***I DIDN'T UPDATE LAST WEEK! AaaaaAAaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaAaAaAaAaAaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA double chapters this week, promise D: /winks /winks /winks /winks ***

Chapter 18: Plot Twists

"Kaito... Get Rin... out of here..."

Without him telling anything else, Kaito realized what had happened.

And then...

The exit to that cursed building was hidden behind a shelf in the kitchen; the safest exit anyway. Rin moved the shelf away, and even though it wasn't all so easy to spot, she managed to find a door. Behind that door with no handle or knob was stairs; of course they were on the second floor of the building, so Rin had a feeling it'd be something like that. Her discovery didn't matter at the time however, because Len wasn't there with her and there was no way she'd leave without him with her.

'How long has it been...? Maybe I should go look for him?' It's something she should've done the first place anyway. 'Has it been an hour...? This isn't good, if it's been an hour already Kaito'd let Mayu out of the interrogation room, and with Len running around looking for Kaito it's...'

Rin's heart skipped a beat as the door opened so suddenly.

"...Kaito...?" That wasn't who she'd expected at to come out of that door at all, and judging by Kaito's expression something bad must've happened earlier. Something... "Where's Len?"

"Oh, hey, Rin... You've found the door, that's great! I guess I should've mentioned it to you earlier, huh? Well anyway, let's leave!" Kaito grabbed Rin's hand and started dragging her out of the kitchen and on to the stairs.

"Wait a minute, what's going on? I'm not leaving until Len's here! Where is he?! He said he wanted to see you!" Kaito's grip on her hand was so tight there was no way she could break out of it. She didn't want to leave the building, not without Len at least!

"It's alright, I'll explain everything later! I'm pretty sure he'll catch up with us... On a later date, I guess, but for now we need to leave." The fact that Rin was resisting so much made him want to just carry Rin on his shoulders... No, even then she'd still resist it. And after Mayu, Kaito was rather afraid to know what she'd do to resist him. "Please just trust me on this one? Please?"

"Do you at least have a plan with you?" She was still hesitant... Something about it didn't feel right. How could Len make it out of there alone? He drank the antidote so he should be fine, but would he really? "Shouldn't we wait for him, he's catching up, right?"

"Yeah, of course I have a plan! We're going to leave this building, head to the train station, and you're going to live in my house for a while. It'll be great, I have a nice little house up in t-"

"What...? We're going to... We can't just leave Len here! How's he going to catch up to that?!"

"I promise it's a part of the plan! For now can you just be quiet, please?" Kaito didn't want to raise his voice on her like that, but at least Rin had stopped asking questions... At the time being. Kaito wasn't sure how long that'd last, though for now he'd just have to focus on carrying on his escape plan: improvisation.

"And then I'll coat him with gasoline… And set him on fire. No, wait! Before that, I'll empty his insides first, that'll do it, right? Yes… And then… I'll donate it to charity! Or I could sell it… For money. Yes, money sounds good, I'll go with money. But then, if I try and empty Kaito's insides first, what's there to burn? His skin? That won't be good, that won't be good at all! Then again, no one'd buy organs with that much stab wounds… Among other things. Or I could just attach what's left of his body to a couple of fireworks and in the end let the sky shine. That's a perfect ending!" Mayu gave an applause to herself.

Self-applause.

"I'm… Thirsty from all this talking. Just open the door!" Mayu really couldn't take it anymore, in fact the second someone opens the door; it could be her prince charming or whatever she doesn't care, she's going to slap him right in the face. Her head was on fire and she was about to burst into flames any minute. She just had to take the anger out of her. Somehow, however it takes.

"To whoever opens this door…" Mayu started knocking. "I know the door isn't locked, I know someone is still holding it in, I get that. So… Listen closely."

"I'm going to grant you one wish. It can't be anything impossible like, 'I wish I could fly', no… Something logical, will you? It sounds vague but I swear I'll do anything you want… Anything! I'll kiss your feet, comb your hair, walk your dog, anything, name it! Just please open the door! I'm not asking much!"

She knew she was going insane. More insane than she already was at least. The thought of her being trapped in there forever was terrifying… Terrifyingly boring. That wasn't how she had pictured her death would be. She pictured it… Somewhere along the lines of… No, she'd live long enough until science and magic merge into one and the elixir of life would be invented by then. She'd live forever and ever and rule the world, there's no "the end" to that story.

