Hi there my dear readers! ^_^

This is going to be my last update till my exams get over :'-(

I 'll try to update again before the end of this month.

Meanwhile, hope you enjoy this chapter!

Thank you for your reviews AskForXYZ and Neha Borkar! :):)

Disclaimer:I do not own City Hunter.

Chapter 8

"What do you want with us?", I spat out at Lei Akumu's smirking face with as much as strength as I could summon to make sure that my voice did not quiver with the fear that was slowly rising within me. I could not let him see that I was scared of him. I had to be strong .

For myself. For Maiko.
I could feel Maiko's tensed body shiver and sob softly next to me.
If only I could comfort her and tell her everything would be alright ... even if I did not quite believe it.
I did'nt know how long it had been since this gangster kidnapped us but it must be long enough for my aniki to realize something was wrong and come in search of me.
Of course he would find me and he had Saebe Ryo to help him find me ... I knew that.
But what really worried .. and scared ... me was what would happen in the mean time to me and Maiko.
My instincts all yelled warnings at the man before me ... there was nothing in his demeanor or his eyes that made me feel reassured that we would be unharmed until we were found ... I wanted nothing more than to be wrong about this .
I glared at him as I met his gaze evenly as he walked towards us .
He sat down on the throne - resembling chair placed in the middle of the room just like ours . He dragged it out from between our chairs and sat opposite to us.
" Well...its so good to meet you charming ladies! ", he said in a voice thick with American accent, " I am the one and only, Lei Akumu. "
He bowed his head and gestured to himself before bending forward and kissing my hand and Maiko on the cheek.
I would have kicked his shin if my legs were not bound.
He leaned forward and cupped our faces and his eyes darted between our faces...
" I am damn lucky if I may say so my self. To be able to fall in love with two such beautiful and contradicting goddesses.", Akumu said and flashed his teeth.
" Well you see I was going to kidnap Maiko Genko here ", he gestured with his head towards Maiko who seemed to have stopped breathing, " And blackmail her stubborn rich fool of a father to sell the land he refused to sell me when I asked nicely ." Lei shook his head.
" But you see when I saw you Maiko ", Lei cupped her face with both his hands while I watched helplessly, " You with your perfect face, your big dark eyes, your milky skin and your beautiful long dark hair... you captured my heart. I fell in love with you. But when I tried to come near you you ran away and it hurt me you see ... You had to be thought a lesson. You should never run away from me . Never ."
His fingers traced the cuts on Maiko's face, she squirmed under his touch and tried to pull her head back but he held her in place with his tight grip on her chin.
I decided silence was best at the moment as I bit down on my tongue and refrained myself and voicing out my opinions of this delusional psychopath gangster before me.
" And you ",Lei turned towards me and gripped my face painfully, " You are a fiery being arent you? I knew it the minute I saw you. Such a beautiful face. Such a beautiful body.", he said as his eyes scanned my body hungrily," And you are the sister of the Hideyuki Makimura. That pesky detective has interfered with my plans too many times, looks like its time for a little pay back. "
I struggled in his hold.

