As Naru drove us to 'the sea', I stared out of the window at the passing countryside. My mind wandered back to the previous night.
I blushed at my own boldness. It'd be like something out of a princess movie. Except in a princess movie, usually the princess is kissed by a prince, not an assassin, but I'll take what I can get.
"Care to share Taniyama-san?" Yasuhara-san interrupted my thoughts. I spun around to look at him smirking at my red cheeks. "Looks like you were definitely thinking something interesting?" He prompted.
"Nothing!" I stammered quickly. Hara-san was also giving me a weird look. As if she was judging how much I was worth or something.
"Mai, when we arrive, you are to continue assuming the role of Tanizawa Mikiko." Naru said, ignoring the previous conversation and I was grateful that he drew the attention away from me.
"So I'm still being Yasuhara-san's escort? Or should I still refer to you as Echigoya-san?"
"Yasuhara is fine." Yasuhara-san said. "And perhaps not escort?"
"No, that would be inappropriate." Naru agreed. "Girlfriend would be more suitable. We can be couples visiting the seaside. Do you have your real ID on you?"
"No, I didn't think it wise in case we were searched at the mansion." Yasuhara-san responded and I scowled again.
"What do you mean? Real ID?" Hara-san said from beside me. Damn, why could everyone in this world speak English apart from me?!
"None of your business." Naru's voice was cold. It was very tempting just to spout all the English words I knew.
"Ayako, I have just received intelligence that a one Narumi Kazuo has booked into a motel."
"What? Where?" The red headed detective turned to her colleague.
"A few hours away by car, if we left now we could reach there by morning." Takigawa-san replied. "Do you think it is really him?"
"It's an alias we know he's been using, it'd be daft not to check it up."
"Do you think he knows?"
"That we are on to him? Probably." Matsuzuki-san said.
"It's almost as if he is inviting us."
"Perhaps he knows his game is up."
I had to admit, Hara-san's behaviour once we arrived at the motel completely shocked me. Naru booked us three double rooms under the guise of a group of couples going away for a winter holiday. But as Naru passed Yasuhara-san the keys, Hara-san took Yasuhara-san arm and led him away.
"Come on dear," she said. "Let's get to bed."
I frowned after her, that hadn't been the plan.
"MIkiko, do you plan on staring or coming to bed?" Naru said to me.
"Yeah…" I replied slowly. Lin and Mori-san were already making their way up and Hara-san and Yasuhara-san were out of sight.
Once in our room, Naru searched it while I changed in the bathroom, then he searched that too.
"She won't hurt Yasuhara-san will she?" I asked, genuinely worried.
"No. As you saw earlier she is not made for killing. I think she has just come to the realisation that things do not always go her way." Naru said coldly. "You should sleep."
"What about you?" I returned. "You drove for hours today, you need rest."
"Someone needs to keep a lookout."
"I'll do it." I said immediately.
"You'll fall asleep." He said accusingly.
"Then we can take turns?" I pleaded. "Seriously, you need some rest."
He studied me for a moment, then nodded.
"Sit by the window and keep an eye out. If anyone new arrives, you wake me up. If not, wake me after three hours."
"Okay." I did not argue, knowing this was the best I would get from him.
Naru did not change for bed like I had done. He only took off his shoes and curled up under one of the blankets. I took a seat by the window and stared out of it.
Truth be told, I was scared of going to sleep. I had seen three dead bodies that day and was fearful they would visit me in my dreams. I briefly wondered if Naru ever had trouble sleeping. It didn't look like it, his torso was rising and falling slowly.
My thought's drifted back to Hara Masako. Was her going off with Yasuhara-san her way of an apology? A demented attempt at righting some of the things she had done wrong?
I couldn't get the look of horror her face had shown once we had found her out of my head. Perhaps it had changed her a bit. And despite everything, I hoped she would be okay.
"You should rest." Madoka said.
"So should you." Lin countered.
"Noll will be keeping watch, you can relax."
"Did you see him last night?" Lin asked. "He danced with her."
"I danced with you, Lin. You know nothing can happen. Stop wanting it to."
"I can't."
Madoka smiled sadly up at the tall Chinese man and then she sighed.
"Noll will keeping watch, come to bed."
"What are you saying?" Lin asked, taken aback.
"We can pretend, for one night."
"Pretend what?"
"That this was under different circumstances. That we really are a group of couples on holiday together." Madoka laughed to herself. "The hotel staff would be surprised if they didn't hear any of us shacking up tonight."
Lin's eyes widened as Madoka grabbed his hand and pulled him closer.
"We can't…" He stammered. But she silenced him with a kiss.
I woke Naru after three hours of sleep.
"Thank you." He muttered as he took my vacant seat. I climbed under the blanket he had vacated and soaked in the warmth.
"I don't want to sleep." I whispered.
"Nightmares?" He guessed and I nodded. "I will wake you if you seem to be having one."
I didn't feel entirely comforted, but lay down nonetheless.
