Chapter 12

More than One

Next Morning

"Woah…" remarked Ace as he watched the lovebirds having a normal talk at the garden. He was ordered to keep an eye of them in case of Alice's and most especially to Shun.

"That's what you call an Ace pal….give me your end of the bargain now…" said Dan smiling smugly at him.

"But!"

"I already gave you six months already, pay up!"

"How come you always win on our bet Dan…" he said to Ace as he took his money from his wallet.

"I know good lovers when I found one…"

"Wow, a wonderful words of wisdom coming from a jerk wooing girls at bars."

"Yeah….I know."

Robin was being dragged by the men in which was ordered by the Criminal to bring him to the dark and cold alley in the chamber room.

Shun watched as his men tied the butler securely in his chair with chains. Dan on the other hand watches the entire scene in their security panel room by looking at one monitor in hand.

Ace went up to the butler and look closely in the butler's eyes.

"When are you going to give up Raj or should I say imposter?" Ace asked with a hint of sarcasm.

"I have no regret of using your founder's name to annihilate his once goody two shoes organization." said Robin despite his injuries he received earlier.

"Ahw… is your name really that embarrassing, well Robin isn't likely your daily hero in the comic book nowadays, it's a rusty name call I know." Ace mock back making Robin laugh heartily

"Is this how you keep your prisoners entertained boy? Sheesh, you really have a bad sense of humor. Put a clown nose or something" Robin said back looking at the bored expression of Ace's face.

Shun step forward besides Ace and look at the butler

"How did you get your personal base and why isn't show in our coordinates now?" Shun asked seriously to Robin.

"Are you really that blind, Of course, I'll hide it. As for how I make that base, well 3 years of serving you did have a great opportunity to conceal it anyway." Robin said feeling proud and gave a mental pat on his back for a very good job indeed.

Shun look at the crimpled butler by head to toe and sigh every now and then.

"Why would you do this? I already gave you enough to welcome in the family." Shun said with Robin suddenly look at him back with a grim expression

"Family?! This isn't Family! It's Hell! Your grandfather kills the mothers, sisters and brothers we love and just bring us abandoned and make us soldiers! You and your tattle tales of overpowering the influential and powerful authorities are quite a show of honoring your name! This organization is nothing but a collection of psychopaths and murderers who would order and kill innocent lives just for a living and a good advantage in your cards!" shout Robin with much hatred in his voice.

An electrifying shock ignite his anger more as he suppress his scream of agony and pain brought by the thousands of lighting pierced to his own being. Then, one of the guards punch his stomach making Robin cough his own blood and the guard pull his hair to make the butler look pitiful in front of their boss.

Shun and the others look at Robin with an emotionless expression written on their faces. Shun stop pushing the button indicating the saving of the butler's suffering.

"Can you tell me where your hidden base is now?" asked Shun as he noted Robin to push the button again and put it in maximum power if he gets his patience thin as a thread.

"I….I don't know how I hide the base beforehand…" the butler panted with sweat bullets crept on his face. Shun managed to chuckle at the butler's antics.

"Are you fooling me here? How could you not know to hide your base…"

"I wasn't finish so save your foul breath and let me do the talking." counter Robin back. The butler would end up his life if not for Ace stopping Shun from breaking the enemy's limbs.

"Start talking Robin." said Ace after convincing Shun to minimize his temper.

"I don't know how I hid the base because basically, I wasn't the one who build the base in the first place."

"W-What do you mean?" asked Shun with Robin managed to chuckle by his dry throat.

"So he had some engineers doing the work for him including the base that was just implanted below of us…" Shun understood easily. Indeed, this would be another boring challenge yet interested as he is against an advanced geniuses in the world.

Ace catch up and asked "Wait, are you just going to leave him like that?"

Shun shrug his shoulders "Why are you asking that? You know I can't leave prisoners alive like that, it's saving them from more suffering."

"Then what now?" asked Ace as he stop Shun for going out in the door

"Remember that we have private zoos in the premises?"

"Yeah?"

"My assign zookeeper said something about the lack of meat in the tiger's section. I was thinking of donating a pack of meat next week." said Shun and went out of the door. Ace widens his eyes and chuckle afterwards; the guards look at each other and smile maniacally at the butler who doesn't seem to care if he would be the animal's appetizer and dinner in the next few days.

Three weeks later…

[September 15, 2012; Meeting Room; Asian Glimmer's Hotel; 10AM]

"This better be good son…" said one of the ranked members of his organization as he watched Shun, Dan and Ace sit on their designated chairs.

