Okay, yeah it's been a while bu~t, I have a super long chapter to make up for it~
Hope ya enjoy~
DISCLAIMER!
Turning to the side, Yamamoto realized he was about a foot away from being attacked by a dying crocodile and braced himself for it.
But it never came.
Opening his eyes, a cloud of silver blurred his vision.
He took a better look.
Hayato stood in front of him, in her left hand, a knife was positioned in front of her chest, ready for battle but noticed... the assaulter was gone.
Yamamoto was about to fully turn to the other and accidentally slipped a gasp, almost allowing water to enter but lost a bit of air.
The crocodile had its mouth chomped down on her right arm, just below her shoulder, blood escaping from both.
He watched with fear and shock as the crocodile tried to pull Hayato down with it, clutching onto her arm.
Yamamoto was about to jump forward in aid to the other when he was stopped short at her actions.
Hayato kneed the reptile in its stomach then jabbed the blade in place of her previous attack, officially loosening the animal's grip and successfully escaping.
She then gracefully twisted her body to a 90 degree spin and using her heel to smack the assaulter down with success.
Hayato then grabbed the other's arm and pulled him through the languid water, her hair flowing along with her, behind.
Reaching the surface and poking their head above the bed of water, the two gasped for their air deprived lungs.
Hayato a little heavier than Yamamoto.
She could feel her strength slowly and agonizingly leaving her.
She felt herself being hauled up and applied herself along with the force to the pier.
There, she flopped on all fours, trying to rein back in her rapidly reducing oxygen.
It was weird.
Too weird..
She's had far worse injuries. To her, a wound like this could be considered child's play. Yet, she feels as though every living aspect of her is being burned but her appearance shows nothing but a drenched, healthy body, subtract the bleeding gauged flesh of her arm.
"Gokudera...?" She could still hear Yamamoto's voice though, as distant as it seems to get. "Gokudera, I'm going to get help. Just, hold on!" He said, panic, hesitation and uncertainty lacing his voice yet was stopped as he moved from his crouched position beside.
Hayato grabbed the other's sleeve despite her heavily growing gasping.
"But-.." He started but the rest was unintentionally muted by Hayato.
The only thing she could feel was not just the pain but something.. She doesn't know but something flowing throughout her body.
Could it be her poison?
But that was not possible. She was immune and prone to her poison and a majority of any kind.
Hayato coats her weapons with a very practical poison she'd created at just the young age of 12.
Her breaths were ragged even more, her gasps more heavy than before.
With a sharp intake, she felt it.
She felt it.
She felt as her insides were nipped but at an alarming rate. She felt as her ribs were being plucked and attacked.
Like little paranas swimming around her system.
Her hand dropped from Yamamoto's in attempt to keep herself from falling flat on the floor.
Yamamoto looked in high panic at the other's blood-sweating arm, now forming a pool beneath it, her arm entirely covered in blood then to her trembling body, watching her attempts to catch her breath.
"Gokudera.."
Hearing the other now in-between breathless gasps and wheezes, Yamamoto suddenly became determined on what to do.
Yamamoto stooped beside Hayato just in time as she was about to collapse and scooped her up in his arms, his right arm under her knees and his left, her back.
Ignoring the blood now sinking into his blue shirt, Yamamoto began carefully jogging to the infirmary he passed on his way here, picking up a little speed as he felt the other clutch to his shirt.
"P..Put me d-down.." She choked out.
Yamamoto came to a halt.
"I can't-" He was cut off when Hayato fisted his shirt tighter and attempted to push him away, in hopes of letting herself down.
She ended up falling victim to gravity but as Yamamoto's hands reached to grab hold of her shoulders, she froze.
Hayato's mind froze.
It took her a while to figure out what was happening..
She was healing..
Her body was healing..
Her hand shot to her mouth to cease the coming regurgitation as she felt those little creatures, or whatever they were, explode within her.
What the hell was happening, she wished to know.
Judging from the far-sounding cries of her name and the seemingly little shakes of her body, her senses were numbing.
Hayato took a deep breath, calming herself in hopes of understanding the situation.
With that, everything seemed to ease down, to clear out.
The first thing she felt was the rough and calloused yet moist hands gripping beneath her shoulders. One over the injury.
"Gokudera!"
With those hands, she felt something flowing from them..
Something warm...
"Gokudera!" Hayato snapped to full reality and found a very worried Yamamoto about two inches from her.
"Gokudera! What's wrong? Are you okay? Do you need me to get a doctor or something? Gokudera-"
"S-shut up.." Hayato choked out. She took a deep breath. She wanted to move, she wanted to get up and out but the warmth was inviting.
It was relieving, but it had a sense of déjà vu.
After a minute of that blissful warmth, Hayato gained the strength to smack the other's hands away and attempted to stand, only to find herself back on all fours.
"Gokudera! Stop pushing yourself!" Yamamoto warned. "Just stay here, I'll get you a nurse!"
"I don't need one.." She croaked out––voice raspy and rough yet smooth–– finally able to speak without stuttering.
Yamamoto stooped in view of her again. "Yes, you do. I'll bring you to one then!"
