Chapter 12
The next morning, I was sat in my apartment watching TV as I ate my breakfast.
"We're reporting live from the scene. The truck crashed into the fence surrounding the orphanage here. Running right over a child who was playing inside." The reporter said.
I spat out my tea and nearly chocked. That was the Lily center that Kenshi took me to. Kenshi must be so worried. I got out my mobile and rung him.
"Hey."
"Hey, I just saw the news. Is everything ok?" I asked.
"No. The child that was run over requires at least three surgeries but the truck driver was uninsured so he can't pay anything towards the medical bills." He explained.
"I'm so sorry and what about repairing the damage to the building?" I asked.
Kenshi was silent. "Damn it. Why did something like this have to happen? Ikuo always works so hard."
"Why don't you talk to boss? Maybe there's a mission you can do to get money." I said.
"No."
"Why not?"
"We don't steal things just to get money. We steal to get wrongs right again. And sometimes we end up with money as a result. If we're after money from the beginning, it destroys everything we stand for. So I'm not going to talk to boss and the others about this." He said firmly.
I understood how he felt but if he told the others, they would want to help.
I decided to go to do some drawing. I first walked around outside and drew the street before I moved to the park and draw kids playing on the play area. I then spotted Kenshi walking through the park.
"Hey, Kenshi." I shouted and ran up to him.
"Hey, how you doing?" he asked and then looked down at my sketch book. "Drawing again?"
"Yeah. Wanna look?" I said and opened the book and showed him drawings.
"You've really got a good talent Faye. You're wasted working at a museum." He said.
"Nah, I'll never be as good as Gramps. Where are you going? You doing ok?" I asked.
He just smiled "I'm fine. I'm going to the Le Rendard Noir for lunch, want to join me?" he asked.
"Sure." I said and we walked together.
"Welcome!" Boss said as we came in through the door.
"Hm? What are you two doing together?" Hiro asked.
"Coming to eat lunch with Faye." Kenshi said.
"I was drawing and ran into Kenshi and we were both hungry so we decided to come together." I said.
"Faye… Kenshi… since when are you guys calling each other by your first names?" Hiro asked.
"Hm? Dunno, just recently I guess." I said and shrugged.
"Really? I feel like it's been longer than that." Kenshi said.
"I think around the time we went to Gondawara's house." Boss said.
"That's right, on the way home in the car." I said.
"You're right." Kenshi said.
"Sounds like you two had a blast while I was pretending to be Rose, entertaining perverted old guys." Hiro said.
"Who cares?" Kenshi said and started to turn red.
"Now, now. Who cares what you two call each other? What'll you have today?" Boss asked. "Takkun isn't here, so I have pork noodles left."
"Where's Takuto?" Kenshi asked.
"Out to do some recon." Boss said.
"It's about time for our next mission." Hiro said.
"To find my Gramps third painting?" I asked.
"No, not exactly." Hiro said.
An hour later,
"Ok, I'll explain our next mission. Our target is the actress Nahomi Sahara." Riki explained.
"What?" me and Kenshi both said at the same time.
"What's with you two?" Riki asked.
"Actually I'm.." Kenshi said.
"I'm a huge fan of here." I said.
"Huh? You too Faye?" Kenshi asked.
"Yeah. Remember when she played that detective? She was great!" I said.
"No way. I liked her better in innocent roles, like that morning drama.."
"Uh sorry to rain on your parade, but she's actually a nasty one." Hiro said.
"What? Why?" I asked.
"First, she has 3 lovers." Takuto said.
"Lovers?" Kenshi said.
"And two pimps." Takuto said.
"Pimps?" I gasped.
"And we know she's financially backed by the mafia." Boss said.
Me and Kenshi just stared at them in shock.
"Haha! You two really are fans, huh?" Hiro laughed.
"I'm a terrible judge of character." Takuto said.
"So what are we going to steal.." Riki said.
"Let me explain this part. It's a diamond ring called 'The Swan's Eye'." Hiro said and placed a picture on the counter.
"It's beautiful." I said.
"It's a memento that belonged to a famous actress. It's highly valued because of its craftsmanship and when her family tried to donate it, Nahomi Sahara heard about it and used any and all means possible to force them to give it to her." Hiro said. "That kind of person deserves to be punished, no?"
"So anyway, the mission will go down tomorrow night. Here are the blue prints for her condo." Riki said.
"The entrance is auto-locked, right? In order to get through that.." Kenshi said.
"No problem, I can access the security system from the outside. That part's a piece of cake." Takuto said.
"That part?" Kenshi asked.
"The problem is after we get inside. The target has man complicated locks on her doors." Riki said.
"How do we get through them?" Kenshi asked.
"Bust them down." Takuto said.
"Obviously, we can't do that. So look." Riki said and pointed to a place on the blue print.
"Air ducts?" Kenshi said.
"These are extra-large and designed to better sound proof the condo, so the higher floors can't hear what's going on." Riki said.
"Which means?" Kenshi asked.
"There's barely enough room for a person to pass through. So if you go from here you'll come through the ceiling in the bathroom." Riki said.