Tension started to fill in the air, suffocating their lungs as the Criminal started the meeting.

"Morning everyone." said Shun

"Boss…" they all stand up and sit afterwards.

"Any reports from the Financial Department?" Shun glance at Dan

"Apparently we are running out of stocks and supplies for the money exchange, I'll set up for our backup counterfeits of money in Wardington City to import it to the embassies of our colonized countries. But nevertheless, the flow of the system is still intact boss…" said Dan formatively.

As the entire conversation of what is the primary status of the organization's movements is, Shun decided to quicken up their main topic of the meeting.

"We have a new threat in the system….more likely an unknown enemy's organization. I've believed I told everyone how we manage to capture and imprison their leader." said Shun as he scanned the representatives of other cooperatives of the organization

"Why won't you make them as partners instead lad?" said one of them

"That I'll think about it then…I have a little difficulty of searching that particular group…even my Reconnaissance members can't cope up with their unusual activities against us…..that's why I need the rest of you to cooperate on this request of mine…find those groups for me and I will deal with them….once and for all…" said Shun with determination in his eyes.

Shun have plan another picnic time with Alice at one of their private gardens afterwards. Then he started creating a conversation for them.

"So…uhmm….How's the weather?"

"It's okay I guess…" said Alice to him much of his building awkwardness as if asking a simple question could be the same as pulling a trigger to your victim.

"So, is this still part of my maid services or…"

"Don't worry...I'm giving you a day off…"

"Shun….Its already a week…"

"Are you complaining here? You're supposed to be begging for my mercy here." barked Shun and unconsciously looking up the clouds.

"What's wrong?" asked Alice as Shun smile as he looked at a funny looking cloud.

"Nothing….Just thinking about things…"

"What kind of things?" asked Alice to him

"Err….that thing…" he smoothly reply

"Huh? That thing?"

"Yeah that thing" he answer

"So where is that thing?"

"The thing is right there. Look." he pointed

"Where is it? I can't find the thing…"

"The thing is the thing over there…"

"Oh that thing…" Alice finally understood

"Nah, not that thing….this thing!" he chuckle back

"Oh that one thing I thought it never be the thing!"

"No the one thing beside the thing you are looking at now."

"But the thing that you are talking now is the same thing I said earlier when you mention the thing all over again."

"Yeah but that thing you're talking about is the same thing you've been pointing out and the thing I've mention is the thing of the thing over there." Shun explained further.

"Oh…" and Alice glances back at the thing and smile

"The funny looking cloud…I use to look at those things when I was young…"

"I…I see…" and bowed her head and return to eat her bread instead.

*Okay this is it. Stay calm, all you have to do is to ask her nicely where are the items now.* Shun battled out his thoughts and look at the girl's lovely eyes.

"So uhmm…" he trailed off

"Shun, can I tell you something…"

"Err…yeah..." Shun partly agree and let her be.

"You have to risk your trust to someone who you really care for….if you do it out of your own will, Then expect to die afterwards."

"Err…I'm not following you…" Shun finally mouthed out in which Alice heaved a sigh again.

*I thought she is going to tell me where the items are. Crud. And when did she learn to speak harsh words? now I'm scared of this determine nun.* Shun thought still staring at her

"I-I'm sorry, I just wanted to express my feelings…and one more thing…"

"Please spare your words of wisdom to me…." Shun rolled his eyes in which Alice look intently at his eyes.

"I-never mind, I must be delusional…" Alice chuckle as she clean up the mess they made in the picnic blanket.

"Where is it?!" Shun murmur as he is finding his personal knife at his room. You could tell he is desperately trying to find the thing as a typhoon or a whirlwind happens to disturb the once clean and neat room of his.

Even to the extent of throwing his and Alice's clothes in the drawers, he finally found it due to his misplacing habit of his. As he was about to return the clothes neatly, something shimmering was found in one of the pockets of Alice's dress. He slowly raises it up seeing a very cute bracelet. He felt weird and a sense of familiarity came over him the moment after looking it. He examined every corner of it to verify it. He was trembling…really this is the first time he felt…no he is not

"This…..how…"

Under the state of shock, he still manages to pick up his phone with trembling hands. After a few rings and even his faltering steps as he is circling the corner, the caller talks immediately with a lazy and irritated tone.

"Boss, Can we talk later? I'm at the…"

"Meet me at the office NOW!"

