Chapter Thirteen ladies and gentleman!! And I was looking over some notes I had for this story and just realized that it's a little more than half over, seems a bit crazy doesn't it?
Anyway, I'm currently working on two major one-shots at the moment. I say one-shot for lack of a better term. Both will be at least two chapters long. One of them is going to be decided by you lovely people but more info on that later. Alright. Its 2am in Japan and I'm wide awake. No that's no good. Alright, enjoy, read, review. Thanks a bunch!
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When it was Amelia that crawled out of the air duct that Kimiko had disappeared into Raimundo wasn't sure how to react. A mixture of joy, surprise, relief, and worry filled him as the nine year old literally fell in to his arms. He was beyond ecstatic that she was safe, at least for the moment, and back with him but he couldn't help wonder about Kimiko. Taking them both off of the hood of the car Rai gently pulled her away from the death grip hug she had on him but she held tight, starting to cry uncontrollably.
"Amelia, Amelia," he said trying to get her to calm down. "Did they hurt you? Are you ok?"
"I'm ok," Amelia managed out in a shaky voice as she finally pulled back.
"Where's Kimiko? Where's the woman that helped you?" Rai asked.
"She couldn't get back in," Amelia told him. "She stayed behind. I heard a noise before I left; I think someone came in the room." Rai swore and tried to think straight but Amelia grabbed his arms tightly in her small hands. "You have to help her, they have her dad too."
"Did you see her dad? Is he still there?" Raimundo asked. Amelia nodded and shook her head to each question respectfully.
"He was there, he took care of me but they took him away a little while ago. We've gotta help them!"
"You're staying here," Rai ordered and Amelia looked indignant.
"I can help!" she insisted when Rai stood and towered over her.
"I need to know you're safe Amelia so you are going to stay locked in this car, is that understood?" The girl looked like she wanted to argue but relented when her logical mind reminded her that every second they waited here the more trouble that Toshiro's daughter could be getting in. Nodding reluctantly Amelia climbed into the front seat while Raimundo started the car up and reserved back under the trees for more coverage. "Stay," he ordered again as he was getting ready to leave.
"I knew you'd come," Amelia said suddenly catching Raimundo's attention. "So be careful and come back again," she added and Raimundo nodded and smiled before leaning over and giving her another hug.
"I will," he promised and then was gone and Amelia obediently locked the doors after him and tried not to cry or give into the fear that he may not come back.
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Kimiko was doing her best to keep her face blank, even disinterested as she sat tied to a chair, flanked on either side by the men in the black and white suites, both of which were supporting marks from her kicking the door into their faces. She tried not to let it show that her mind and heart were racing at the mention of Chase Young, a name she hadn't heard or thought about in years, wondering what he had to do with any of this.
"Comfortable Ms. Tohomiko?" Pandabubba's voice broke into her thoughts. Kimiko gave him a bored sort of lazy look.
"Been better, certainly been worse," Kimiko struggled, or at least as much as she could shrug while bound with her arms behind the chair.
"That is good to know," he said while standing in front of her. "I would not want you to get too comfortable. We will be moving quiet shortly."
"Be sure to leave a change of address form so I can avoid you at all cost," Kimiko said, her voice still sweet.
"I can't say I will miss dealing with you or your father,"
Pandabubba went on noting that the mention of her father cracked her
shell slightly. When Kimiko didn't respond Pandabubba bore down on
her. "Where is the girl?"
"That's a very generic question," Kimiko said indifferently.
"Might wanna be a bit more specific."
"Where is the Pedrosa girl?" Pandabubba said through gritted teeth.
"Never met her, wouldn't know," Kimiko shrugged again and then involuntarily flinched when he raised a hand to strike her but he stopped and walked away.
"You're very lucky Mr. Young wants you unharmed," Kimiko heard him mutter and again her heart rate spiked at the mention of Chase. Just what did he have to do with all of this and why was Pandabubba answering to him? But it was good to know that for whatever reason they weren't going to be harming her, or so it seemed.
"If you do not tell me where the Pedrosa girl and her brother are I may have to try different tactics," Pandabubba told her and Kimiko looked to the ceiling as if she found it very interesting. Suddenly a male voice cried out and Kimiko's head shot around to where a man she'd never seen before a day in his life was being beaten viciously, Pandabuba watching on blank faced. He turned and looked smugly at her and Kimiko narrowed her eyes as she guessed his game. Another screamed filled her ears and Kimiko closed her eyes against the scene, turn her head away reflexively. So this man's life was in her hands and he would surely be killed, slowly, if she didn't intervene. She'd had no idea who he was or if he was even a good person but did that make any difference? There was the awful sound of breaking bones and another terrible cry that made Kimiko cry out as well. Everything stopped and Kimiko slumped over limp in the chair.
"I think she passed out," one of the men standing guard over her said.
"Well wake her up!" Pandabubba said urgently and she felt herself get poked.
"Hey," one of the two said, "wake up." Kimiko remained limp and unresponsive. "Hey, wake up," the command was repeated and she was shaken.
"I think we may have problem boss," the second man said.