Everything about him had me seeing red flags.
" I can assure you both you will be my prized possessions. You will have everything you need. I will have everything I need from both of you.", Lei said in a sinister voice that sent shivers down my backbone.
" What do you want from us?", I asked him again, this time too beyond with fear to care whether I sounded scared or not.
" I want you to be my queens. And of course after I am done dealing with your families. I want my land .",he gestured with his left hand towards Maiko and with his right hand towards me," I want my revenge."
" I was going to wait you know. I was going to deal with Genko first then worry about teaching that hotshot detective brother of yours a lesson but who am I to give up an opportunity when it presents it self ", Lei said as he leaned back, his hands behind his head and shrugged.
'So he knows who I am' , I thought, 'should I be comforted or terrified?'
While I contemplated the pros and cons of the situation, the gong of a old grandfather echoed from what I presumed to be a hallway was heard and the sound of the door to the room being opened after someone one knocked on it once.
" Master Lei, lunch is ready. ", a voice called out from behind us.
" Thank you Jin. ",Lei replied as he stood up and walked past us but not before pecking me and Maiko on the cheek. How revolting.
" And see to it that the young mistresses join me. Don't worry they wont be escaping any time soon. The mansion is heavily guarded after all. And even if they do manage to escape, well that would mean the end of their so called families. ",Lei called out, more or less a warning directed at us.
The sound of the door being closed and footsteps nearing us was heard.
A man in his early fifties knelt before Maiko and started to undo the ropes that bound her. His face was expressionless. His old demeanor cold. As though he did not mind his master's conquests...
But his eyes...they looked so pained and sorrowful as though he had been to hell and back.
Risking everything I made up mind to follow my gut and waited for him to finish untying Maiko and move to my chair.
" Please! ", I whispered hoarsely -the fear of someone listening was quiet evident in my mind.
"Please help us.", I said desperately.
Maiko took my lead and moved to stand next to my chair and clutched on to my shoulder as she too pleaded.
" Please Jin-san! Help us! Please! Think of us your daughters and please take mercy and help us escape!." , cried Maiko.
I watched Jin-san visible stiffen at Maiko 's words and a look of intense pain passed his features.
"Pleas-", Jin-san cut me off as he unbound the last of the ropes.
" Do not be foolish. I can not afford to do that. By doing that I am endangering my own daughter, please understand no matter how much I am sorry for you both I cannot risk my own family. Lei Akumu is ruthless. He will kill my family in cold blood. Please do not ask me to help you, it is will do you good to listen to his words. Maybe you will end up living longer. ", Jin-san said sadly and walked to the door and held it open for us.
Maiko collapsed against me, I would have consoled her but my fear had rendered me useless.
" Maiko,its going to be alright.", I said choking back on my own sobs.
Hearing me, Jin-san shook his head ruefully.
If it was possible I felt more hopeless and useless than before.
Aniki..Aniki please find us soon.I am scared Aniki...Aniki..

We were led down the hallway into a posh dinning room...and the feast before us was fit for a king.
I had never seen such a variety of food at the same time but it did nothing to stir my appetite.
Maiko whimpered as she hid behind me suddenly.

I followed her train of vision to Lei Akumu who sat at the head of the table drinking wine.
Amongst the grand decor he struck out like a sour thumb with his gangster attire ...

He motioned for us to sit down at the other end of the table. Which we did.
The servants began to serve us, I hardly saw what was placed before me as I glared at Lei earnestly.
My anger was returning ten- fold and it took all my strenght not to run across the room to him and choke him till he died for putting the soft-spoken Maiko through this sort of hell ...Oh Maiko..
I looked where she was seated across me ..she had stopped crying. Thank god,maybe she was starting to cope-...
Maiko who had been intently staring at the silver-ware before her lifted the sharp knife on her left and suddenly ran it into her stomach ...
I was frozen in shock ... I stopped breathing.
" Maiko! "
My yell alerted Lei who came over to where Maiko was seated and examined her wound while Maiko writhed in pain ...
I was still unable to move...How could she...My god...Maiko why?! ..Aniki would have saved us...

Its not too late...
At that thought I rushed to Maiko's side and tried to stop the bleeding with my hands while Akumu stood just there...doing nothing.
" Call an ambulance! Please! ", I begged him. The servants just stood behind him not daring to even blink.
" Someone! Anyone please ! I am begging you! ", I kept on yelling until I felt Maiko become motionless suddenly.
"Maiko! Maiko! Open your eyes please! Maiko ", I screamed at her.
" Well why dont we end her misery? ",Lei said suddenly.
I lifted my head to see Lei Akumu pointing a gun at Maiko ...
My eyes widened as the tears fell down my face...
" No! Please no! "
And then he fired...
I pushed myself in front of Maiko and the last thing I felt was the bullet pierce my shoulder before I hit my head against the table and fainted.

I could feel myself drift away ... was it the shock or exhaustion I did not know ... but it did not stop me.
Kaori!
Kaori!
Someone was calling my name ... I know that voice ... Aniki! ... My brother! ... He found me! He would save us! Maiko and I ...
Maiko!
I opened my eyes in a flash...Maiko, where was she? Was she alright...

Hehe..what do you think? :) Please review!