"So we'll take out the ceiling tile, enter the room and open the locks from the inside?" Kenshi said.
"That's it." Riki said.
Sounded simple enough, hopefully they wouldn't need me to come on this mission. Especially since this didn't involve my Gramp's painting or invention.
"But the problem is, who's going to crawl in the air ducts?" Hiro asked.
"We're all too big. The only one who could fit is.." Takuto trailed off and everyone all turned and looked at me.
"What? Me?" I said.
"Yeah, if you suck in your gut." Takuto said.
"Gut?! I don't have a gut!" I growled and went to punch him but he moved backwards and avoided my punch so I kicked him hard in the leg.
"Oww!"
"So, how about it Faye?" Riki asked.
"Ummm…."
"Don't think you can suck in your gut enough?" Takuto asked.
"Do you want me to give you a dead leg? Because I will! If anything, my chest is too big not my stomach."
"Hey, don't say that out loud." Kenshi said.
"Ugh! I'm so annoyed, I'll do it!" I said.
"It's settled then." Riki said.
It was the day of the mission; I was sat in the van with the guys.
"Let's go over this once more. The target is Nahomi Sahara. We're after the diamond ring called 'The Swan's Eye'." Riki said.
"How long do we have?" Kenshi asked.
"1 hour from 9pm to 10pm. Takuto. Kenshi, Stone and I will enter the building and search. How's the security?" Riki asked.
"Working on it. You should be able to get in the entrance with this key. I've switched off the security cameras, so you don't have to worry about that." Takuto said.
"Ok, we'll get past the auto-lock and go up to the 6th floor." Riki said.
"And then I climb up into the air ducts." I said.
"Right. Once you get inside, hurry up and unlock the doors for us." Riki said.
"Got it."
"We'll search for the ring together, if the targets happens to come home.."
"Then it's showtime for me." Hiro said.
"Right. So it all depends on how fast you can unlock the doors for us Faye. We're counting on you." Riki said.
"I know, I won't let you down." I said.
We got out of the van and walked up to the condo.
"Whoa, these condos look really expensive." I said.
"Nahomi Sahara lives here. Huh… the air duct is up there." Kenshi said and pointed.
"Gimme your hand, Kenshi. Faye, we'll give you a boost so you can climb in the air duct." Riki said.
"Ok." I said.
"Don't rush, just be careful." Kenshi said.
"I will." I said.
They pushed me up as if I weighted nothing and soon I was in the vent.
"Whoa, it's pitch black in here… I need to find the second column… and turn there…. Ceiling tile, ceiling tile…"
"Faye, are you in? You're a minute behind schedule." Riki said through my ear piece.
"I got it." I said and started kicking the tile till it fell down.
"Good job."
I jumped down into the bathroom and ran to the door and unlocked all 6 locks.
"Sorry I took so long." I said as I opened the door.
"Good job. Let's hurry and search for the ring." He said.
We all started looking. It had been 30 minutes but still nothing.
"Find it yet?" Riki asked.
"Nope, nothing. You?" Kenshi asked.
"We've looked everywhere. Takuto, are you sure it's in this room?" Riki asked.
"I'm positive, saw it on the infrared glasses when I did recon." Takuto said.
Infrared?
"Oh, the new model? It's amazing you made something like that." Riki said.
"I just modified something from china, simple really." Takuto said.
"You made your own infrared glasses? That's really cool. Can you see anything with it?" I asked.
"It can see what we're trying to steal, kinda like x-ray glasses." He said.
"Is that all it can see?" I asked.
"I put in the data about the ring, so that's all it can recognize. It can pass through about 3 walls with no problem."
"Wow, that's really cool." I said.
"Yeah? So where are these glasses?" Riki asked.
"I… let Hiro borrow them." Takuto said.
"Go get them!" Riki and Kenshi both shouted at the same time.
Riki then sighed "Hiro? Hiro come in."
"Hiro here, what is it?"
"You have Takuto's infrared glasses?" Riki asked.
"Yep, right with me."
"Bring them here."
"What? I'm pretty fond of them though." Hiro said.
He sounded like a child.
"C'mon!" Riki shouted.
"Yeah, yeah…" Hiro said. "Leader… wait! The targets back."
"What'd you say?"
"And she has a man with her. They've entered the building."
"Damn it. We'll have to get out of here." Riki said.
"But how?" I asked.
"We'll have to jump off the balcony."
"Wait what? Please be kidding." I said.
We were six floors up!
"Kenshi, take care of Faye." Riki ordered.
"Got it." Kenshi said.
"Target got on the elevator… you need to get out there." Hiro said.
"Let's go." Riki said.
He and Takuto went first.
"Elevator is on the 4th floor, 5th floor.." Hiro continued.
"Let's go." Kenshi said and pulled me towards the window.
"No I can't." I said and pulled back.
"What? Why?"
"I don't like heights. I can't." I said.
I stared out to the balcony, I'd rather go to prison then jump out from there.
"Faye, it's ok. I'm here, nothing will happen to you." He said and smiled.
My heart was pounding, I was starting to panic. My legs were fixed into place and I could move.