"Untie her!" Pandabubba ordered urgently. "If anything happens to her," Kimiko heard Pandabubba go on, "Young will kill all of us for sure." Even when she felt herself freed from her bonds Kimiko still made no move and almost fell unsupported from the chair before she was caught and laid on the ground. "What's wrong with her?" Pandabubba asked almost frantically and no one responded. The only sound heard was the whimpers of the man who'd been beaten in Kimiko's place. "One of you buffoons do something! And shut him up!" Pandabubba ordered gruffly as he regained some of his composer. There was another thump and the whimpering stopped, Kimiko hoping the man was just unconscious and not dead.
"What should we do?" someone asked and no one answered.
"Is she breathing?" someone asked and someone came close to check. Kimiko made sure they felt and heard her breath; the thought of any of them performing CPR on her seemed unbearable.
"Yeah," whoever checked answered and Kimiko fought a sigh of relief.
"Then what?" someone else asked and Kimiko wondered how much longer she could keep this up. There were murmurs from all around her as the motley group tried to figure out what to do.
"Take her to the car," Pandabubba finally decided. "We'll driver her where Chase Young is and try to wake her along the way. It's probably just shock, typical weak female reaction." The feminist in Kimiko roared but she remained limp as one of the men picked her up. She wasn't sure if her plan had any sort of hope for working but it was the only thing she could come up with on such sort noticed. Her mind shifted to Raimundo and she hoped he wouldn't get caught in the crossfire. The metallic groan of the door opening filled her ears, replaced with the noises of the night after the door finished opening. Taking a chance Kimiko cracked open an eye in search of Raimundo. She didn't see him but that didn't mean he wasn't there. Taking a mental breath for courage Kimiko prepared herself and discreetly moved her hand towards her pocket and felt the can of mace there. Making sure she was pointing it in the right direction Kimiko pulled the can out quickly and pointed, hitting the man who held her directly in the face and then proceeded to spray in every direction she could manage.
Howling in pain the man immediately dropped her but Kimiko recovered quickly and kept spraying as she ran until the can was empty and didn't take a breath or even open her eyes until she was further away. The confusion and chaos she created gave her a chance to bolt. But to where? She didn't want to risk leading them back to where the car had been because she was unsure about where or what Raimundo was doing. So instead she bolted for the trees directly in front of her only to hear a familiar shout to her left and she turned to Raimundo was running at her along the tree line. Relief flooded her and she ran for him. When they were within arms length Rai stopped suddenly though and coughed.
"No offence but you reek of mace," he told her and Kimiko rolled her eyes.
"So glad to see you too," she said and frown when he coughed again. "That's thanks to you," she snapped. Both looked to where the six men, plus Pandabubba were still writhing on the ground. "I guess I got them good," Kimiko shrugged and Rai bit back a laugh.
"And here I came in riding on my white horse and you didn't even need me," he said sounding disappointed. Kimiko sent him a small glare for smiling and joking so easily.
"What do we do now?" she asked but Rai was already in motion. He walked to the group and systematically knocked each man out with and effective hit to the neck.
"Pressure points," he explained, "Omi taught me."
"I think there is rope inside," Kimiko said and she jogged into the building, returning with a coil of rope that Raimundo tied used to tie the men together by their hands. He then found and used duct tape around their legs and removed all of their weapons he could find.
"That was surprisingly easy," he said once the work was over.
"I need a shower or something," Kimiko said starting to feel a bit sick from the fumes of the mace and Rai gave her a sympathetic look.
"We'll be out of here soon," he told her and then suggested she try to wash up some in the bathroom inside. Kimiko nodded but asked about Amelia before she left. "She's safe and sound," he paused, "thanks to you. Thank you so much."
Kimiko gave a tired sort of nod and then went to try and wash up. Rai watched her go, hoping that when he swept the building minutes earlier he hadn't missed any more goons hiding in the shadows. After one last quick look around he made his way back to Amelia, relief shinning from the girl's face when he saw her.
"Everything is ok," he told as he drove the car around to the front.
"Kimiko's ok?" she asked excited.
"She's bit mace sick right now but otherwise she's perfectly fine. She's a lot like you," Rai told her with a wink, "she can really take care of herself." When they pulled up to the still bound but now stirring goons Raimundo warned Amelia to stay back but that didn't stop the girl from glaring and swearing colorfully in Portuguese at her former captors. "Where did you learn to talk like that?" Rai asked her with a disapproving glare.
"From you the last time you were home," she said with an amused glint in her eyes.
"Do I even want to know what you are two are saying?" Kimiko asked as she rejoined them. She'd obviously stuck her whole head beneath the sink, her hair still dripping wet and pulled into a tight braid.
"Kimiko!" Amelia exclaimed excitedly and bounded towards Kimiko who kept her at arms length.
"Give me two seconds Amelia," Kimiko asked, "I still smell like mace." Amelia nodded and Rai looked away as he pulled out his phone and punched Clay's number. The cowboy answered on the second ring.
"Where the hell are you?" he asked.
"I'm guessing you're somewhere on County Route 5 right around where Kimiko tossed out her phone," Rai said almost gleefully.
"If that's between Middle of Nowhere and I'd Shoot Myself If I Lived Here, then yeah, you're right," Clay answered and Rai laughed.
"That sounds about right," Rai told him and then gave him directions to where they were.
"You sound like you're in a considerably better mood," Clay told him.
"Amelia here safe and sound and seems to be fine despite everything that happened," Rai told him glancing back at the car. He'd stepped away from the car because Amelia had been talking energetically and loudly to Kimiko. When he glanced back his heart nearly stopped so he turned away quickly and tried to concentrate on talking with Clay. "So I need you to come and get her and keep her safe till this is all over."