"I'm fine.." She spoke with as much willpower as she could muster but failing as her voice faded, exhaustion lingering behind.
"Gokudera, you're not okay. I'll help you to the infirmary. I saw it on my way here so I know where it is." Yamamoto was about to wrap his arms around the other in order to hoist her body but retreated in reaction as they were swatted away.
Hayato finally regained enough strength to sit up only to be introduced with a shiver to the sight before her.
Yamamoto bore through her sternly, a look filled with unbelievable seriousness she was yet to witness on him.
"I-I told you I'm fine." She almost quietly choked, cursing herself for her unintentional stuttering.
She watched with curious and cautious eyes as the other shrugged his unbuttoned shirt off and placed it atop her head, concealing most of her fine and feathery features.
She barely stifled a yelp as she was brought back into her previous position before she forcefully released herself from his hold, though this time, he was firmer.
Yamamoto began at a fast yet careful pace from the pier, determination evident in those brown seas.
"What are you- I told you I'm-"
"You aren't. And I'm sending you to the infirmary whether you like it or not." He spoke with superiority, to which Hayato scowled to.
Hayato was about to rout but stopped when she felt the her stomach churn aggressively up to her throat.
Finally calming herself, Hayato found them both in front of a huge white building, labelled 'Infirmary' and watched with an exhausted body as they walked through the automatic, double-glass doors.
Entering, they saw nothing but a vacated waiting room, reception included.
Hayato was just about to let herself down when Yamamoto swift them past the elevators and further into the first floor.
As they passed, Hayato saw the large board in the waiting room, telling of their floors and their severity.
'Trauma Levels-
First Floor - Level V
Second Floor - Level IV
Third Floor - Level III
Fourth Floor - Level II
Fifth Floor - Level I'
Level I obviously being the severest.
Yamamoto walked through the automatic, single white door and hurriedly laid Hayato on the single, white bed but because of his rapid state, she ended up falling onto her back.
Hayato watched as Yamamoto opened cabinet after cabinet, randomly searching. Why was he moving with such urgency?
That's when it hit her.
Her eyes drifted to his shirt where the entire front was almost a dark red, soaking with––more likely in––blood.
Looking down at her arm, she realized; the only thing identifiable about her arm is her shoulder. The entire thing was covered in blood. She could barely see the wound. The only way she was able to locate it was because of the pain and it had a little more blood than the rest.
But something was wrong.
This was her blood; that's for sure but.. Why was there so much? It almost impossible for blood to flow this fast without and internal cause even with just a few puncture-..
'Internal..' Could it be..?
'What was that thing..?' She remembered her earlier little struggle.
Hayato hissed as something wet, cold and burning rubbed against her wound.
Looking down, she saw Yamamoto wiping a wet, water-filled cotton ball on her arm. It was water yet why was it burning? It's just to clear it up but...
Hayato pulled her arm away and brushed the other aside. Inspecting her now, almost visible punctures, her eyes widening a bit as she saw a keen glitter of silver.
"Leave." She said sharply.
"But Gokudera-"
"Get out. Now." She said more acutely causing Yamamoto to flinch. "You can come back when I'm done." At that, she softened her tone.
".. Okay." Yamamoto reluctantly got up and out, taking a few glances back along the way.
As he exited, Hayato got up and walked across from the bed where a tray lay on a counter opposite it.
Leaving a trail of her blood unintentionally, Hayato walked to the counter, picked up a few things then back to the bed where she briefly looked at the already blooded stain.
She sat back and took a clean ball of cotton, then ran it through the water from the bedside sink.
Ignoring the stinging sensation, she cleaned the blood from her wound, now leaving it almost completely visible.
She almost gaped wide at what she saw.
In each of the five punctures, a – –hopefully – –short metal cylinder encircled the tearings inside.
She knew this. She saw this before. And so many things rushed through her mind.
Taming those thoughts for now, she turned her attention back to the problem at hand.
Taking the tweezers, she placed them inside one of the punctures, grabbing a light hold on the item. This was gonna hurt.
That, she definitely knew.
Hayato began encircling the tweezers around the rim of the metal to slacken the hold she knew it had on the tissue.
Now grabbing a hold on the rim, she pulled just a bit of it out, hissing as she did so.
Of course, using the term 'Quick like a cat' in this situation was not a very well idea unless you intend to internally bleed to death.
They're stuck to you, very much stuck to you and believe it or not; they're alive and feeding off what your body has to offer. Which isn't something you'd like to have to live healthy.
Slowly and excruciatingly, Hayato tugged at it, bit by bit; having it release itself along the way.
After two minutes, she finally got it out, the wound freshly bleeding a bit more.
Taking a breath, she continued.
After eleven minutes, she was finally able to rid herself from them all. Resting the tweezers beside a dish containing the slug-shelled looking things, she got up and went to the bathroom, carrying a few cotton balls, scissors and bandages with her.
Hayato used the scissors to cut the bandage strip, tugged a bit to check its hold and tightness on her arm and used the clip to secure it.
She had cleaned her entire arm and any blood clinging onto her skin. Now, it was the floor's time.
She looked into the mirror of the bathroom to her arm.
Those metals.. if her guess was correct;... then it's bad.