"We won't make it, in here." Kenshi said
He quickly closed the balcony door and grabbed my arm and lead me to the closet. It was so small, I was pressed up against Kenshi as we struggled to both fit inside.
"Kenshi, what's up?" Riki said through the ear piece.
"Sorry, we couldn't get out. We're hiding in the closet." Kenshi said.
"And the target?"
"Not in the bedroom, probably still in the living room."
"Got it. Apparently the guy with her is drunk." Riki said.
"Which means…"
"Hiro's coming within ten minutes. Run away while he stalls the target."
"Got it."
"Kenshi, I can't. You can't make me jump off the balcony. I won't be able to do it. I just can't!" I said and frantically shook my head.
"Hey, we don't have a choice and trust me, I won't let anything happen to you." He said and pulled me into a tight embrace.
"I don't think I can, just leave me here." I said.
"Don't be silly, I won't leave you here. Look, just focus on me ok." He said and stroked my hair soothingly.
I took several deep breaths to try and calm myself. There was no other choice but if Kenshi was with me, things should be ok. Right? My hands wouldn't stop shaking.
Oh my god, you've survived a bomb. You can survive jumping off a balcony. I said to myself.
With Kenshi's strong arms around me, I started to relax.
"What? You're going to bed already?"
Oh no! That was Nahomi's voice. I could hear her from the living room.
"Hey! Answer me!... Kyaa! Ohh hey! Don't touch me there so suddenly! Haha…. Mmmm…. Mmm I can't take it anymore.."
"Oh my god, they're having sex!" I whispered to Kenshi.
He just nodded and his face was turning bright red.
The doorbell then rang.
"Ugh.. who could that be?" Nahomi said.
DING DONG
"We were just at the good part too!" she said.
Her footsteps grew distant and I heard the front door opening.
"Sorry for the wait, here's your pizza."
That was Hiro's voice.
"It's Hiro." Kenshi whispered.
"We didn't order any pizza!" Nahomi said.
"What? But when I buzzed the entrance downstairs you said 'Come right up'." Hiro said.
"Now, let's run." Kenshi said
I nodded and took a deep breath.
We snuck out of the closet and quietly opened the door to the balcony. We could still hear Hiro talking to Nahomi.
"Wait a second. Haven't I seen you on TV?"
"What, you just now noticed?" Nahomi said.
"Haha! I'm sorry, are you the one who sings that song 'Sparkling under the bed'?"
Kenshi then stopped and froze.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"What are you talking about? How rude! I'm not a singer, I'm an actress!" Nahomi shouted.
"Huh? Are you sure? You're not the one who sings 'Sparkling under the bed?'"
"Faye, look under the bed." Kenshi said. "Hurry!"
I nodded and got down to my hands and knees and under the bed, was a small box. I grabbed it and put it in my pocket.
"Got it." I said.
"Good, now let's get out of here." Kenshi said.
I looked over the balcony and instantly turned away, my whole body was shaking.
"Relax." He said.
He wrapped his arm around me, then took something from his pocket and pressed a button on it. Something unraveled from it.
"A wire?" I questioned.
"Yep. Hold on." He said.
He picked me up before I time to argue and jumped off the balcony. I buried my face into his chest and resisted the urge to scream, I had my arms wrapped around his neck. I didn't dare let go. We were dropping really fast!
I can't take it! I can't take it! I can't breathe! Oh my god we're going to die!
"Safe and sound." Kenshi said as we landed on the ground.
"Oh my god!" I said and pushed myself away from him.
"Haha! You were crying, were you that scared?" he asked.
My whole body was shaking, I took two steps and crumpled to the ground. Everything felt numb, my heart pounded so hard it felt like it could fly out of my chest at any moment.
"I… never want… to do anything… like that again." I said.
He just laughed before scooping me up into arms.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"You can't walk, right?"
"Well yeah.. but aren't I heavy?" I asked.
"Not at all. Actually, you're way too light." He said.
"Uh…. Thanks. I guess…" I said.
He carried me all the way to the van and put me down on one of the seat.
"Here, wipe your face." He said and handed me some tissue.
I wiped my wet eyes and blew my nose.
"Well, calm yet?" he asked.
"My hearts still pounding." I said.
"Why? It's only 6 floors." Riki said.
"Only 6 floors?! Are you kidding me?!"
"Faye, calm down. You'll start crying again." Kenshi said.
"No I won't but I'll end up punching something or someone…" I said.
KNOCK KNOCK
The van door opened and Hiro was stood outside.
"Here I am! Faye, scoot over." He said.
I moved over and he climbed in.
"Thanks for helping us." Kenshi said.
"Sure, did you look under the bed?" Hiro asked.
"I knew that was a code." Kenshi said.
"Of course. Even I knew that she wasn't a singer. Where's the ring?"
"Here." I said and handed him the small box.
"Let's see." Hiro said and he opened the box. "Yep, this is it. Look how it sparkles."
"How did you know it was under the bed?" I asked.
"Because of this…. Ta-da!" he said and pulled out a pair of glasses.
"Oh Takuto's glasses." I said.
"Yep! They're amazing. You can see through walls to find what you're looking for." He said.