Or murdered by Kaito, that's another possibility.

Naaah.

"Deep down, I'm really a nice person you know… I mean, how can I not be a nice person? I'm just a helpless, helpless little girl! Who can grant you wishes! No, sorry, one wish for you, at least." This wasn't… The amazing ending she deserves. "Pretty please…"

Mayu tried to open the door again, blood was still dripping from the tip of her fingers. Only this time, it worked. There was nothing against the door handle, no one or nothing was in the way! It was a shame she couldn't have noticed it earlier but it worked… The door was finally open. And on the other side of the door wasn't something… Mayu had expected to see at all.

"Oh." She smiled. "Detective Lenny."

Sitting there cross-legged in the middle of the hallway was Len.

"I really thought it was Kaito behind that door… But it's actually you? Who'd ever thoug- oh, no, wait… It's actually possible! It's just that, you running off with Rinny's actually more possible, with Kaito holding off the door until who knows when. And then… Kaito'd play hero, and then I'll kill him on the spot, and then I'll hunt you two down, and then I'll kill Rin in front of your eyes and then… And then… Ah, how am I going to handle this plot twist? What a bother. I had a plan in mind, you see?" Mayu took a few steps closer and sat next to Len, who was still not speaking. From her point of view it looked like Len couldn't even keep his eyes opened.

He must've drunk the antidote.

"Did you drink the antidote earlier? You did, didn't you? How do you feel?"

"Not as bad as your bleeding arm." Len grinned mockingly. Mayu had covered the wound with cloth she tore from her own dress, so it was hard to tell how deep or how severe the actual wound was on her left arm. "Rin did that… I didn't know she could, but I guess people change." Len wondered if that change was for the best, though.

"Yeah, she'll pay for this." That wiped Len's grin off his face completely. "What was I talking about earlier...? Oh, right, Rinny! Do you want to hear how it's going to end? There'll probably be fireworks in it!"

"I don't need to hear it." He sighed. "Allow me to bear it."

"Huh? You mean, whatever plans I have for Rin I'll let you handle it instead? Because you're the boss and you should take responsibility, is that what you're saying? Interesting! Ah, it's not like you have a lot of time in you anyway."

"That just means you'll have to make each second counts before I die."

"Hmph." Mayu pouted. "I don't like guys like you! You're giving away your life just like that without a second thought, ready to be tortured… Guys who resists, they're much cuter! Rin's my type, she resists! Instead of choosing whether to lose an arm or let you die she resisted and tried to chop my arm off with a butcher knife, ran away with the antidote, and now she's probably out there with Kaito ready to get married!"

"Lose an arm…? Married?"

"Well with you out of the picture the closest person in her life who knows all of her secrets would be Kaito, right? Bet you didn't think that one through. Ready to resist now and beg for your life?"

"Not… Really." Len sighed again. He didn't know staying awake would be so hard for him to do. Whatever was in the vessel he drank earlier... No, that wasn't the time to think about that. "And she's not with Kaito."

"Oh, please!" Mayu laughed it off, suddenly that thirst she had earlier inside the interrogation room was completely gone. "I know how this story'll go! Those two are on the run right now, far, far away.Eventually, Kaito's going to check up on you and see how're you doing, once he sees you dead in my hands he'll be all emotional and tries to plot his revenge down, but before any of that happens I'll kill him first. Fireworks! Then I'll do something about Rin, there'll be fireworks involved in it too, probably but... Maybe I shouldn't rush it? I don't have any plans for her at the moment. Good ideas'll come to those who waits patiently."

"Dead in your hands, huh… You seriously think in the next few hours there's no way I could escape this place on my own?"

And then Mayu started to laugh uncontrollably.

"Oh dear god you're so funny!" She pinched Len's cheek. "Pfft e-escape here on your own I can't even ahahahahhh!"

She stood up and lent Len a hand.

"You know what? You're so funny I think I'll give you the real antidote. Would you believe me if I said that? It doesn't matter now 'cause I'm going to give you one anyway, come on!" Len wanted to give her a look; a look of disbelief, but why bother? He's not going to fall in to that trick the second time. "You don't trust me?"

"Give me a reason why I should." He ignored Mayu's hand and stood up on his own.