"Don't you think you should call your parents?" Clay asked.
"Maybe, but I can't have the authorities knowing or being involved yet," Rai said grimly, "they've still got Kimiko's dad." Clay made a 'hmmm' sort of noise and promised to be there as soon as possible before hanging up. Rai hung up and turned almost reluctantly back to the car, hoping what he'd seen had just been a trick of limited light but because someone above was testing and taunting him, it wasn't and sure enough there was Kimiko looking totally fine and comfortable in just her bra and jacket. That wasn't completely fair, her jeans were still on and she'd buttoned two or three buttons across her bust so the actual bra was hidden but the smooth, toned lines of her stomach were clearly visible and Rai found it very hard not to stare at her exposed midsection.
"What are you wearing?" Rai almost croaked when he finally managed to speak.
"My tank top is ruined cause of the mace, and it was one of my favorites too," Kimiko answered casually. "We're going to have to stop somewhere so I can get a new top, maybe pants too. I bet I can get this jacket dry cleaned though." Rai suppressed a groan.
"Remember what I said about distractions?" Rai asked in a low voice hoping Amelia wouldn't hear or understand but the little girl was picking up on everything.
"My brother likes you," she told Kimiko with a shy grin and Rai glared at her.
"Your English has gotten better," he observed and Kimiko giggled slightly.
"Who were you talking to?" Kimiko asked leaning against the car, still not caring that Rai was having hot flashes.
"Clay," Rai said gruffly, "he'll be here soon." He looked
over at Amelia and started speaking in his native tongue. "You
remember Clay right?" When she nodded Rai went on. "He's going
to take you and take care of you for a while. But we can't tell Mom
and Dad yet."
"They know I'm gone?" Amelia asked surprised.
"You're national news," Rai told her remembering passing a newsstand earlier that had his sister's story plastered across one of the smaller headlines.
"Then why can't we tell them?" Amelia asked. "They'll be worried and I want to go back home, or at least to Grandma and Grandpa's. Or your place. I like your place." She turned to Kimiko and switched from Portuguese to English. "Have you been to his house in Washington? Its nice, you'd like it." Kimiko was caught a bit of guard to be asked that question or to be included in the conversation at all since the two had been speaking in Portuguese up to that point.
"No, I just met your brother today," Kimiko answered.
"Really?" Amelia seemed surprised. Kimiko nodded.
"Amelia?" she asked. "About my father, did he seem to be ok? Was he hurt or anything?"
"No, he'd been there longer than I had," Amelia answered quietly. "He took care of me, even though he didn't know me. He tried to protect me. I think that's why he left so willingly. They were going to hurt me." Kimiko looked at the girl in concern and out of the corner of her eye saw Raimundo's jaw clench and his expression go dark as he looked over Amelia's captors.
"Were any of these men the ones who took you from Orlando?" Rai asked in Portuguese so Kimiko didn't understand. Amelia nodded and replied in Portuguese as well, pointing towards the group that Rai suddenly stormed over to and Kimiko caught on just in time.
"No Rai," she yelled and grabbed him.
"These bastards took my sister from her bed, had your dad and would have done what else knows to you," Rai said grimly.
"They aren't the ones responsible," Kimiko pleaded with him holding his arm. "They're just stupid henchmen."
"And that excuses them?" Rai snapped.
"No, but let the law take care of them," Kimiko pleaded. "We still need to get to my father and there's something else."
"What?" Rai asked but when Kimiko went to reply there was the sound of crunching gravel as a car approached and both spun to face it defensively but Kimiko relaxed and placed a calming hand on Rai's shoulder.
"That's Jermaine's dad's car," she told him but Rai didn't relax until he saw the three step out. Clay whistled at the sight of the men tied up neatly on the ground.
"What did that guy do?" Clay asked pointing to the one that had been tortured in Kimiko's place. Kimiko immediately grimaced and lied, saying he'd messed up and got punished for it. Rai could tell she was lying but didn't press her on it. He noticed the three new arrivals look Kimiko's new look over, Clay's gaze lingering over her for longer than Rai liked. Kimiko felt their eyes on her and she wondered at how simple men could be. Jermaine and Omi had both looked away quickly but Clay seemed slightly struck dumb so Kimiko looked over to Jermaine.
"Hey Jermaine, give me your jersey," she half commanded, half asked.
"Why?" he asked sounding annoyed.
"Stop being a baby and give it to me," she demanded walking over to him, "I need something to wear till I can get a new shirt."
"What happened to yours?" he asked as he slipped off the jersey, leaving him only in his white t-shirt, and handed it over to her when she joined him.
"It smells like mace," Kimiko answered with out much detail. She had her back turned to the group, except for Jermaine who was standing even with her shoulder, but even when she slipped her jacket off she heard every man move or make some sort of noise. Glancing over her shoulder she saw all of them, even Omi who Kimiko guessed was boarder line monk anyway, look away quickly when she turned her eyes on them, catching them staring. Only Jermaine was exempt, looking in the opposite direction of her but there was a faint blush on his cheeks. "Oh please!" she yelled at them as she pulled the jersey over her head. "You all act like you're thirteen! Its like you've never seen a woman in a bathing suit before, they're basically the same thing."
