," Kimiko went on and Raimundo frowned at that hearing Kimiko lie since they had already kissed and Rai knew that if Kimiko ever gave any indication that she wanted him like he wanted her that he wouldn't hesitate. Jermaine said something else that Raimundo couldn't hear so he decided to break into their conversation. Moving to the end of the book row he peeked around like he was looking for something.
"Oh there you are Kimiko," he said sounding relieved. "I thought you ran off on me for a second."
"No," Kimiko shook her head. "Are you ready to go?"
"I thought we were going to hang out here for a little while?" Rai asked confused.
"Yeah well," Kimiko trailed off glaring at Jermaine.
"Hey, don't be angry at me," Jermaine told her not acknowledging Raimundo.
"I'm not," Kimiko snapped, "more like frustrated."
"Kimiko," Jermaine started to protest but Raimundo cut in.
"Kimiko, can I talk to in private for a second?" he asked earning surprised looks from both Jermaine and Kimiko.
"Sure," Kimiko said reading a sense of urgency in Raimundo's eyes.
"Hang on a second Kimiko," Jermaine said suddenly but Kimiko moved on.
"I'll be right back Jermaine," she told him glancing over her shoulder as she and Raimundo walked out of hearing rang, and into another row of books. "What's up Rai?" Kimiko asked when Raimundo stopped.
"I think you should tell Jermaine what's going on," Rai told her and Kimiko was too shocked to speak for a moment or two after he spoke.
"Are you crazy?" Kimiko practically hissed. "That's totally against the rules!"
"Screw the rules," Raimundo told her. "We need to get some insurance here."
"What do you mean?" Kimiko asked confused.
"If anything happens to either of us," Rai told her, "God forbid, but if it does then someone needs to know what was really going on."
"But, getting Jermaine involved," Kimiko shook her head, "him in danger and us in more danger."
"Don't you want him to know though?" Rai asked. "You don't like lying to him do you?"
"No but," Kimiko trailed off and Raimundo could tell she was thoroughly conflicted.
"Let's try this," Raimundo suggested. "We'll make copies of everything we have so far and write up a written statement about what's going on. And we'll seal it in a new envelope and tell Jermaine to open it if anything happens to us." Kimiko chewed on her bottom lip but nodded anyway. She pulled the strap of her bag over her head and handed it over to Raimundo.
"Everything is in there," Kimiko told him and also fished out her ID from her back pocket. "Swipe this through the copy machine and you won't have to pay," Kimiko explained. "I'll keep my PDA and hook it up to a computer and print out copies of the webpage while I talk to Jermaine."
"Let me do the web pages too," Rai insisted. "We don't want to show him too much." Kimiko nodded in agreement as they separated, Rai off in the direction of the copier directed him to and Kimiko back to Jermaine. It only took Rai a few minutes to do everything but he didn't have a password to get onto one of the school's computer so he went in search of Kimiko and found her and Jermaine sitting next to one another at a table. Upon seeing Raimundo Jermaine stood suddenly looking angry.
"What have you gotten her into," he snapped angrily at Raimundo who just stood unflinchingly and emotionless as Jermaine bore down on him.
"Enough Jermaine," Kimiko said physically getting in between the two.
"Kimiko I don't like this at all," Jermaine told her sternly.
"Well then it's a good thing that its got nothing to do with you," Kimiko bit back before turning to Raimundo. "Come on Rai," she told him, "we're going."
"Hang on a second," Rai cautioned catching her arm as she tried to move away. "I thought we agreed on this."
"He's being too much of an ass to trust at the moment," Kimiko snapped pulling her arm from him. "We'll mail it to your friend Omi or something like that if you're that concerned about it."
"Kimiko I'm sorry," Jermaine tried to apologize but Kimiko looked unconvinced. "You know I'm just worried about you," he added.
"I know," Kimiko sighed. "But you need to trust me on this Jermaine. And you need to do me a favor." She reached for the envelope Rai had retrieved from the front desk to put the copied papers in and Raimundo handed it over willingly. "You need to hang on to his and," she pause and then looked at him straight in the eyes, "if anything happens to me then you need to open it and then you can decide what to do from there."
"You're really scaring me Kimiko," Jermaine said not immediately taking the envelope.
