A/N: Here's the next update of my fanfic. And thanks to everyone who took their time to read my earlier chapters and reviewed it. Hope you will like this one. And don't forget to review, follow and fav it. :)

3. The Real Target

Morning came in the blink of an eye in the house of our sweeper. Ryo slept peacefully for the first in eight months, for her Kaori was there in the house. And Kaori too, fell in the arms of Morpheus that night. The mere presence of Ryo was enough to give her a sense of security and completion. Kaori was the first one to wake up (as usual), and went to the kitchen to prepare for the breakfast. Doing so, made her feel like she was back to her previous life of being a City Hunter and this eased her tension a bit. But the problem, which Sayuri was facing, was still lingering in her mind. She soon finished preparing the breakfast and went to wake up Sayuri and Ryo. Since Sayuri was already in the bathroom, she went towards Ryo's room. She was still surprised that Ryo made none of his infamous night visit to Sayuri. Maybe he was serious this time, about Sayuri's mess and maybe her.

Ryo was lying awakened in his bed, right from the moment Kaori has set her foot out of her room in the morning. He was enjoying the familiarity in his house and was hoping that Kaori would come to wake him up, like before. His wish was granted almost immediately when Kaori opened the door. He immediately started pretending to sleep and snoring, like anything. Kaori leaned over him and shook his shoulder gently.

"Wake up Ryo! You have to go with Sayuri today..."

He showed no sign waking up, instead started mumbling something in his mouth. Kaori went down a little close to his mouth, to hear what he was saying. Ryo inhaled the scent of Kaori. He felt like taking her in his arms, she was smelling like lavender, which was like cherry on top and was enough to wake his mokkori. He turned on the other side and pulled up his covers. Kaori once again shook him and said…

"Ryo wake up! It's already 8 o'clock. You will be late for your work..."

"I missed you so much… Come here by my side now..." mumbled Ryo in his sleep.

Listening this at first, Kaori's face turned red and started blushing. But almost instantly, the thought of Ryo dreaming of the bar girls of Kabukicho district, crossed her mind. And this was enough to anger our former partner of City Hunter.

"Ryooo… Who are you dreaming about..." muttered Kaori with her clenched teeth and was about to throw down Ryo from his bed when suddenly Ryo grabbed her hand, pulled her down on the bed, inside the covers. He was now top of her, shirtless (as he always slept) with only his boxers on, breathing right on the face of Kaori. His cologne smell was torturing her mind, his handsome face was right above hers and his eyes full of passion was boring deep into hers. She felt a tingling sensation in her stomach and was blushing hardly under the tender gaze of his lover. Ryo bent down near her ear and whispered in a husky voice…

"I was dreaming about you Kaori… Today, yesterday and every day, since you entered my life… It was always you and no one else… You were, and will always be mine...And this time I am not letting you go Kaori… Never again!"

Saying this, Ryo once again faced Kaori, whose face was getting a darker shade of red with each passing moment. He waited for her to regain her composure, got down from his bed and started walking away when he suddenly halted and looked at her once again and said with a force, "Never again Kaori!" and turned back to go the bathroom. Kaori was left flushed in his bed and was unable to process what Ryo had said to her. He has just told her something which sounded like a confession. "Ryo confessed to me?" thought Kaori. To make sure it was not a dream, she pinched herself really hard. It hurt her a lot which means it was not a dream. She felt like she was on cloud nine! She immediately got up from the bed and went outside, towards the living room. At the door of his bedroom she stopped and looked at the bed on which Ryo has confessed to her. Once again she felt her temperature rising up but shook her head, slapped herself twice and went ahead.

In the living room, after sometime, all three of them were having breakfast quietly. None of them said any word. Both Ryo and Kaori were eating with such concentration like they had the best thing in the world in front of them. Sayuri sensed this awkwardness and deduced that something must have happened between those two. She worried for a second but seeing the faint blush, on the face of Kaori, thought that it must have been something good, so chose to remain silent in order to let the things develop at their own speed. Any further rush could worsen the situation.