"So what's the almighty Shun Kazami wanted from me now? And don't start with the poker game, you've ruined my image and money to begin with…" said Ace and sighs for his 'bad luck syndrome'.

"Can you look at this item for me….and let our specialists examine this strand of hair…"

"Huh, you want me to look at this and now a strand of orange hair….what for?"

"Just do what I say here…"

"Huh, this particular orange hair isn't from your girl Alice right?" said Ace and place the said strand on the sample container.

"I-Well yeah, I have to make sure though…" Shun said unassumingly.

"That what?"

"I….I….okay but first hear my story…" said Shun as he raked his hair out of his frustration and explain the latter the situation, slowly lifting his burdens away.

"So you had a friend before and her name is Alice…" said Ace

"Yes..." Shun replied

"But she was supposed to be dead years ago? How come..."

"It doesn't matter…" Shun said sipping his drink in one go. "I'm scared Ace…" as he felt guilty by the thought.

"You're scared of Alice?"

"Not entirely…. and I have a wrecked feeling that something is going on here…" Shun said as he show to Ace a picture of a young girl eating her cotton candy.

"Yep, this little girl looks like our Alice now….same hair, same skin, same eyes….everything….or maybe you thought Alice was dead….or maybe your just delusional…but…..shouldn't you know this beforehand?" asked Ace and chuckles

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, by the very first day you saw her…..in your bedroom….well….shouldn't you be surprise and scared that your actual friend of yours is still alive at your very sanctuary honeymoon?" asked Ace trying to stifle his laughter.

"Your sense of humor irks me, and no….after those years, I tend to have forgotten her...thinking she's just a nobody at Presharar…but….just now…seeing that necklace in her belongings made me think otherwise….and that's why I wanted you to check on her backgrounds again….I don't want to jump to conclusions….I had to make sure…" said Shun standing up and turn around facing the window.

"Well if that's the case then, I'll do it, your stoic looks made you look like your serious over a dead girl in the past…." said Ace and sigh as he walk away and close the door.

"She shouldn't be here…..she was supposed to be dead….." Shun murmured as he looks at the picture of the girl again.

"I'm sorry Alice, but it's impossible for you to be alive….. I was the one who took your life anyway….how did you survive…no…this is not her….." then he argued to himself again.

Alice was replacing soil from the flower pots when she saw Ace and Dan talking privately at the corner. Curiosity got the better of her and decided to listen to their conversation.

"Shun wanted me to look after this thing…" said Ace showing Dan a particular necklace. Dan could only reply with a blank expression.

"And…lately he even suspects Alice over things…." Ace continue

"I-I see…what things?" said Dan and cross his arms.

"I don't know but things got complicated….even I got a weird gut that Alice might be involved in our crisis…"

"The Raj thing?" said Dan raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, and maybe the Head Eagle had his assumptions right, ever since Alice went to this mansion, some guy name Raj came and invade our mansion, Afterwards, interrupting our black markets production and annihilate some clients we had and lately wiring our money to the polices….given them a hunch on where we are now…That's what Shun said, you can't underestimate that guy…and maybe Alice…"

"Now you're accusing her for being involved over that? How could the two of you be sure of that Alice will get in contact of that Raj? She's a nun for the heaven's sakes! A girl living in a remote village that she traditionally following their cultures and mostly a modern retard! You can't judge her like that Ace, I'm ashamed for the both of you…" said Dan and glance at the sample container Ace holding.

"A sample of Alice's hair and a necklace….peculiar…"

"Shun wanted to verify some things….but I'll discuss it to you later. Bye!" said Ace as he started sprinting

"Do Mira, Julie and the rest of the brotherhood know about this…?" asked Dan as he watches Ace running away.

"No, only the three of us!" Ace shouted back. Dan could only watch the guy going further away. As soon as he is gone with his shadow, he chuckled dryly.

"You can come out now…." said Dan looking at the bushes. Dan sighed and checks over Alice who had her eyes staring blankly at no one.

"How…."

"Don't worry, I'll handle this….no one is going to suspect you…I promise…" and with that, Alice smile and weep as Dan comforting her in his chest.

"Boss…" Komba and one of the IT specialists bow before Shun as he gives him the documents as the latter show him a wooden box.

"Report…" he said without glancing at them.

"We found the Bishop's baton and the purple robes…"

"Huh?!" Shun asked as he widen his eyes. True to the heart, the two items he is seeking….is right before his very eyes.

"We found them at one of the gardens here….while our gardeners are harvesting flowers before autumn falls…." Komba replied as he handled Shun the box containing the said items.