Feeling herself being watched through an open window behind her, Hayato pulled out a napkin and stooped. Using the napkin to clean the blood beneath with her left hand as a cover, she used her right––despite the pain––to tug open a little compartment under her shoe and pulled out a 3 inch jack-knife, a flat layer of rounded wood as the hilt.
Making a swift turn, she launched the blade through the window but because her injury slowed her process, she missed, a man clad in black falling out of a tree with her knife lodged in the thick branch of where his torso soon was.
Cursing under her breath, she went back into the room and shrugged off her black sweater and took her red jersey off leaving her in only a black tube top and blue jeans, a little to loose for her taste but nothing the belt couldn't handle.
On her right leg––on her thigh––stood an arced zip. Unzipping it, her thigh with a knife sheath was exposed, a four-inch blade holding inside.
Unbuckling the strap, she took it out and locked it on to her belt, pulling her top over it.
"G-Gokudera? Are you done?" She heard from beyond the door.
Hayato moved to the desk and got a sticky note stack and a pen.
"Gokudera?"
After writing some things, she ripped it from the others and stuck it on the desk.
"Gokudera?" His voice raised.
She went back into the bathroom, making sure to check if the viewing was clear and got out through the window.
"Gokudera!" Finally deciding to walk in, Yamamoto's worry rose a bit more as he saw nothing but white bed sheets colored with blood and a fresh trail moving to the bathroom.
Before reaching the bath, he caught a bright red in the corner of his eye. Moving to the desk, he spotted a sticky note. Picking it up, he read the black writings, becoming confused as well.
-Do me a favor and clean up for me. If you can.-
Hayato ran a hand through her long hair and shook it out at the end, hoping to dry it at least a little.
She sighed at the other watching her from behind, as before; in a tree. Tilting her head to look as if she was looking at the ground, she spotted another, black-dressed man with dark sunglasses. Stooping down to an angle not accessible to the mystery man, Hayato picked up a stone and threw it far behind her; under her arm and making sure it hit the concrete wall with an audible thud, successfully drawing the man's attention away to it.
Looking back, the man saw nothing of his target and searched around the area. The result was the same. She disappeared.
"Never lose your target." The man heard behind him. But before he was able to turn around, the voice whispered right in his ear.
"It might cost you your life."
Before he had the chance to reach for his gun, his right hand was pulled back to meet his back and his other, pulled back from over his shoulder to meet his right, forcefully bending his back to her, causing great pain.
"Why are you here?" Hayato demanded in a whisper.
"P-Principessa.." The man choked out.
"Why."
"Fo-forgive me.. but-" He hissed as she tugged harder.
"Why." She pulled again, though this time, he release a sharp yelp at the intense pain.
"I-c-can't..Shit!"
Hayato grumbled.
"How many." She changed the question.
"Principessa. Plea-Uargh!"
"How many or lose the arm." Hayato threatened, taking his left arm further down, intensify the pain to prove her point.
"T..Twenty.." He stopped, taking in a sharp breath. "T-twenty men!"
"Where?" After about a minute of silence, Hayato pulled harder than before. "Where."
"Here.." He said immediately.
"And how many overall?"
"I don't know what-"
"You're smart enough to know how this'll end if you don't tell me what I want to know, Rico."
"Fifty.. Fifty men in Japan.." He babbled, desperation lacing his voice.
"Thank you. Now, you should know what I'm going to say next."
"I won't tell a word of this. I promise." Hayato smiled.
"I know. But I don't just want your word of silence." Smashing her foot behind Rico's back, arcing it, she leaned in the bit of space to his ear, ignoring his short scream of pain. "I want your cooperation. And only for and to me."
"P-Principessa.. I am always at your word but your-" He stopped sharp as she jammed her foot into him more.
"He's not here. And would not know."
"..B-but-"
"Trust me." She said in more than a whisper.
After a few minutes, a word was finally brought to surface.
"... Yes.. Principessa.."
Rico sighed heavily as Hayato released him and slumped on the thick branch.
"You need to bear this." She said and unsheathed her knife.
Rico's eyes widened a bit. "What are you-?"
Unbuttoning his jacket suit, Hayato tugged out his white shirt and used the knife to rip the bottom to a strip of cloth.
"Why did you–mfgh!" Rico muffled out as the cloth was stuffed into his mouth.
"Just relax." Hayato took hold of Rico's left arm, positioning it palm-up and laying the tip of the blade to his mid forearm.
"Wymf!" She slicked the tip lightly across the skin but deep enough to draw blood, Rico's little cry stifled.
Turning his arm over for the wound to face the bark, she waited and watched as his blood little by little spilled on the branch.
When she deemed enough visible blood on it, she took the cloth from his mouth and tied it tightly on his wound after wiping the blood from her blade––on the dry part––and sheathed her knife once more.
"May I ask the reason for this, Principessa?" Rico asked.
"To stage your abduction and your struggle of it."
"But that didn't-"
"Stage. I said he wouldn't know and this is how he won't. This way, I forcefully kidnapped you after you put up a fight." Hayato reached to his belt and took out his gun and holster from his left side, leaving the other he had on his right on.