"So Ryo… Will you be accompanying me for the whole day today?" asked Sayuri.

"Of course… It is necessary in order to find the real culprit… But don't worry, I have no intention of pouncing on you… You see, I am a really committed man, loyal to my beloved one..."

Kaori who was drinking her juice, choked badly on hearing this. Ryo immediately got up from his seat and went towards Kaori to help her. He gently patted her back and helped her to drink up another glass of water. Seeing this gentle side of Ryo completely shocked Kaori and got a nod of approval from Sayuri.

"I got your point Ryo," winked Sayuri at Kaori, "and I will be leaving my security in your expert hands… And fear not Kaori, I will make sure that he doesn't glance or do his perverted activities anymore… And besides I have your mini hammers with me, just in case I need it, though I doubt it now..." finished chuckling.

After both Sayuri and Ryo left for their work, Kaori started cleaning the house. Three hours later, she thought of going out for shopping. As soon as she was ready to go out, her phone started ringing. She went to pick it up and said…

"Hello!"

"Save your greetings for later dear.. I am quite disappointed in you… Three days, and not even a single call… I was so lonely without you… And you even left your job as gym instructor… Were you trying run away from me? Don't even think about it Kaori... I think you have forgotten what has happened to your previous house…"

"Why you..." stammered Kaori.

"Oh don't worry dear, I am still waiting for you… Just say yes to my proposal and I will make sure that you get everything you want in your life… You see, there is nothing in this world, that I cannot give you…"

"If you want something to give me, then just leave me and my sister alone!"

"I am afraid that this is the only thing out of my reach. And yes, the most important thing... There is a shooter targeting your sister in the market right now… If you want to save her life then agree to my proposal and become my bride… If you say yes now I will ask that shooter to spare your sister..."

"Neither I am not going to accept your proposal nor am letting anything bad happen to her. I will protect her by any means, from you," cut off Kaori.

"You think I don't know that you have hired City Hunter to protect your sister and yourself… But even he won't be able to save her… I will use any means to bring you to my side Kaori… Even if it means hurting you, your sister or that man named City Hunter, physically or mentally..."

Kaori was afraid that he might have discovered about her relationship with Ryo. Especially after Ryo has finally started moving towards her, she cannot let him hurt Ryo or Sayuri in any way. This eccentric man was capable of doing anything of which she was sure. She has to take things in her hands even if it meant revealing her past. Her past, which she has carefully hidden in the depths of her mind and heart. Her past abilities, which she had promised, to Hideyuki, to never use again. With utter resolve in her voice she said…

"No Mr. Ichinose! I will never let you hurt my loved ones… Try and see if you can," said Kaori in a threatening voice.

"First let me see if you can save your sister… Your resistance is making this chase more and more interesting," chuckled Kazuya Ichinose.

"You dare..." her words were met with a long silence for her phone was disconnected.

Coming back to the current situation she quickly disguise herself and called Sayuri to know her exact position without raising her suspicions. Then with great speed ran off to the area where she was present. Only when she saw Sayuri well and safe, took a breath of temporary relief. Knowing and seeing that Ryo was with her, eased her more and she felt that the situation was under control for now.

Meanwhile, Ryo ans Sayuri were taking a little walk in the hustle bustle of the city. Sayuri was on her break and took that opportunity to clear some things with him. She then started her conversation…

"Ryo what was going on between you and Kaori," asked Sayuri while drinking water.

"Nothing much… I just kind of confessed to her," said Ryo pretending to be nonchalant.

Sayuri who was drinking water choked suddenly on hearing on his words, and said…

"Are you serious Ryo?"

"Of course I am… Those eight months of separation were enough to teach me a lesson and her importance in my life… Leaving that, care to tell me what's all about these threat letters?"

"Frankly speaking, even I don't know who can all behind this… It is true that I have got some big scoops here but none of them are so grave, in my opinion at least, that those people would try to harm me… The whole thing seems out of place…"

"You mean to say that you are unaware of their motive..."