"Just trying to be polite," Clay said and Kimiko rolled her eyes.
"Please," she said with a gush of air. "It's a bra, not like you all probably haven't seen them before."
"Kid sister five feet away," Rai said through gritted teeth. He wasn't worried so much about Amelia but was more bothered by the fact that three other men had seen that much of Kimiko's skin, even if it had just been her back. It caused a coil of jealous to tighten within him and he suddenly wanted to beat the crap out of two of his best friends and a third man he barely knew.
"And what about you?" Kimiko asked Jermaine. "We live together. You've seen me in a towel." Jermaine seemed to be toying with an answer but silenced under a glare from Rai that Kimiko missed when she turned her attention on him. "So FBI man? What now?"
"Clay?" Rai turned to his friend. "I could use your input in this." The two began to talk and Kimiko tuned them out and wandered over to Amelia.
"You doing ok?" she asked when she reached the girl perched crossed legged on the hood of the SUV.
"Yeah," she said with a nod. "I wanna go home but Raimundo knows about stuff like this so I've got to trust him."
"So he's your favorite brother?" Kimiko asked looking over at Rai.
"Yeah," Amelia nodded adamantly. "I don't get to see him a lot but he writes me and talks to me when he calls home. I wanna be just like him when I grow up." Kimiko smiled at the girl's dream and didn't doubt that she could achieve it.
"He was so worried about you today," Kimiko told her. "His whole goal was to find you."
"And to help you," Amelia added for her.
"I think you were his main focus though," Kimiko assured her as Amelia gave yawn. "It's cold out," Kimiko commented. "Wanna sit in the car with me? Warm up a bit?" Amelia nodded almost immediately and Kimiko started up the car before climbing in the back seat with Amelia. The young girl was asleep in a matter of seconds, her head set on Kimiko's lap as a pillow. Kimiko absent mindedly ran her fingers through Amelia's hair, mimicking the soothing motion her mother had used on her when she was younger. Kimiko felt her own eyes get heavy as she thought about Raimundo and Amelia and all the two had been through today. It wasn't fair of her to ask Raimundo to continue on with her, not when he had Amelia back safe and sound. He shouldn't risk it. He should be on the next plane to Florida with her, reuniting with his worried family.
Unconsciously she closed her own tired eyes as she went over her thoughts and missed Raimundo approaching and stopping of the sight of Kimiko and his sister. Amelia did not warm up to strangers easily but was immediately comfortable and happy with Kimiko and for Raimundo that said a lot. Seeing Kimiko, as she was, looking so serene and undeniably motherly twisted Raimundo's stomach in a new and unfamiliar way, but he was certain it was a good way. His mind replaced Amelia with another small child, maybe one with his hair but Kimiko's eyes and Kimiko holding the child as tenderly as she did now with Amelia. The thoughts were so new to Raimundo as he realized he wanted to make them reality and it scared him senseless. Where was all of this coming from? Sure he found Kimiko attractive and couldn't help but flirt with her but this was something on a completely different level. Rai was brought out of his panicked musings when Kimiko finally seemed to sense him and opened sleep heavy eyes to look at him. She sat up slightly and motioned to him to be quiet.
"She passed out really quickly," Kimiko said after Rai had silently opened the door. "Can't really blame her though." Rai nodded, his eyes falling to his sleeping sister, curled tight next to Kimiko. "Rai, I was thinking," she said gaining his attention again but when he looked at her he found her eyes on Amelia, "you should stay with her." The suggestion startled Raimundo and he looked at her with calculating eyes.
"What are you talking about?" he asked in a whisper.
"There is no reason for you to keep going with me," Kimiko told him, "Amelia's safe. I'll find my father on my own. I think I know where to look now." What she said surprised him on multiple levels.
"What do you mean you know where to look?" Rai asked her looking at her oddly.
"Just something someone said," Kimiko answered vaguely. "But I meant what I said. My father is my business. You've got Amelia back safe and sound. You should take her back to your family."
"Are you crazy?" Rai asked annoyed now. "You think that I'd just abandon you now?"
"No, it's not that Rai," Kimiko shook her head. "I just think you should. And its not abandonment."
"Kimiko," Rai said in a tight, serious voice that commanded her attention. "I am not, will not, leave you now. We're in this together. Till the end. I said I would protect you didn't I?"
"But Rai," Kimiko protested but Raimundo cut her off.
"Just shut up Kimiko," Rai said bluntly and Kimiko bristled slightly. "I'm not leaving and that's final." Kimiko looked at him quizzically and then shook her head.
"I wish you would reconsider."
"I have and I'm even more determined to finish this, find the assholes behind it, and keep my promises to you," Rai told her with serious eyes and level voice. 'All of my promises,' he added silently to himself.
"I don't think you should go," Kimiko said softly and Rai was surprised she was so adamant about it.
"I'm going with you, end of discussion," Rai said firmly. Kimiko opened her mouth to argue more but Rai turned his attention to Amelia and gently woke the girl. "Hey Amelia," he said softly as his hand touched her shoulder. Amelia blinked at him.
"Yeah?" she asked in a sleep heavy voice.