She switched her knife sheath on to her left hip and place the holster on her right.
"You are to meet me at this address, tomorrow. Understand?"
"Yes, Principessa."
"Where are the others positioned?" She questioned.
"There are two men at compass points."
"I thought you said there were twenty men on this campus." She said, attention directly to him.
"Yes."
"Rico. Twenty men.." She sighed at his lost look, reminding her of a certain black-haired jock. "Sixteen points by two, Rico."
"Umm.." She pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation.
'I really am surrounded by idiots...'
"Th–ir–ty?" He answered with wavering confidence.
"Close." She said and pulled out a pen from his shirt pocket and wrote an address on the bottom part of the same shirt, using her knife to cut it again and handed him the cloth. "Make sure no one sees or knows of this. And don't even try for loopholes if you're thinking of.. such.. Whatever." She thought over what she had last said. He was a combat man and sucked in strategies.
"Eighteen?" He asked.
Hayato exhaustively sighed. "Just go."
Hayato never unpacks for short visits so all she needed to do was pick up and go.
Seeing as her cabin was empty, Hayato got in, went after her duffle bag beside the second bed and walked to the bathroom, locking it behind her.
Resting it on the counter, she emptied it out and a zip appeared at the broad bottom.
There sat much weapons and assistants for them, back-ups to accessories.
She shimmied out of her clothes and into the shower.
Drying herself, Hayato slipped on her undergarments and pulled forward the bag. She added a new layer of her bandages on her wound but none around her chest.
She grabbed two sheathed daggers from the compartment, strapped it on a knife holster on her right inner-mid thigh and a gun to her left.
She then slipped on a pair of dirt-brown boots about three inches above her ankle, sticking two jack-knives into her right.
Hayato turned to the clothes pile and picked out a black cargo pants. After getting her belt on, she re-adorned it with her previous 'accessories'.
Taking a six handgun magazine pouch, she sat it to the back of her belt.
She then pulled on a burgundy, long-sleeved top.
Lastly, she tied her hair back into a mid-high ponytail; her overgrown bangs straying to the front while her hair's tail flowed to her mid back.
Before placing her clothes back into the bag, Hayato slipped a silencer beside Rico's gun in his holster.
Deliberately leaving her extra gun and accessories in the bag, she took the bag back to her previous spot in the bedroom and left.
She walked to the very back of the campus and to the gate that surrounded it.
Glancing to her right, she saw the bowing figure of Rico.
"Principes-"
"Why are you still here?" She asked stopping.
"I thought it would be better for us to leave together." He replied, head still faced down.
"I have somewhere to go beforehand. That's why I said I'll meet you there tomorrow." A bit of irritation laced her words.
"..Then I'll leave right away, Principessa."
Hayato nodded, but as they were both to depart, a voice called out.
"G-Gokudera?" Oh, she knew that voice.
Turning around, she saw––of course––Yamamoto Takeshi. God, she can never just get away, can she?
"Um.." It seemed it took him a while to find his words. After a brief shaking of his head, he continued. "Wh-what are you doing?"
Hayato stared at his hesitant eyes for some time before answering. "I'm going." She took a breath, adding; "Out."
"W-"
"I'll be back. Relax." She immediately said, saving her the time.
Turning her attention back to the gates and giving Rico a final nod, she exited; climbing up and over the metal vines elegantly and quickly as can be, ignoring Yamamoto's calls.
As Rico left behind her, something flew out onto the wind, flowing to the ground.
Yamamoto moved forward to the white piece of cloth and picked it up, reading its contents and looked to the direction of where the two flew off then back at the fabric.
He couldn't. He shouldn't. It was Gokudera's business.
But...
So many things were running through his head right now. And most, he wanted answers.
He was so confused. So shocked.
He thought maybe, somehow, there was a misunderstanding for.. his discovery. But after seeing her then... After seeing.. breasts protruding her top, he knew there wasn't.
A blush formed across his cheeks.
Still..
Right now, he should just go back to the cabins.
He sighed.
But...
It took Hayato a few hours to get back home, ditching Rico halfway from the campus to there.
She needed one thing before heading to the warehouse.
Something she only uses with matters of this situation.
Matters with her family.
She grabbed a miniature dynamite pouch, strapping it around her back, right above the magazine pouch.
She should've been more alert. She knew this was coming sooner or later.
Though the one question was haunting her.
How did they know her.
Hayato checked into the warehouse after securing it safe and investigating it. She met Rico, as planned, sleeping crooked on a dusty and misshapen table.
"Rico." She called only to receive a grunt in reply. Not really in the mood to invite patience, she kicked a leg of the table causing the entire thing to collapse; all legs breaking off and instantly awakening Rico with a start, startling him into a defensive position.
Hayato look at him for a while with disinterest then turned her attention back to the damaged window to the top right of the room, right under the ceiling.
"Principessa!" Rico exclaimed, switching to a submissive position.
Before he could continue rambling, Hayato cut right to the chase.
"Where are they all positioned?" She asked.
Catching on, Rico answered.
"I don't really know. I was just placed on the campus with the others so I know nothing of the outside." He explained, sleep evidently trailing his voice. "Principessa, are you planning to-?"