"Yes, that's exactly what I am saying… Especially the manner in which the threat letter was written… I just couldn't understand any of it..."

"I have asked my informants to gather more information on this… I guess they should acquire it by the end of the day… Let's wait until then..."

"Of course… And now you help me carry these shopping bags… Kaori will be really happy on seeing the dresses I have brought for her."

"As you say your highness," said Ryo bowing to her.

Sayuri graciously accepted his help and continued her shopping. They just out got from another shop when Ryo felt a murderous aura coming from someone. He immediately alerted, but sensed that it was not directed at him or Sayuri, rather it was directed at someone who was walking behind him. He turned to see the victim and found a woman who looked like a delinquent and was smoking. He returned to Sayuri's side and asked her quickly finish her shopping and go back to her office as he didn't want her to get involved in any of the other people's mess. He looked back at that woman who in turn looked at him. Their eyes met and Ryo felt a strange sense of familiarity. He tried to sense her presence but was met with a barrier and thus couldn't recognize her. He thought that it must be due to the threat that she was facing and thought of helping her. But changed his mind as the life of Sayuri was much more important than her, though he felt bad about it. Then resolved to help her in danger, if he was around there, at that time. Sure our sweeper cannot let any woman face danger in his presence. Then moved forward on his way.

The woman in question is none other than Kaori who was stalking her sister and Ryo and ready to jump in if they needed any help. She was disguised as a delinquent and by concealing her presence, was following both of them. She scanned her surroundings and was shocked to find that the gun was pointed at her. But as soon as she saw the shooter he shifted his aim towards Sayuri. But again she felt no danger towards her sister. "Maybe that Ichinose is using Sayuri, only as a bait, to draw me into a corner," thought Kaori. But the aura of that gunman seemed too real for only a hollow threat. And his murderous intent that was directed not at her sister but at her made her suspicions more stronger. Using her forbidden abilities, Kaori was easily able to guess who was the real target. "It is me," thought Kaori. And suddenly a part of conversation with Ichinose from that morning flashed through her mind. "I will use any means to bring to my side Kaori… Even if it means hurting you, your sister or that man named City Hunter, physically or mentally." This proved that he was aiming to hurt Kaori in order to make her surrender to him. "My resolve is not that weak," smirked Kaori. And despite being at gunpoint she felt strangely calm and for her sister and lover were out of danger.

She continued following both of them with all her senses awakened. She was finding it a bit difficult to conceal her presence from Ryo, because concealing one's presence required the mind of that person to be completely void of earthly thoughts, and well… the images Ryo over Kaori in the sweeper's bed and his husky voice in her ear were continuously flashing through her mind. Even the thought of it were enough to flush Kaori. She was somehow managing her inner balance when Ryo turned to look at her. Their eyes met and Kaori panicked thinking that Ryo will recognize her. Though her disguise was perfect and she was doing a fair job of concealing her presence, there was always a chance of Ryo recognizing her. Kaori fervently wished for the moment to pass away quickly. She noticed that Ryo felt something strange about the delinquent in front of him and that was reflected in his eyes. She felt more and more nervous and started looking in the opposite direction. Only when Ryo turned away to continue on his way with Sayuri that she felt relieved. And when Ryo was just about to turn around the corner, she heard the sound of bullet leaving the muzzle.

Lots of people were present on the sidewalk, where Kaori was standing. As soon as she heard the sound, she was about to move but thought otherwise. There were people standing behind her and by moving from there she doesn't want to hurt the innocent souls. It would have created a panic among the crowd and the result could have been disastrous. So she remained at her place and shifted a bit so that the bullet would not hurt her vital parts. Soon the bullet deeply grazed her upper arm causing her immense pain. A large patch of red stain was formed on her jacket. She withered in pain and only one word escaped from her mouth.

"Ryo..." whispered Kaori before closing her eyes.

Continued...