"I'm sorry, but please do this for me," Kimiko pleaded and Jermaine reluctantly took the envelope.
"I will be so pissed at you if I ever have to open this envelope," Jermaine told her and Kimiko cracked a smile.
"Me too," she agreed and looked back at Raimundo.
"We do need to get going," he said slightly reluctantly not liking being in the same place for too long. Kimiko nodded in agreement.
"I'll talk to you later Jermaine," Kimiko told him stepping forward and hugging Jermaine tightly, Jermaine returning the hug with equal fervor. Again Raimundo looked away and thanked every God he could think of for it. Moving quickly Rai shoved both Kimiko and Jermaine down as the first shots rang out. The three scrambled under the nearby table and a quick assessment told Raimundo that all three were unscathed. There was a pause in the gunfire and Raimundo's hand closed around Kimiko's upper arm.
"We have to move," he whispered to her. Kimiko gave a small whimper but nodded and moved to go with him but Jermaine stopped her with his hand on her other arm.
"Are you crazy?" he hissed.
"We're the ones she's after," Kimiko explained, "we'll lead her away."
"She? She who?" Jermaine asked.
"Trust me," Kimiko pleaded and Jermaine reluctantly let her go with a plea for her to be careful before looking hard at Raimundo.
"Take care of her," Jermaine ordered him in a harsh voice. Rai gave a curt nod and pulled Kimiko closer to him.
"Stay low," he cautioned her. He'd quickly formulated a plan while Kimiko and Jermaine argued, "and head for that row of books." Kimiko nodded. "Now," Rai whispered and they practically dove across the short expanse from under the table to the row of books. There was another volley of shots but Raimundo kept them both moving until they hit the back wall and Rai sprinted with Kimiko in tow towards the stairs he knew were tucked in the corner. He would have like to have stood his ground, faced the assassin at their heels but the library was too full of innocent bystanders for him to risk anything, especially not Kimiko.
"Please tell me there is an exit in this stairwell," Rai said once they burst through the doorway to the stairs.
"Down, downstairs," Kimiko said in a shaky voice. Rai took charge and grabbed her to help her down the stairs. Sure enough as they reached the basement Rai saw the illuminated sign directing them to the exit. They burst through what turned out to be fire exit, setting off an alarm that would trip off campus security, the police, and fire department if they weren't already aware. After a quick scan of the area Rai pulled Kimiko off down a side street and then located the nearest subway and hopped a the first train he came to. Kimiko let him lead her through all of this but as soon as the train started to move she collapsed against him on seat.
"I'm shaking," she whispered. Rai closed his hands around her shaking hands and Kimiko calmed slightly.
"It's the adrenaline," Rai explained to her.
"Then why aren't you shaking?" she asked as her trembles started to subside.
"I've just gotten used to it over the years," Rai told her looking down at their hands. "Its part of the training, you learn to control it."
"Care to give me a crash course?" Kimiko asked in a shaky laugh.
"You're already a natural that you can still be functioning," Rai told her. "You're amazing." In spite of the situation Kimiko blush at his words and looked over at him and found their faces very close together. Kimiko knew she wanted to kiss him but fought the urge and instead settled for leaning her head on his shoulder.
"Do you think that Jermaine is ok?" Kimiko asked.
"Yeah," Rai said confidently. "She wasn't aiming for anyone else except for us."
"I don't know what I would do if anything happened to Jermaine," Kimiko said in a worried tone. Rai swallowed hard.
"Like I said, they're only looking for us," Rai repeated. "But if you get the opportunity to, maybe you should call him later and tell him to lay low. If they delivered that stuff to your apartment than they know that you're living together and that he's your boyfriend. Maybe he shouldn't go back to your apart," Rai stopped when Kimiko shot up and looked at him strangely.
"What did you just say?" Kimiko asked surprised.
"That Jermaine should lay low because they know you two are together," Rai said slowly looking at her with curiosity.
"You said Jermaine's my boyfriend," Kimiko told him. "What ever made you think that?"
"But, you two," Rai trailed off.
"Are friends," Kimiko finished the sentence for him. "Maybe best friends, but just friends."
"But you live together!" Rai argued.
"In separate bedrooms and because Jermaine sot a great deal on the place," Kimiko answered.