Hayato lifted a finger up to stop him as she heard a creak.
The creak of the front door she passed through earlier.
She turned her attention to the direction of the noise. Reaching for her gun, she sneaked to the side of the door frame, hiding her figure and keeping her weapon ready in her left hand; to her side.
She then took a peak through the frame without being seen, shock taking her at what she saw though only for a few seconds.
Hayato returned her gun and walked through the door frame, trying to control that bit of anger threatening to come out.
"What the hell are you doing?" She asked, her temper flaring her words.
"Gokudera." Came the lost reply of the figure of Yamamoto Takeshi standing before her. "I was-"
"How the hell did you even get here?"
The place was quiet for a while until Rico walked in and Yamamoto spoke up.
"You left this behind." He said, pulling out the white cloth and gesturing it to Rico.
Observing it, Hayato turned to Rico with a ready-to-desecrate atmosphere, causing both men to back up a bit.
"You dropped it?" She asked, malice running her words.
"P-Princi..pessa.. I.." He timidly squeaked, backing up until he hit the wall beside the door. "I'm very sorry!" He said bowing lowly as he can.
Hayato sighed. "Whatever-"
"Gokudera?"
"What?" Hayato turned at the hesitant call, her voice hinting with annoyance and exhaustion.
"Umm.. Well.." He glanced to Rico then back to Hayato. "Uhh, can we talk?"
"About?" Hayato saw with curious eyes as Yamamoto's viewed her entire body, a blush creeping on his cheeks and then moving the view to the floor. She then understood what he meant.
He can't be serious. It was ridiculous. He wanted to talk about that?
So she was female. Like it was that big of an issue?
Hayato was about to tell him off when the loud bang of an opening door sounded out, her hand instinctively shooting to her gun's holster.
Again having shock play its treats upon her, Hayato––along with Yamamoto––watched with evident confusion and surprise as a young figure burst through said door, stopping mid in his track and replaying what the older two expressed.
"Etsu?" Hayato called then turned to Yamamoto. "You brought him with you?" She ground, anger obviously seeping out through her words.
"Eh? No!" Yamamoto defensively exclaimed. It would be incredibly stupid to anger the assassin more than she possible was, considering the numerous lethal weapons cushioned to her though of course, no one but Rico knew of. "I didn't even-!"
"Haya-chan!" Etsuko exclaimed, running to her and hugging her as if his life depended on it. "Takeshi-nii!" He switched, going to Yamamoto right after.
"Etsu-?" Hayato started but was cut by Etsuko.
"A-another one.." He said shakily and timidly, looking behind Hayato.
Turning, she saw Rico holding up his gun to the boy with a cold gaze.
"What are you doing?" She asked him, noting the unpropitious look on the older beside the frightened younger.
"That boy," He started, sending a glare, causing Etsu to hide behind Yamamoto and Yamamoto to steady his unusual seriousness if possible. "He reeks of gunpowder, Principessa."
Hayato silently sniffed the air, proving the gun-wielder's statement true. That air was directed more to Estuko than Yamamoto despite how close they were.
How she could've missed something like that. Even worse, it took someone to notify her of it.
"Gun down, soldier." She commanded, voice lacing with sarcasm at what she addressed him with.
Hesitantly, Rico obeyed, hiding his gun away to his hip.
"H-Haya-"
"Why do you smell like that?" She asked only curiosity behind and evident in those words. Obviously, no accusations. She knew for a fact that Etsu was far from what Rico assumed.
"Like what?" He asked, calming.
She sighed and changed her question. "Were you around any ammunition lately?" If he was, it would've been valid for him not to notice himself. It would've dulled his senses after some time. Which means, if he was near any, he was there for quite some time. Maybe a duration of twelve to sixteen hours.
The look on him told of her answer. "Why?" She asked.
"Find the brat! He's gotta be around here somewhere!" Though annoyed that she was again cut from receiving her answers, she dropped the subject as the voice came closer around the warehouse causing Etsuko to scrunch closer the now worried and confused Yamamoto.
Still, she knew what the irritation in the voice meant. The rough toning and bubbling anger with the hinting of antsy, which by his context and impatience meant he was looking for some kid and fast.
"Etsu." She called, continuing as he gave his attention. "Mind telling me what is going on?"
But as Etsuko opened his mouth, the door again slammed open, snapping Hayato's resolved calmness at the interruption and revealing two tan men; one clad in black along with tinted sunglasses and the other sporting a dark blue trousers, black silk shirt and another dark blue over it styling his firm and defined body along with black shoes. His black hair was pulled back and wore the same sunglasses as the other.
Hayato felt her annoyance and impatience rose to a new level seeing the men while Rico and Etsuko scurry a bit further from the door.
The two men we struck for a few seconds until the styled one stepped forward.
"Well," He started, pulling his sunglasses off to reveal his brown eyes. "If it isn't Hayato." He amusingly said walking closer to her. "Never would I have thought of meeting you here."
"Antonio." She said grudgingly as he walked up to her and took her left hand in his. He was about to lift it to meet his lips when Hayato pulled it back.
"Still feisty as ever I see." He said, tucking his sunglasses onto his shirt.