"Oh, I bet you didn't hear! Silly me, of course you couldn't hear, uhm… Earlier when I was still locked inside that room I said 'I'm going to grant whoever opens the door one wish'. And since you've technically let me out I'm going to grant you one! I'm a nice person, right?" Mayu still couldn't get an expression out of Len on that one. "I don't need to ask you what you wish for, you want an antidote, don't you?"

"That's not a reason, I asked for a reason." No… If he could wish for anything he'd ask her to leave Kaito and Rin alone; if Mayu knew that however, she'd probably just do the opposite and terrorize those two forever. It's best and it's also safer to just go along with that antidote wish.

"Hey, it's not like you have any other choice anyway, right? Things couldn't get any worse for you right now, why not take this seemingly-safe-antidote that could grant you an extra few days on earth?"

"Fine. I'll get a few extra days on earth, then what?" That's what Len's afraid of. The fact that she said 'an extra few days' made it sound like after he drank the antidote Mayu had something else in store for him and in 'a few days' he'd die. Seems more Mayu-ish that way.

"I haven't decided yet. Oh, oh! Have you ever been to the best pastry shop in the world? Let's go there this Sunday!"

"…" She finally got an expression out of Len. Sure, Mayu being merciful, giving him a second chance in life apparently wasn't enough, but then, she asked him out on a date. That's a surprise. He wasn't sure how to respond to that at first, though he knew saying no would be suicidal of him. So, his only other option was... "Alright."

"A date! It's been so long since my last date! I've been so busy for me lately it's hard for me to find some time and rest and just goof off; delicious pastry's the greatest cure I could ask for, and to have someone to enjoy the pastry with me, this'll be great…!" She then looked at Len from top to bottom, her two hands on her cheeks; she shook her head in disappointment. "You look like a mess! When was the last time you showered? And then these wounds! And your arm! We need to go shopping! Red looks good on you… No, red looks good on everyone, I'm sorry I have a blood fetish! "

"I don't have a lot of money with me… In fact I don't have any money with me at all." The change of atmosphere around Mayu was creeping him out… He wasn't sure if it was all an act, or…

"Oh, don't worry I have lots of money with me! Just sit back and relax, you look like you need it more than anyone else in this building! Ah, that's not true, people are being tortured as we speak here in a room somewhere deep underground." There, the mood changed again in an instant. "It's alright, for now… Let's get that antidote! The real one!"

The market was as busy as ever and even though going through a sea of people was a great disguise Kaito couldn't stop worrying about Rin behind him. It's not that he was afraid that Rin would be lost from his sight, no, Kaito held her hand so tight it might, no it should actually leave a mark later. It's just… Rin couldn't shut up.

"Why won't you tell me where he is…?!" He was sure if he turns around Rin's eyes would be watery and Kaito couldn't handle that at the moment.

"For the last time, Rin!" Kaito tried not to scream, but it's hard to do so. They were in a crowded place after all. Rin wouldn't be able to hear him otherwise. "We can't talk about this in public! For all we know that old grandma behind us here could be a spy."

"Then, when are you going to explain it to me? Why did we leave that building without Len? He said he had something to tell you earlier, right? What did he say? He's still out there and, and… He was acting so weird before he left, it's like…" That feeling… It's regret. The fact that she could've stopped him and asked him to stay in the kitchen with her. The fact that she could've just followed him… No one could've stopped her then! "I feel like I won't be able to see him again now that we've left the building."

"Please lower your voice, Mayu's eyes and ears, they're literally everywhere, okay? You don't want to be caught the second time now do you?"

"At least spare a moment to explain it to me! Are you just avoiding this conversation with me? Did something bad happen while I was in the kitchen?"

"I will! I promise! I'll explain everything as soon as we reach my house, it's spy-free there, for now please can we talk about something else? Like the weather over here! The weather here's great, don't you think? Uhm, actually it's summer and it looks like the sky's gonna rain any second now but other than that the birds are singing it's great, today's a great day!"

And with that Rin stopped walking. Kaito turned around, ready to protest and release his stress and pressure on her but then he saw her no longer in the verge of tears; she was really crying.

"Promise me… Please?" He changed his mind and knew he just couldn't say no to that face.

Damn his weakness, he thought with a sigh.

"Once we reach the train station… I promise, okay? I'll write it down, you can read it then… It'll be alright, I'll explain everything. Just don't cry." He sighed again and patted her head... That's when he realized something was missing. "Your ribbon… Len hasn't returned it to you, huh?"