"Will you talk to me? Until I fall asleep?" I asked, not making eye contact. I was surprised to hear Naru chuckle slightly.
"My brother was the same, at first anyway. He was never very good with the bodies. He got used to it over time, but I would still do what I could to prevent him from having to deal with them. But he'd ask me to distract him so he could fall asleep."
"He wasn't like you?"
"His skills laid in other areas." Naru replied.
"I'm sorry for your loss." I said and I saw Naru nod his appreciation.
"Close your eyes Mai." He said gently and I did as I was told. "Think about the ball, okay? Think about happy things." I was surprised at his words, but tried to focus on the events of the previous night. Then Naru began humming the waltz we had danced to.
And slowly, I fell asleep.
When I woke, it was bright and early. Naru was still staring out of the window. When he noticed I was awake, he told me to shower and dress. I did as instructed and ended up lending Hara-san some more practical clothes than her kimono.
Breakfast was an awkward affair, Lin and Mori-san seemed to be avoiding each other's eyes and it made me wonder what had happened between them. I was silently glad not to be in their car.
Hara-san was very quiet and Yasuhara-san was talking to Naru about the news or something dull.
We left soon after breakfast and continued on our way to the sea.
"So what happened between Lin and Madoka?" Yasuhara-san broached the subject after a few minutes silence.
"Judging by how red his face was, I would ascertain a guess that they did a little more than sleep last night." Hara-san said.
"I though you said Mori-san wouldn't consider the idea?" I pouted at Yasuhara-san.
"She shouldn't have." Naru said from the driver's seat. "The pair of them are pathetic." And with that, the conversation fell silent until we arrived at the coast. We were at the top of a sheer cliff. The sea was sparkling blue in the cold winter's sun.
Naru parked the car outside a building with a sign that read: Yoshimi Restaurant and Inn.
"Let's eat before we go for a walk." Naru said. We all followed him into the restaurant and ate a quick lunch. Then the six of us headed out along the cliff face until we found a path leading down to the sea.
Naru led the way, followed by me, Hara-san and Yasuhara-san with Lin and Mori-san bringing up the rear.
The path led down a series of steps to a stony beach. Naru did not stop to appreciate the view, but ploughed forwards towards what looked like a cave.
When we reached the mouth of the cave, Naru turned to face us all.
"Weapons out, just in case." He pulled the gun he had previously threatened me with out. I looked around to see that everyone else had a gun, except me. Even Hara-san had a tiny little pistol.
I pulled a face and held up my hands in tight fists. Yasuhara-san laughed at my predicament.
"Stay behind me." He said and I obeyed after a nod from Naru. We walked in as a group and as our eyes adjusted to the light, we saw something more horrific than the bodies of Minami-san, Atsugi-san or Urado.
There were cages. The entire cave was filled with cages. And in every cage was at least four or five decaying corpses. All of them were female; the remains were fresh enough to tell that they were all reasonably young and not native Japanese.
"We wondered when you would turn up." A low guttural voice said from behind us all. Everyone spun around to see several rough looking men standing in the entrance of the cave. "We knew you were coming, so we had to dispose of our livestock." The leader of the men said as he pointed a gun directly at Naru. Everyone around me had their weapons trained on the gang in front of us. I moved behind Yasuhara-san again at an ushering movement he made with his hand.
"Eijiro-san, please don't do this." Hara-san moved forwards.
"You are the spitting image of him." Eijiro-san said to Naru, ignoring Hara-san completely.
"Eijiro-san!" Hara-san tried again. "My father will make it right with you. Just don't do this." She was pleading with this man, but why?
"Your father doesn't give a crap about keeping that boy alive." He spat. "Just like he doesn't give a crap about you." If his words hurt Hara-san she did not show it. "Now lower your weapons."
No one moved.
"Fine. Have it your way." Eijiro-san smirked and fired straight at Naru.
Author's note: Thank you to Lucy for pointed out the typo in the last chapter! Seriously, everyone should do this because I become blind to them!
"How u a tek so long fih update" well Manda, I don't see you uploading chapters every day? You took an entire day after I posted the last chapter to read it and review it, so you can hardly complain to me about taking so long to update.
"Ok, just write more tomorrow" Well Amanda, I was very tempted not to update today at all. Just to spite you because of this review.
Thank you to everyone who watched the teaser! And I'm glad some of you worked it out :)
Also, there was a bit of a split between reviewers on whether or not you wanted more details on the kiss! Some of you did, some of you liked the way I left it hanging... But as I am trying to keep this T-rated I daren't stray into the danger that is passionate make out scenes... So I will leave the details of Mai and Naru's kisses to your imagination!
As for the Wattpad thing, I will upload my stories there at some point!
And if you aren't sure, someone died as a result of the bullet Eijiro-san fired. Everyone should guess who in the reviews!
I have now essentially written the entire story, I have a few bits to add to it, but it's almost all done!
So please review with your thoughts and predictions and any burning questions you want to know the answer to, I can't promise I will answer in a message, but it will help me make sure I answer everything in the story too!