"Do you have a point of being here?" She asked.
"That's not a very welcoming way of addressing someone, is it?" Hayato just rolled her eyes. "I just need a few things is all." He said and pointed a thumb in Etsuko's direction where both him and Yamamoto stood confused and Etsuko surprised while Yamamoto a bit restless.
"I just need that kid-"
"No." She spoke with firm authority.
"See, that's the problem. It's not a request."
"I don't care." She folded her arms. "You're not getting anyone in this room.
"Well, that's even more of a problem. Because you see," Antonio reached out his right hand and grabbed her left arm, pulling her bodily close to him, smudging himself against her and encircling his other arm around her waist. "We also need you."
Annoyance passed through Hayato. God, she hated this guy.
She took hold of the arm holding hers and twisted it only to have it countermeasure by a firm holding of the other's arm then spinning her out of his grasp and onto the wall beside them.
Forget annoyance, she was past pissed now.
Hayato kicked one of his legs outwards, throwing him a bit off yet still kept steady ground.
She grabbed his arm captivating hers and brought it to a hold under hers.
Landed a knee to his stomach causing him to release his hold.
With the chance, she used her right hand to grab his shoulder then jumped and her left pushed off the wall while wrapping both her legs around his waist.
While still in the heat of all those actions, she used her body weight and push from the wall as a propeller and flipped the man onto his back.
He grunted.
Straddling him and using her left arm to support her weight beside his head, she instantaneously pulled out her gun and aimed the barrel to his temple.
"I see you haven't changed a bit." He commented looking up to her. Her hair almost falling over her shoulder.
"Not true. I can very easily put a bullet through your head now." Hayato threatened.
"Boss!" Without any of the two turning, they immediately knew Antonio's companion held a gun aiming to Hayato to which Hayato replied with a cold stare to the being beneath her.
He pulled the safety.
"Stand down, Ettore." Antonio commanded, not removing his eyes from the other.
"You sure that's a smart move?" Hayato more like said.
"Would it really be effective?" He countered. He was right though. Either way, Hayato would've won it without getting even a scratch on her.
Ettore hesitantly lowered his gun.
From the corner or her eye, Hayato saw both of the guys' incredulous expressions yet there was still that irritated look in Yamamoto.
"Care to venture why you need that kid?" She continued, ignoring the looks.
"Sorry, confidential."
CLICK
Hayato removed the safety from her gun.
"Neither can you scare me into telling. You should know me better than that." She rolled her eyes.
BANG
Hayato moved her head further to her left side as a bullet passed by right where her head previously was.
She reached to her right hip with her left hand and pulled out her second, removing the safety lock as she aimed it to Ettore and shot, knocking the gun out of his hand and reach, still keeping the first gun to Antonio's head.
Her body now positioned a bit sideways to meet her horizontal aiming.
She grunted and returned her guns back to their rightful places, easing a very tensed Ettore.
"You're chickening out?" He teased.
"Don't be ridiculous. Right now I need information that you have." She replied, raising herself off him.
"Doesn't Rico have what you need." He said pointing to the now backing figure as attention was turned to him. As he glanced back, his sight landed on Yamamoto, a bit surprised to see the baseball player.
"Yamamoto Takeshi, I believe." He said, his attention now to the man in question.
"..Yes." Yamamoto answered, a bit of annoyance in his voice.
"To believe I would find Yamamoto Takeshi in the same room as my Hayato. Interesting events."
"Who the hell said you could call me that and how do you know him?" She inquired.
"You don't know?" He asked actually surprised.
"No. Reason why I asked."
"Your lack of information astonishes me." He said, amusement in his voice. With the cold glare she threw to him, he continued. From the corner of her eye, Hayato saw Yamamoto about to open his mouth to say something.
Right then multiple and ravenous thumping were heard outside.
"Any occupants within the storehouse, exit now and your life may be spared!" Came a rough call from outside. Hayato's blood was past boiling point to all these interruptions.
"I was hoping I could've have him first but looks like I'm out of time." Antonio said.
"What the hell is going on?" Hayato asked.
"That kid saw something he wasn't supposed to. We can't take any risks so, you know what." He answered.
"You have a minute! Choose the wiser choice and exit now or else!" The voice repeated.
"Tell your men to stand down." Hayato commanded.
"Sorry, not my men and so, out of my authority." He shrugged.
"And whose men are they?" Antonio smirked.
"Can't say."
"Time's up!"
BANG
The door not only flew open but broke from its hinges and in came multiple men drowned in black, sporting all different weapons.
Though as they entered they all stopped, staring at her.
What supposedly was the leader who wore no sunglasses came in and like his men, stopped; staring at her.
Hayato stared back at the man almost neutral.
"Hayato.." The man said incredulously. His look then turned to one of distaste.
"Grab the kid." He commanded, keeping his strict gaze on her.
"Etsuko's eyes began watering as he was forcefully pulled from Yamamoto's tight grasp.
"Etsuko!" Yamamoto exclaimed.
"Etsu-!" Hayato started and was about to run to him when a knife slithered around her neck in a ready-to-attack position wielded by Antonio from behind her.