"You said you two were close," Rai went one, "that you hit it off after your freshman roommate and he broke up."
"As friends! Rai!" Kimiko shook her head with a laugh. "You thought this whole time that me and Jermaine were together this whole time?"
"Can you blame me?" Rai asked as his face lit up with an embarrassed blush. "The way you were going on about him," Rai was saying as Kimiko broke in.
"Was about a good friend," Kimiko smiled and then laughed shoving as his shoulder. "I can't believe that you thought that. Jermaine and I together, oh man that's a laugh. I can't imagine ever thinking of Jermaine like that." Rai didn't respond, just stared straight at the wall opposite of him. "Ahh come on," Kimiko said poking him in the shoulder. "What's wrong?"
"No good," Rai muttered in response.
"What's not?" Kimiko asked confused.
"Just trust me on this Kimiko," Raimundo insisted still not looking at her.
"Rai," Kimiko started to say but the train was pulling a stop and Raimundo was standing and walking to wait at the door. Kimiko followed him silently. A few people got off the train and they automatically moved toward the stairs but Raimundo stayed still. Kimiko stood next to him nervously wondering what was wrong with him.
"Rai?" Kimiko prodded when she realized they were alone on the platform. "We should go, find a place to check out the new clue and then," she stopped when Raimundo turned to look at her and her breath caught in her throat at the intensity of the stare. She opened her mouth to say his name again but let out a small cry of surprise when Raimundo suddenly grabbed her shoulders and shoved her back until she slammed into the pillar behind her. His mouth was on her as soon as her back was to the pillar, his lips hard and demanding on hers.
Kimiko struggled against him for a moment but Rai was determined and Kimiko couldn't help but respond to him after a second. As soon as she started to kiss him back Raimundo's kiss became softer but no less intense as his hands slipped from her shoulders to wrap around her waist and draw her to him, away from the cement pillar he'd trapped her against. When he finally broke the kiss Kimiko gasped lightly for air and Rai looked down at her with hooded eyes that did nothing to hide the desire he felt for her.
"This is no good," Rai repeated what he said on the subway. "You said we couldn't have distractions but you don't seem to get that you are distraction incarnate. The only thing holding me back was the fact that I thought you had a serious boyfriend and now that I know you don't…" he trailed off but Kimiko could guess the gist of it. Before Kimiko could process anything else Raimundo was kissing her again and making her protests very hard to formulate, let alone voice them. "Do you get it now?" Rai asked her when he broke the second kiss. Kimiko blinked lazily at his question.
"I think so," Kimiko said slowly, fully away of the fact that his arms were still around her waist pressed closed to him.
"So," Rai said fighting the urge to kiss her again, "what do you suggest we do about this?"
"I think that's for you to deal with," Kimiko said after a moment. "I'm not the one with issues with control."
"I can change that," Raimundo said mischievously as he ducked his head and kissed what he knew to be a sensitive spot on the majority of women's necks and sure enough Kimiko's breath hitched.
"Rai," Kimiko said breathily.
"Hmm?" he murmured into her skin.
"What I said before doesn't change just because I don't have a boyfriend," she told him and her words were like ice water coming down over him. "We can't do this right now," she went on as she felt him pull away, "not until our families are safe." He knew she was right but he didn't want to admit it because he was liking having her in his arms and getting to kiss her.
"You're right," he agreed and pulled completely away and looking at her with regretful eyes. "I hate the fact that you're right." Kimiko looked away, unable to not look at him without feeling embarrassed and Raimundo could tell. "Please don't let the fact that I'm an idiot change anything," Rai told her. "I'm really sorry about, what happened."
"Don't be," Kimiko immediately told him looking back at him and their eyes locked. Rai smiled at her and Kimiko returned the smile.
"I promise," he told her, "that I will restrain myself better from now on."
"Ok," Kimiko said softly with an equally soft smile.
"But," Rai went on with a coy little smirk, "that gives me something to look forward to, a time when we can afford distractions." Kimiko blushed again thinking she liked the idea of that but didn't voice it. Rai took her hand again but this time it obviously was for something more than security and Kimiko couldn't help the shiver that ran up her spine.
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Thats it for now!! Please read and review!!!