"I'm moving you to another car," he told her as he reached over Kimiko and scooped the girl up. "Kimiko and I have to go," he told her as he brought her over to Jermaine's station wagon. "You remember Clay and Omi right?" Amelia gave a sleepy nod as she clung to her brother. "And this is Jermaine, he's Kimiko's best friend and I trust him, ok?" Again Amelia only nodded in response. "They're going to take good care of you." Amelia didn't nod this time but instead hugged Raimundo tighter and made a small whimpering noise. Kimiko, listening a few feet behind and felt her heart break for the little girl as she turned away. She couldn't bear to listen to the conversation a minute more. Kimiko looked at the SUV, on and waiting, and regarded it for a moment before making a decision. Moving quickly she got into the drivers seat and put the car into drive and hit the gas petal, driving away without looking back.
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Kimiko drove without thinking until she spotted the strip mall they'd passed earlier. Banking on the idea that Raimundo wouldn't be able to take off after her in Jermaine's car and hoping he would come to his senses and just stay with Amelia Kimiko stopped there. There was nothing high end about the mall but Kimiko didn't care. Unfortunately there weren't a lot of stores to choose from; most of the stores closed down, and the lone clothing store was clearly for teenagers. Still Kimiko was able to put together a new outfit and find a few toiletries. She stopped at a run down but adequate motel just down the road from the mall, rented a room, and parked the SUV around in back so if Rai did happen to drive by he wouldn't see it. Locking the door up tight Kimiko immediately stripped and dove into the shower, not caring that it probably hadn't been properly cleaned in ages. She instead focused on intensely scrubbing every inch of her body to get every last remnant of the mace off of her. When she was finished sometime later, finally feeling refreshed, she dried herself off quickly and dressed in her new clothes without much fanfare, putting her hair back into the braid. She did this all mechanically, trying hard not to think about all that had happened since she'd woken up that morning or what lay ahead of her.
With a heavy sigh Kimiko moved to leave the tiny bathroom, intent on getting back onto the road as quickly as possible and didn't notice the shadow waiting on the other side of the bathroom door until she stepped out and a hand was clamped over her mouth, another grabbing both arms and locking them behind her. Kimiko screamed against the hand and struggled but was overpowered as she was dragged away from the tiny bathroom area and pulled into the room, thrown on the bed, legs and arms pinned down as she stared up a visibly pissed off Raimundo.
"You stupid, stupid girl," he practically spat at her as he glared down at her. Kimiko glared back with equal fervor.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" she asked harshly and struggled to sit up but Raimundo wouldn't give her an inch. "You scared me half to death."
"I scared you?" Raimundo repeated sarcastically. "What the hell were you thinking driving off like that? What the hell is the matter with you?"
"I was hoping you'd come to your senses and stay behind," Kimiko snapped at him.
"No, you hoped I would be stranded with Clay and the others. What you failed to notice were the other cars parked on the opposite side of the factory," Rai told her and Kimiko hated to admit he was right.
"Get off of me," she said instead of arguing with him more.
"No," Rai said firmly.
"Get off of me or I'll scream rape," Kimiko promised.
"And who would hear you? The guy working the desk who told me exactly what room you were in?" Rai asked her.
"He give you a key too?" Kimiko asked sarcastically and then remembered something. "I put the chain up on the door, how the hell did you get in?"
"There are ways around that kind of stuff
Kimiko, I would have thought you'd have guessed that by now," Rai
told her softly as he leaned down closer to her. "Now are you going
to admit what you did and apologize for it?"
"I should have tried to run you over when I left," Kimiko
answered back try to ignore the fluttering her caused in her stomach
as he drew closer.
"You are the most infuriating woman I've ever met in my whole life. And I haven't even known you a full twenty four hours!" Rai said looking moodily down at her.
"Well thank you," Kimiko bit back sarcastically before struggling again. "Now get off of me."
"No," Rai said firmly.
"Get the hell off of me Raimundo," Kimiko snapped.
"I should tie you up and throw you in the back of the car," Raimundo told her. "What the hell were you thinking? Why wouldn't you take me seriously? I promised you that I'd take care of you through this and I'm not giving up until we have your father back. Why is that so hard for you to accept?"
"I accept it," Kimiko told him solemnly, "but I don't want your help. I want you stay with Amelia. She needs you more than I do."
"She is a tough little girl. She's ok and I know Clay and the others will take care of her. Why won't you let me take care of you? I have the impression that you don't let anyone do that, don't let anyone get close enough to do that. I want to do that and if you run Kimiko I'm going to follow you." Kimiko turned her head away pointedly at his last statement and Raimundo got off of her, surprising her enough that she looked back at him. "It wasn't that long ago that I told you I kept my promises Kimiko," he reminded her as she stared down at her. "I thought you had accepted that." Kimiko sat up, looking down at her hands, unable to look him in the eye.
"I," she started to say but Raimundo suddenly grabbed her up and pulled her to him, silencing whatever she might have said as his lips moved demandingly over hers. Kimiko pulled her mouth away from his harshly.
"No," she told him firmly. "You can't do that." Rai studied her with careful eyes.
"Ok," he relented, "I won't. But that doesn't change a damn thing Kimiko."
"I want you to stay with Amelia," she answered.
"But I want to stay with you," he answered back immediately.
"You should stay with Amelia," Kimiko argued, "it's the right thing to do."
"I'm not leaving you Kimiko, end of discussion."
"Oh so that's how it is? Big tough FBI man gets to come in and boss me around. What about what I want? What I'm feeling?" Kimiko asked harshly as she pushed back from him.
