CHAPTER 24:

Ikuto and Yoru, apparently, worked for someone my father declared as his ally. It was from this ally, too, that my father got the new batch of security he hired after the first ones were killed. But things got messy when Ami got captured and the man realized that plotting against the oh-so-great yakuza leader was a suicide mission. He immediately ordered the hired security to capture me, too, and told Ikuto and Yoru to make sure I didn't leave the hospital. But Nagi and Nadeshiko had already spoken to Ikuto and Yoru even before Ami came to me.

There were wire-tapped microphones in the room and hidden surveillance cameras. That was why Ikuto and Yoru had acted the way they did. Someone out there was watching and listening to every move we made and word we said.

So when the twins managed to disable the surveillance system from the outside, they immediately got me out of the hospital. The twins got in a different car and rendezvoused with us where we did. They were supposed to get me away from the country and Ikuto and Yoru were supposed to rescue my family and send them after me.

But then the cousins happened. Temari and Rhythm, well, they wanted to have the yakuza for themselves. They were the next in line if ever the twins died. Typical villains.

So the plan now was to work under pressure because it would only be a matter of hours before the yakuza leader would find out that his grandnephew and grandniece were killed by his own flesh and blood.

I kicked a solo couch out of the way as Nagi and Nadeshiko half-dragged, half-supported me to their grandfather's feet – literally. Nagi let me go and forcefully pushed me down as Nadeshiko slipped a small key deep in my back pocket.

This is the key to your handcuffs. We couldn't talk to you there, but you know what you have to do. Grab your family and bring them out of this mess. Leave all the killings to us.

It was weird hearing Nadeshiko talk about killing ever-so-lightly. She just seemed such a sweet and innocent girl – totally not this cunning, manipulative woman by my side.

My knees purposefully buckled and I kneeled before the great yakuza leader.

"So," the old man said, "This is the daughter of the man who wanted to kill me," His voice was eerily deep and gravelly – just like how I imagined it.

"No, I'm the one going to kill you," I glared at him with all the hatred I had and spat at his feet.

He gave me a condescending stare as if I was just an annoying ant who dared to bite his skin. The man had a five 'o clock beard and thick, graying hair. His eyes were strikingly blue and his nose was slightly tilted in an awkward angle, like he broke it and never bothered to put it back properly.

"Lock her up. I don't seem to have a use for her at the moment," he finally said with a bored wave of his hand.

The twins roughly pulled me up and I struggled according to the plan. "Traitors," I hissed.

I was brought in the basement and was pushed against a corner. Nadeshiko stayed outside to finish the guard. Ikuto and Yoru were probably all over the mansion, killing every Fikasiju member they get their hands on.

"Listen, Amu-chan," Nagi whispered, "I don't exactly know where your family is but I'm certain they're somewhere here in the mansion. We can't waste time. You know the plan," then he surprised me by kissing me on the cheek.

"Uhh...yeah," I mumbled as he walked out.

The sound of something heavy dropping on the floor gave me my signal. I reached behind me for the small key Nadeshiko gave me and unlocked my cuffs quickly. I tapped my combat boots on the floor to check if the blades were still there and soon enough, they slid down, gleaming under the poor lighting of the basement. They didn't give me a rifle in case of having the other guards pat me down so these blades were my only weapons for now.

I climbed the stairs and saw the dead guard as I rose up. His head was twisted in an odd angle and there were multiple blood stains on his dark shirt. Huh. Nadeshiko sure was a perfectionist. Silently, I dragged the body to the stairs and kicked it down the basement.

Thank goodness no blood stained the carpeted floor.

So far I had managed to check the rooms in the first, second and third floors without getting spotted. Although, occasionally, I had stumbled upon dead bodies hastily moved out of view which were obviously the works of either Ikuto or Yoru. I was down to the last floor. Hopefully, this was where they locked my family up. The reason as to why they would lock them up so high, however, was still not making any sense to me.

I treaded through the hall with light steps, trailing my fingers on the smooth, wooden walls. Footsteps echoed silently from a not-so far distance, making me brace myself for an incoming onslaught. I pushed myself flat against the door and waited for them to pass me.

Two shadows stood in front of me – one tall, one short. I could see their guns withdrawn and dangling from their hands. They were distractingly silent. I held my breath as they neared my hiding spot. Only an idiot would not notice me if he passed by this door.

After two labored heartbeats, the men came into view. The tall one was wearing an off-white shirt and bootleg jeans. The other had on a black muscle shirt and flowery Hawaiian shorts. Huh. What a strange pair of yakuza members.

The short one probably noticed me from his peripheral sight and he stiffened. There was no use of faking I wasn't here anymore. I tapped the heel of my boots against the floor thrice and the hidden blade slid down the tip. When the short guy mistakenly turned his head to my direction, I high kicked him across the neck, dragging the blade through his jugular vein.

His comrade made a surprised sound. For someone working for the Fikasiju Yakuza, he sure looked like he just pissed himself. The 45-caliber pistol in his hand shook ever so slightly as he raised it at my face. I gave him a condescending smile.

"Make a sound..." I trailed and looked at his dying companion.

The guy was making gurgling sounds as the life slowly drained out of him. Blood easily pooled around his neck area. The gun in my face shook harder.

"Where is my family?" I hissed.

A crease formed on the man's forehead. "I don't know them,"

I stabbed the knife on his leg and he fell down, grunting in pain. "Lie again and I'll skin you with a bread knife – alive,"

He spat on the ground near my feet. Sighing, I pulled a combat knife from his comrade's belt. The man made a strangled sound, as if he was doing his best not to cower in fear. Then he mumbled something incoherent.

"What was that?" I asked, inching closer to him to hear better

"Th–"

Blood splattered on the floor where the man lay not far from his fallen comrade. His half-blown head made a wet, sticky sound as it dropped. His entire body suddenly went limp.

My eyes turned to the direction of the shooter. I tried not to hide my shock but I knew at that moment, I completely failed. There stood, a gun properly held up in her hands, her stance determined, and her face stoic was my beloved sister, Ami.

I rushed to her side, lowering her hands. She lifted her eyes to me and I saw that although her face was bland with emotion, her eyes were very frightened. Any moment now, people would come up to check what the gunshot was about. We specifically used knifes to avoid the noise but I guess it was no use right now. With a stolen second, I pulled Ami into a quick hug.

"Are you okay?" My eyes automatically flew to the top of her head down to her feet as I patted her, checking for injuries. Her chestnut hair fell limply on her shoulders and there was a bloodstain in her blue hoodie. But I knew it wasn't hers.

She nodded robotically and suddenly I could feel my heart breaking as I stared back into her eyes. "Where are Mom and Dad?"

Ami shook her head just as a piercing scream cut through the air.

Late update. I'm so sorry. I'm such a crappy writer. So sorry.

With all the love for writing,

Lace Ashdown