"I'm sorry Hayato but this is necessary. And if you interfere, it can cost you." He said, all playfulness lost.
"You don't think I know that?" She countered but he shook his head as in saying 'Even so, you can't' to which Hayato understood.
But still..
If it were anyone holding her to blade's point, they'd be an easy takeout but considering it was Antonio, any move; would be fatal.
The leader walked up to where one of his men held Etsuko securely between his arm and side.
Closing in to the boy, his hand found its way to the inside of his suit and pulled out a pistol.
"Don't worry. It'll be over in a second. You won't feel a thing, I assure you." Though it had the opposite effect on Etsuko, tears now streaming his cheeks.
"This isn't necessary!" Hayato unintentionally blurted. She cursed herself for her accidental outburst. This would be bad.
"'Isn't necessary'?" The leader repeated. "He has seen something he would be brutally killed for. I am giving a luxury here. You should know this well Hayato. You had no problems of executing them before yet you are defending this one? Why is that?"
Hayato swallowed, hopefully inaudibly. She knew he was a man to dig too much into something though it was the reason he a great leader but.. This would be so bad.
"Could it be?" He spoke, voice scrunched with disgust. "Do not tell me you care for this child?"
'Shit..'
"I never thought it possible for my disappointment in you to grow. But you've proven me wrong once again." He turned his attention fully to Hayato and began to her.
She had to be cautious now. One mistake and she'd be splattered all over the walls.
"Have I taught you nothing?" He questioned, malice slicing into his words.
As he approached her, he cupped her chin a bit harshly, tugging it up to directly meet his face.
"And to think I once called you my niece." His tone now venomous. "Think of how disgraceful you are to my brother." He narrowed his eyes and spat his additional words. "Selfish brat." A deep look of hatred filled his eyes. And if the situation was different, Hayato sure as hell would be having fun out of it. "Well, there's no such thing as too late to discipline."
'Oh no.'
He placed his gun away and took on something beside it. A sharpened blade came to light and closer and closer to Etsuko, who watched in horror as it shone, examining him.
Hayato bit her lip from splurting anything that might end up worsening the matter.
The man laid the flat of the blade onto Etsuko's forehead, tapping it lightly. "There is only one thing you should show compassion for and that is your family. But you not only failed miserably, you've scrapped past the bottom of the barrel. This is for your own good Hayato."
He trailed the flat side of the blade down to Etsuko's chest, the exact position to attack his heart yet not cause him and almost to immediate death.
It's the third to fourth stage to come upon when torturing someone, when executing someone.
On instinct, she moved forward only to have to blade of Antontio's knife rest on her throat.
"Don't." Came the stern yet apologetic voice of Antonio. One nick and her blood could be drawn.
The leader sharply adjusted the knife allowing the tip to nip at Etsuko's shirt.
She was about to move again when Antonio's voice called out. "Hayato." Reminding her of her predicament.
She could hear the shriek the knife screamed as it swung through the air only to be met with a larger metal. A glowing one.
Yamamoto stood beside the man holding Etsuko, a sword at his command and keeping the blade on his instead of Etsuko's skin.
Everyone inside that room watched with astonishment at his sudden sword. Though it wasn't just the fact of the out-of-nowhere appearance of his weapon that surprised Hayato greatly but his weapon itself.
It was glowing. As if a flame coating the blade, it licked and nipped at the air around it. The flame, coloured blue was something Hayato recognised and left her speechless.
If what that flame was correct to her guess, Hayato had a lot of questions she was no doubt going to get answers to. Her guess strengthened as she remembered how Antonio knew him.
Antonio devoted his life to the mafia therefore cares of nothing unrelated to it and for him to know Yamamoto just by a glance..
She felt a storm coming on.
She watched as Yamamoto elbowed the stunned man who held Etsuko in the gut and retrieved his cousin back. He moved to the far corner of the men, placing Etsuko against the wall and taking a defensive stance in front of him.
Hayato took the same opportunity as Yamamoto. She grabbed the hand holding the weapon to her and elbowed Antontio to his gut.
As he backed up, she pushed the arm away, spun and landed a blow to his side.
She moved along past Yamamoto and Etsuko, grabbed a very timid Rico by his collar and opted to drag him alongside her to Yamamoto and Etsuko to make it look like an abduction which was quite selling.
She threw him alongside Etsuko though standing and walked to Yamamoto.
Every occupant watched them cautiously, knowing they were now on equal grounds.
Hayato tugged on Yamamoto's collar, bringing him down a bit and whispered something in his ear.
In response he nodded his head and retrieved his same position.
Hayato stood beside Yamamoto, a more on a 45 degree angle and reached to the back of her top, her arm hidden behind the taller other.
In a few seconds the wall behind and almost beside Etsuko and Rico exploded, covering the small area with a cloudy smoke.
Antonio dived head-first into the smoke.
After a couple of seconds, the smoke eased only showing the silhouette of him, the party of four vanished.
The gang of four slowed their pace until eventually, they came to a stop, allowing Rico the luxury of catching his breath considering Hayato and Yamamoto's lungs were like steel and Yamamoto carried Etsuko on his back.