"Fuck it Kimiko," Rai growled. "Why do you have to be so damn argumentative?"
"I am not!" Kimiko insisted not realizing she'd fallen for his trap and hated the tiny grin he sported from it. "What if I said I don't want your help," Kimiko said glaring back at him.
"I'd say I knew you were lying," Rai answered promptly.
"You assume a lot for a person I barely know."
"I never assume Kimiko. Remember? I'm big tough FBI man, I know things, I don't assume," as he spoke he closed the small distance between them and Kimiko instinctively stepped back falling back on the bed. She immediately sat up but Raimundo was level with her in a second, their faces scant inches apart. "Are you done now? Are you ready to go?"
"I'll drive you back to Amelia," Kimiko told him, "but that's the only way I'm getting in a car with you."
"Really?" Rai asked quirking an eyebrow.
"Really," Kimiko said stubbornly.
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Chase Young watched on screen as Toshiro Tohomiko was dumped roughly into a new hold facility in the basement of the very building he was in. It was tempting to go and talk to the man but he fought the urge and continued to sit and wait in his office. It was all a waiting game now but Chase couldn't help but feel somewhat impatient. He'd waited for how long? Five years? Six? Yes, six going on seven if he remembered correctly. The time all seemed blended together around that, unpleasant, period of time. All Chase knew was that he'd awoken one day and realized that revenge was the only way he could continue on with his life. It wasn't so much revenge he wanted but retribution, for the life that was stolen from him. The only life he'd known, the one he was bred and groomed for.
His hand tightened into a fist at the thoughts of the life he'd once lived. The life that was so unjustly taken from him. But he was getting it back and would get it back ten fold. Slowly but surely everything was falling into place and soon Chase would no longer be living the disgusting life of a crime boss. Sure the job commanded power and respect but it was still below Chase. He was meant to be in the spotlight, specifically the global spotlight that would be given to him by Tohomiko Electronics.
"Soon," he spoke to the screen that held the image of the still unconscious Toshiro Tohomiko.
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"I hope you get pulled over by a cop so I can charge you with kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment," Kimiko growled out. Rai shrugged and kept his eyes on the road but he couldn't resist glancing in the rearview mirror to see a very annoyed and pissed Kimiko tied up tightly, but not painfully, in the backseat. Ever time he would look back Kimiko would notice and glare at him even harder, if at all possible.
"You were being stubborn," Rai said half heartedly. "After spending five minutes with you any cop would sympathize with me and probably ask me to take you back."
"You're an ass," was all Kimiko could muster to throw back at him.
"I work for the government, it comes with the territory. Now, onto more pressing matters. I am driving back into the city on instinct. You said you had some idea of where your father might be but you aren't giving me any details. So if we're heading in the totally wrong direction than it is all your fault."
"I don't know where he is," Kimiko said moodily staring out the window. "I said I had an idea, no way to know if it'll pan out."
"Care to share?" Raimundo asked.
"Care to untie me?"
"Are you going to try to knock me out again?" he asked remember the solid hit Kimiko had landed on him as he struggled to tie her up with the limited material at hand.
"Honestly?"
"Honestly," Rai repeated.
"I'd probably try to make it so you could never have children, and then I'd knock you out," Kimiko answered deadpan and Raimundo winced.
"Girl you are cruel! How many men have met that unfortunate fate at your hands? Or more specifically foot?" Rai asked glancing back in the mirror again. Kimiko didn't answer or meet his eyes, just continued to stare aimlessly out the window. "Come on Kimiko, work with me here," Raimundo pleaded and finally Kimiko turned her head back to glare at him once more.
"Let's review shall we? I woke up this morning and found myself in the middle of some crazy psychopath's game that's revenge on me and my father for reasons I still don't understand. I meet you, a seemingly nice guy who's sister is also being held captive, and things are going well enough considering the circumstances. You find out I don't have a boyfriend and suddenly believe that it's ok to just try and kiss me all the time so I get to deal with sexual harassment on top of everything else. Meanwhile we're running around New York City doing odd errands for god knows what reason all the while being chased by a 'hunter' and two mob thugs. I've been shot at more times than I care to remember, have been tasered twice, nearly raped, held captive by Hong Kong's biggest crime boss and manage to mace myself. And that's the short list. Now throughout all of this I've been listening to you and on the upside I'm not dead yet so you'll have to forgive me if I don't want to 'work with you here'. I try to do you a favor and get you out of this mess and I wind up being tied up in the back of a car. How the hell would you react Raimundo!"
There was silence for a moment before Raimundo cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. "Well when you put it that way," he trailed off and Kimiko groaned in frustration.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" she snapped. "Why are you still here? I gave you an easy out, now go!"
"I want to stay," Rai said softly. "Its not that I feel obligated or anything. I'm grateful for you saving my sister. But I want to be here for you Kimiko, I want to help you." The admission surprised Kimiko who wasn't sure how to respond immediately.
"I have no idea how to read you Raimundo Pedrosa," she told him. "You've got me going in so many directions at once I have no idea what way is up and what way is down." Rai was silent and waited for her to continue. Finally she sighed and went on. "Does the name Chase Young mean anything to you?" she asked.
"Doesn't ring a bell," Raimundo answered after thinking for a moment.