"Huh…? It's with him?"

"Yeah, I guess other things just got in the way and he forgot about it." He took Rin's hand and started walking again. "Come on, the sooner we reach the station the sooner we can sit down and talk about this. Uhm, I mean, I'll write down and you'll read… You get my point!"

"I tried taking as many tissues as I could, and I stole this pen from… Someone's bag or something. It doesn't matter where I got the pen, okay?" Kaito sat down on his seat, the train was ready to leave any second then. He just wanted the train to leave already, he didn't want to hear any delays, or a gunshot, or any type of explosives. "Wow, I don't know where to start."

"How long is this train trip to your house? If it's a long trip, take all the time you want… Just… Start with what Len's planning right now." Rin heaved a heavy sigh and cleared her throat.

"It's gonna be a long trip but we're gonna keep changing trains and stations… Just in case… You know." Kaito started writing. "Do you feel like talking about yourself and the past few weeks? I'm not going to force you."

"We can save it for later, I mean… You only have one pen." Kaito watched Rin as she uneasily scratched her head and looked outside the window; the train was starting to move. Len was right, Rin doesn't want to share anything with anyone at all. At the time, anyway. "Your story is more important than mine."

"That's not true, I bet yours is just as interesting. I'm not going to force you and interrogate you or anything, so relax and don't be so tense about it." Kaito had other methods in mind on finding out what happened the past few weeks for Rin anyway.

"Let's just hope it'll be a smooth ride from here on forth." Kaito handed the first piece of tissue. To Rin's surprise, his handwriting was really neat considering it was written on tissue paper and they were on a moving vehicle.

'Earlier when you were in the kitchen, Len went to see me and Mayu. He told me everything; the antidote, how he collapsed earlier, how he met you. After that he told me I should hurry up and go meet you there and leave.'

"That's it? He didn't say anything else?" That as much, Rin could guess on her own.

"Calm down I'm getting to that. Don't rush me, you don't want to see my cursive side." He joked and ripped the tissue he was writing on and started on a new one. "Uhm, nope... Not this one." He mumbled to himself.

After a while, he handed her the second tissue paper.

'Someone is watching us.'

"...Do you have a plan?" It'd be too suspicious of her to suddenly just look around and try to find who Kaito was talking about; nothing and no one was out of the ordinary. No one looked suspicious enough for her; no heavy coated men in black or overly-dressed men with shades and scarves. "It's… Kinda scary."

"Don't be, you had a rough trip earlier since you were alone and everything but I'm here now! Once we're back to my house I'll prepare your bath, just relax, and stop acting so tense for goodness' sake." He handed her the third and last tissue paper.

'Go to sleep, or at least pretend to. I'm going to the 'toilet' and do my business. ;) ;) ;) '

How could Kaito expect her to sleep after hearing that? Or even pretend? She wanted to keep her eyes opened to see what's going on around her!

"The one thing I regret the most out of all that's happened is that I should've pushed Len off the ship and none of this would've happened. There's always the option of jumping off this moving train." Kaito took all the tissues from her and stood up from his seat. "…Just kidding. For now, you can just sleep."

He left the carriage he and Rin were on, took one deep breathe and tried to pull his self together. With all his might Kaito tried not to shout at all the passengers there. The stress and burden of actually protecting Rin was killing him.

The 'ugly' truth was; no one was watching them. It sounded mean to lie to Rin, and he knew what he needed most from Rin was trust, but he had no other choice. Kaito just needed to distract Rin from that conversation.

'I'm just as clueless as she is when it comes to what Len had in mind earlier, and if I don't say anything she'll just get all suspicious and thinks I'm hiding something. Simply 'cause there's no way Len would just leave her, leave us like that with no explanation! GOD I should just hide in the toilet forever if there is a toilet here.' Poor Rin over there was probably worried over the small white lie he told her about the suspicious imaginary person who was watching them. 'We'll reach the next stop in twenty minutes, it'll be fine, it'll be fine.'

Walking calms him down, it helps him think and it helps him feel less anxious about everything. He went from one carriage to another; and once he reached the end he was thinking he could just do it again and again until his anxiety attack was over him.

'In the off chance that we'll meet again in one piece I'm going to punch Len in the face really hard. Dead or alive.'