"That should be a good distance for now." Hayato commented, glancing at Yamamoto as he rested Etsuko on a nearby log and tried to hide, though failing, as his sudden sword changed into a bamboo stick then into the size of a keychain and stuffed it in his pocket.
Looking now at his right hand that had disposed of the makeshift-like weapon, she saw something that left her speechless and almost motionless.
A ring. And a symbol was engraved atop it.
She knew that symbol.
Obviously, at the moment, nothing made sense to her.
She almost reluctantly switched her attention to Etsuko and saw him calming down from the previous events still.
Well that was good. If they walked back to the apartment centre, then everything should be fine though with a bit of some twists and tricks just for good measure in case they were being tailed of course.
"Etsuko, can you walk?" Hayato asked and received a still bit timid noc. Well, it's understandable, he was close to being brutally killed and it was his first being in that situation.
"The apartments are an hour away," She said, adding in the time for all the misleadings. "You can take the first half an hour resting an-"
"No!" Etsuko suddenly exclaimed, shooting up from his position.
"'No'?" Hayato asked as everyone stared with surprise evident on their face.
"No! We can't go just yet!" He continued, determination forming in his eyes.
"And why not?" Hayato as calmly asked.
"Because-mphff!" Etsuko was cut short as Hayato's hand slapped over his mouth.
"We're right here Etsu. You don't need to shout." She said and removed her hand, allowing him to continue.
"We can't leave just yet. We need to go back and help her." Worry came into view along with his determination.
"Who?"
"Yuko-chan, she needs help."
"Help?" Yamamoto asked this time.
"Why would she be here?" Hayato asked.
"I don't know but they're doing something with her, something bad."
"Is it why they were after you? You saw it?" Etsuko nodded.
Though this had Hayato's curiosity peaked enough for her to go back, the conditions weren't worth it.
She walked and sat on the log.
"Etsu." She called. "We can't go back there. Not now."
"But-!"
"After knowing that someone just that easily saw whatever they were so cautious and secretive about, a lot more guards are going to be placed around the area, not just where you saw it." She stopped the other from starting with the stern yet apologetic look in her eyes. "There'd barely be a chance of escaping so safely like before. In fact, there'd barely be a chance of escaping."
Before Etsuko could fully react to her words, she continued. "We'll come back and get her. Just not now."
After a while, he answered. "I'll walk."
Etsuko's eyes lowered in depression. She wanted to help him help her but right now, her first priority is to get Etsuko out of here and to a safer location.
Any minute he could be killed even on her watch. All it takes, is just one sniper.
She doesn't know what the hell was so bad that they have to hunt him down but it wouldn't be pretty.
The three came in view of the apartments. Rico had left on an errand Hayato wanted him to run and so it was left with Yamamoto, her and Etsuko.
Etsuko hadn't said a word the entire trip and kept to himself though it was obvious he was running the trail of blaming himself, feeling uselessness within himself and possible different outcomes. It was the same for her at a time in her life.
"I'm going in my room.. Thanks." Etsuko said dully and travelled further back to his house.
Hayato sighed. This was going to be a hell lot of trouble.
"Um.. Gokudera." Yamamoto called beside her. She turned. "Can I talk to you?"
Well, she seriously needed some answers too.
She walked forward, heading for the stairs to her apartment, Yamamoto knowingly following behind.
Reaching to her door, she dug out a spare key she had which every resident got and unlocked the door.
As she stepped in, a wave of exhaustion washed over her. It had been such a long day.
Behind her, Yamamoto closed the door after him and shrugged his shoes off near hers.
She slipped in the kitchen then back out with two bottles of water in her hands. Taking a seat on her couch, she tossed a bottle to the closing in Yamamoto and drank some from hers.
"Well.." He started, taking a seat on the same couch. "I was wondering.. thinking.. um.. wondering, how-"
"I'm female?" She finished, saving him and herself the time.
"Y-yeah."
"Because I was born this way." She said in an obvious matter-of-fact tone and took another sip of her water.
"Then why did you-"
"I felt too." She said but as she looked at the doubt in his eyes, she sighed. Was it unbelieving to think that? "You don't need to know why."
"But-"
"It doesn't matter to you, so don't fix yourself with it." She sealed her bottle with the cap and set it on the coffee table in front of her.
"My turn." She stated.
"Eh?" Yamamoto cheeks were tainted with a bit of a blush as Hayato leaned a bit closer.
"Tell me exactly how you're part of the number one known strongest and wealthiest family in the mafia, Vongola?"
... I'm tired and so not ready for school tomorrow. Well, I wanted to post this before school started back...
Oh I'm gonna be swamped with work, I just know it...
Well, not so sure this came out all that good considering I'm life half out but I hope you guys liked it.
Anyway,
THANK YOU to those who favored and followed including you newcomers also.
And,
THANKS all you guys who reviewed.
KIRIMI HELLGREA - Haha, of course.
DRIKA-VERAS - Actually that was my initial plan but it somehow changed. And thanks for the tip! I'll fix it when I get the chance!
GUEST- Well, that never entered my mind but it would've been a twist for me xD
Well, that's it for now!
Thanks for reading!
Mata ne, minna!