"Do you remember that I told you about how there was a scandal in the company a few years back? The Vice President, also a family friend, was stealing money from the company and more importantly the workers. There was big out cry after it was discovered and even though our family was close to the family of the vice president my father had to do the right thing and pressed charges, and of course fired him. His whole family was tarnished by it. I'd grown up knowing the family well, their son was only six years older than I was so when we were the only two kids stuck together at boring corporate functions we kinda banned together. We were friends who went through things that others couldn't understand. When the scandal hit Chase was ruined too, he'd been trained his whole life to take over his father's position one day and suddenly that was gone from him. I tried to seek him out afterwards but he vanished without a trace."
"So wait a second," Raimundo interrupted. "The VP, his name was Young?" Kimiko nodded.
"And Chase Young is his son," Kimiko said softly. "I haven't heard or thought about him in ages. I mean of course all talks about the engagement was broken off as soon as the scandal hit," Kimiko couldn't get any more words out because she was suddenly pitched forward, crashing into the seat in front of her after Raimundo slammed on the brakes. "What the hell is the matter with you?" Kimiko snapped once she got her bearings back. Rai's only response was to move off to the side of the road, throw the car in park and joined her in the back seat. He picked her up from the odd position she'd landed in and sat her back on the seat, his hands resting heavily on her shoulders.
"You were engaged?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly. Kimiko was shocked by his reaction and so was slow to answer.
"Never officially," Kimiko said looking back at Raimundo wide eyed. "There were talks that Chase and I could get married someday, not could but more along the lines of should, you know for the benefit of the company. But nothing ever came from it, nothing happened outside of speculation. No ring or anything. I mean I was still in high school and Chase was still learning the business. Technically we could have gotten married but my father would never have let me get married that young. And I didn't want to anyway. Chase was a friend, never anything more than that." A look that could only be called relief flooded over Rai as he sat back, releasing her and Kimiko sat up. "What the hell was that all about?" Kimiko asked him.
"Never mind it," Rai said shaking his head. "What else about this Young guy. Why do you think he has anything to do with this?"
"Oh no," Kimiko told him. "Before I say anything else you have untie me, I promise I won't hit you or permanently damage you in anyway, and then explain to me what your freak out was about." Rai shook his head and then motioned for her to turn around. Kimiko did so and almost immediately strips of cloth he'd used to tie her up slipped away. Rolling her shoulders to loosen them and cracking her wrists Kimiko looked back to Raimundo who was looking at her with heavy eyes. "So?" she pressed curious and Raimundo looked away but Kimiko was determined to stay tight lipped until he broke down and eventually he mumbled something incoherent.
"What?" Kimiko asked.
"I said," Rai said through gritted teeth, "that I hated the idea of you being engaged, to anyone." The answer surprised Kimiko and she looked at him oddly before laughing.
"So you were jealous?" she laughed and then gave a squeal when Raimundo suddenly grabbed her and pulled her too him, practically falling into his lap. His hands shifted to cup her face and to kiss her in a mix of gentle, firm, demanding, coaxing, and most of all passion. Kimiko was just too shocked to respond. Relatively speaking Raimundo had kissed her a fair amount in the short time that they'd known each other and each time Kimiko would stop it, thinking that it was far from appropriate and hardly the time. But now, she just didn't know what to do and when Raimundo pulled away she felt disappointment flood her body. He looked down at her and noted her confused, almost desperate look.
"Yes I was jealous," he admitted, answering her previous question. "Insanely jealous. I've been jealous every moment today that any man so much as looks at you with more than a passing glance. I was ready to beat up my two best friends because they saw you earlier when you took off your jacket off. I don't know what it is about you but the thought of any man kissing you, touching, anything just drives me crazy. And when you said engagement I just couldn't stop myself. And before you start yelling that is barbaric of me to think like that, believe me I know. But something about you just brings it out in me and I just can't help myself. Its all a natural reaction around you."
"Raimundo," Kimiko said after a moment. "This is all a little too much. I mean we don't even know each other that much,"
"I know enough," Raimundo cut her off. "And I go by my feelings more than anything else Kimiko. I see it in your eyes. You're feeling as much for me as I am for you." As he spoke a finger traced the outline of her face and Kimiko pulled back from it suddenly and Raimundo knew that he must have frightened her. "Look at me," he commanded when she averted her eyes from him.
"Rai," Kimiko whispered almost desperately still not meeting his eyes so Raimundo reached out and gently turned her face back towards him.
"I'm sorry if I scared you," he apologized. "But I won't take it back and I'm not asking you to respond right now. I just want you to know what I'm feeling so you can understand some of what I'm doing." Kimiko nodded and didn't say anything else even when he let go of her face. There was a long, somewhat awkward silence that Kimiko finally broke.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?" Rai asked.
"For driving away, for leaving you there," she explained. "I thought it was for," she paused, "the best." Rai smiled gently at her.
"Thank you for thinking that. For putting my family first like that." Kimiko nodded and the silence returned.
"Back to Chase Young," Rai urged her and Kimiko nodded somewhat numbly.
"When the scandal broke Chase was investigated too but it was never clear if he had anything to do with it. He basically dropped off the face of the earth. I thought for sure I'd see or hear from him after his father committed suicide."
"His father killed himself?" Rai asked and Kimiko nodded sadly.