"I see…Well done…" he smirked in satisfaction as he took his last look of the items and close the box.

*Huh, I don't even need the girl to ask about it…Heh…*

"Sir, there's something else….I brought one of our technical experts for details about the mannequins you fought last time…"

"Yes?" asked Shun to the person

"Apparently, the mannequins are highly advanced so we took a long time to verify the components of the items. The components however are quite synthesized and well fabricated in the form that the chemicals of bismuth and fluorine can…"

"Please spare me the headache…" said Shun and cross his arms.

"What I meant was that the mannequins are robots being disguised by a natural element which we fathom as carbon monoxide and fluoride….A highly toxic substance that could be in a form of a substance of a human's skin making it a real person….and the robot is highly remote control…it can be commanded by emitting signals but we can't verify how did that matter…"

"I hired you because you will solve this problem, not explaining major details to me!"

"We-we are working for a solution….because lately sir, you've been battling with highly advanced robotics…."

"H-Huh?"

"The medical departments examine the bodies of the motorcyclists and give them a shock of a lifetime that the corpses are quite possessed by machineries…"

"Oh…." Shun said in his not amused tone.

Shun leans his exhausted body in his bed. He smiled ashe looks at his price possession at one of his displays. He sways his body to his left and called the intercom.

"Alice….bring dinner here…" he said and slowly closes his eyelids.

Alice was looking beyond the mansion just meters away. She smile sadly and hop on her vehicle.

"Ready?" asked Dan

"Y-Yeah…but are you sure? If Shun finds out that I'm leaving…" she trailed off

"Nah, besides he just wanted the items you hide anyway, did you put it as I said?" asked Dan glancing at the mirror.

"Err, yeah….but I fear I've disobey my mother Samuel…" said Alice and close her eyes.

"Okay…" said Dan and drove off.

"Take this punk!" barked a man as he pounded more local hooligans in the alleyway. Blood ooze in the surroundings as his devilish figure enters the scene.

"Your next pal!" as he charges the leader of the gang and punches him to pieces, tenderizing his flesh making his face bruised and bloody as hell.

He took his handful of hair and smirk deviously at him.

"So where's my bargain?" he said and grin mischievously.

"I'm sorry….Jake….but…"the leader barely mutters as he watches his men slowly dying

He slowly points the gun at him "Well?"

The leader could only look at him helplessly "Please….have mercy…"

Blood trickled by his forehead and slowly the person bend on his knees as he sway his body and fell to the ground. The man could look at the dead body with his deranged eyes.

"No one messes with me…." Jake murmured and chuckle at the same time. He took out something in his pocket and call up his friend Robin.

"Dude, the gangster coiled me, but I promise to get you out of there in no time…" he said

"Very well then…make sure that the preparations are done Jake…" said Robin as he watches Shun's bodyguards playing poker.

"No prob, Robster…" and hang up. Jake looks up seeing one of his units carrying a luggage as the others are disposing the mess he made.

"The shipments are here Mr. Raj…" said the latter and handed him a cigarette

"Good…Very good" said Jake as he walked out lighting his cigarette under midnight skies.

Author's Note:

Hello everyone and sorry for the late update. School I know…sheesh. And oh I change my profile name anyway...for a valuable reason.

Anyway I want to thank the following reviewers who supports and care this story of mine:

BunnyTea

(Well, I did plan him to be nice during his kid days but I thought otherwise and decided to make Shun had an antagonist side rather a heroic manner. Wah! Thank you for reviewing and have good stories cook up for us okay?)

shaddowing1994

(Yeah he was a (hot and sexy) we all known and love...anyway...I have to modify scenes because action and bloody scenes could wash off interest over readers and decided to have romance and comedy instead. But thank you for appreciating the story and I hope to see some good stories from you Ms. LazyDrome okay? Hehehehe, just kidding but seriously update okay?)

InnocentDiamond

(Okay, so I've pretty much sum up all the hints...but no straight path to it...that's how I juice up mysteries of identities at my hand, expect more surprises and alot of mayhem as Shun went nuclear all over again...well not technically but you get the picture. Thank you for reviewing! And yeah Shun the jerk may...stole the necklace and give it to Alice (I fear the guards will arrest her again) and washing clothes is a serious job I tell you, *shows hands* Know what I mean? Thank you again and God Bless!)

So have a nice day alright guys? And if you have any good or violent reactions, please give me a hunch by reviewing or just pm me aight?