"His wife found him and it destroyed her mentally so I guess I can understand why Chase disappeared, I mean, what did he have to be around for? After the suicide Papa had them drop the investigation against Chase." Rai was silent, processing what Kimiko had told him. He hadn't heard of Chase Young but that didn't mean that he wasn't out there, wasn't a real threat. And who knew if he was even going by the name Chase Young? Hell, the name Chase Young sounded generic enough to him. There was very distinct possibly that it wasn't the Chase Young that Kimiko had grown up with. But the way the evens of the day were going Rai had a strong inkling that their luck was just that bad that it was some shadow from Kimiko's past. The only real question Raimundo could think of was, why now?
"I think its time to go back and pay Jack a visit," Rai concluded. Kimiko nodded mutely and then her head shot up.
"After we were at the church we never read the next clue," she said as her eyes went wide with fear. She snatched her bag and pulled the PDA out of her bag with urgency but Raimundo's hand closed around the hand holding the device to stop her.
"I don't think that's something we need to stress ourselves with right now Kimiko," Rai told her.
"But," Kimiko protested only to be silenced by a forceful shake of Raimundo's head.
"If it makes you feel better read it but we aren't putting it as a priority right now," he said firmly. "We're going to go Jack and get some real answers from him."
"You think he was lying before?" Kimiko asked.
"Yeah, I also think Jack's an idiot that's probably in over his head," Rai answered and climbed out of the car. Kimiko followed suit and moved to the front seat.
"What do you mean by that?" Kimiko asked. "You don't think he's involved some how do you?"
"I'd put money on it," Rai said as he pulled back onto the road. "Jack has a nasty habit of getting involved with the wrong people. Remember I said earlier that he considers himself an evil genius?" Kimiko nodded and Raimundo continued. "Well, he's tried to prove that many times over the years."
"Like with the power grid?" Kimiko asked remember that Raimundo had said that Jack was responsible for the major blackout in the Northeast a few summers ago.
"That was child's play for Jack," Rai said grimly. "He was probably trying to do something else and that was all a mistake. He's made a career out of causing chaos while trying to achieve something completely different."
"Meaning?"
"Knowing Jack, he was probably trying to do something stupid and spectacular and ended up breaking the power grid. My best guess was he was probably trying to rig certain lights to go out and spell out 'Jack Rules' across the midwest or something along those lines in the remaining lights."
"You aren't serious," Kimiko asked with a scoffing laugh. Raimundo blew at some hair that had fallen to his forehead.
"I wish I was. I told you before that if he ever got his shit together he could do some serious damage. I'm worried that has finally happened."
"Jack didn't seem all that together earlier," Kimiko said speculatively. "Why do you think he has anything to do with this?"
"Because before I had to fake my death with the Heylin I found out that Jack had become a fangirl of the organization. Jack only sees the glory in things like that, not all awful things that go on with it. I'm no physiologist but Jack probably only clings to the 'evil' thing because he thinks its cool or it's a form of protection or something."
"Did you tell anyone about Jack trying to get involved with the Heylin?" Kimiko asked.
"I wish I had," Rai answered. "It was a mistake not to. But even though he can be the most annoying person in the world, deep down he's a decent guy. I approached him about it after I got out from being under with the Heylin. Tried to scare him straight. Now I'm worried I just glorified it."
"If you did it wasn't intentional," Kimiko observed. There as a heavy pause and then Kimiko asked a daring question. "There's more to how you two met, became friends, isn't there?" Rai blew out a heavy sigh and nodded, keeping his eyes on the road.
"Like I said, we met because Clay and I got assigned to baby sit him after the power grid incident. And it's also true that we took him out to a bar and taught him how to pick up some girls. Only Jack wasn't the best learner. We'd been at for a while and needless to say I was freaking hammered, Clay too and it takes a lot to put him under. And somehow," he let another sigh and looked embarrassed, "we got the brilliant idea to get Jack a hooker." Kimiko quirked and eyebrow but said nothing else as Rai went on. "Needless to say getting the son of a senator a hooker, not our most brilliant plan in the world. And to make matters worse we almost got caught by some asshole journalist. Clay and I would have lost are jobs in the blink of an eye and it would have been impossible to continue a career in law enforcement, even in the private sector. I don't know what he did but Jack made the whole incident disappear."
"And so you and Clay are in his debt?" Kimiko asked.
"Well we were," Rai shrugged, "but then Jack got into a heap of shit and we saved his ass. Now Jack owes me and Clay for like, eternity and a day, but an odd sort of friendship has formed from it."
"What did Jack do?" Kimiko asked and Rai gave a cheeky sort of grin.
"Under the Patriot Act I'm not allowed to say."
"Rai!" Kimiko exclaimed.
"But seriously, I can't say," Rai went on. "Maybe someday when we have more time but I can't now."
"I'm going to hold you to that," Kimiko sighed and sank deeper in her seat and missed Raimundo's quick smile. That had been the first time that she had eluded that there would be anything at all between them after all of this. "You really think Jack is somehow involved with this?" Kimiko asked breaking the silence.
"If is I'm sure he had no idea what it actually was," Rai said confidently.
"Let's hope," Kimiko sighed and before she realized she was even battling to stay awake her eyes drifted shut and she fell asleep, tortured thoughts of her father and Chase Young haunting her sleep.
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Alright boys and girls! Tell me what you think!!!