A/N: What I will probably do is go to some fluff, but I will somehow bring the torture back in :D Thanks again for your review, KurioSpade, and I must say it's ok to feel psychotic every now and again. I feel pretty bad when I type this stuff but for some reason it's nice to see your favorite characters getting hurt and tortured. I don't know why, but I'm glad it's not just me! Anyway, hope you like this chapter!

Chapter 6:

Katsu angrily grabbed a couple of longer knives from the wall and marched up the stairs. He had come faster than expected. The question was if Hizumi had managed to recruit some of the Blade Children and how many. She opened the door and shut it behind her silently. Katsu peered to the front of the house, making sure to remain by the door that led to Ayumu.

The front door had been blown off its hinges and tiny pieces of wood scattered the floor. Katsu noticed the remnants of a small bomb. No doubt it was made by Rio, who was the best bomb maker of all the Blade Children.

"Knives?"

Katsu glanced behind her to where Kousuke was leaning against a wall, holding a gun in his hand.

"You brought knives to a fight this day in age?" Kousuke questioned.

Katsu smiled, twirling the weapon in her hands. "I seem to do better with these than a gun. I do hate the loud noise they make."

"Give up and hand over Ayumu," Ryoko said, holding a gun to Katsu on the other side of her.

"What makes you think I have him?" Katsu smiled. "I'm just trying to peacefully live my life and you guys come busting through my door. Wouldn't it have been smarter to come in quietly?"

Kousuke chuckled, making Katsu glare over at him. "What's so funny?" Katsu demanded.

"How else were we supposed to get you out of the basement?" Kousuke smirked.

Katsu's eyes widened in realization. There was one small window in one of the rooms downstairs and Hizumi would know that. He would also know that was where she and Yaiba kept all the torture devices.

Kousuke clicked his gun as Katsu reached for the door. "Don't move."

Katsu smirked. "Since when do I listen to you?" Katsu suddenly pushed backwards, catching Ryoko off guard and she slammed into Ryoko's chest. Katsu hit Ryoko's arm the opposite way it was supposed to go, causing her to yelp and release her gun. Katsu snatched it in the air and pointed it to her head. "After all these years, you still don't have good reflexes."

Katsu heard another click and looked back at Rio pointing a gun at her. Katsu smiled. "Three against one? Is that really fair?"

"Since when do the Blade Children play fair?" Kousuke asked.

"True," Katsu shrugged. She moved Ryoko so she was in front of her acting as a shield and swung the butt of the gun around, slamming into Rio's face. Rio stumbled to the ground, stunned.

"Rio!" Ryoko yelled. She moved to punch Katsu but she easily deflected it and twisted her arm back. Katsu placed the barrel of the gun towards Ryoko's head once again and looked at Kousuke.

"I suggest you let me go to the basement."

Hizumi ran around to the back of the house as the other three broke through the front door. He knew he had only minutes before Katsu would make her way back to the basement. Hizumi kicked out the glass of the small window that led downward.

Hizumi got on his stomach and crawled through the opening. He carefully pulled himself through and lowered himself to the concrete ground. He looked around the familiar small room that held more weapons and devices his brother had collected throughout the years. Hizumi ran through the door and gasped.

Ayumu was bounded by barbed wire to a chair with blood running down different parts of his body. His head hung down in defeat. Hizumi had never seen him this way.

"A-Ayumu?" Hizumi asked cautiously, not knowing the extent to his condition.

Ayumu looked up. "Hizumi?"

Hizumi sighed in relief. "Don't worry; we are here to get you out of here." Hizumi walked up closer and stared at the wounds in shock. He couldn't even see a part of Ayumu's left hand that wasn't covered in blood. His wrists and ankles were a bloody mess. His right shoulder was lower than it should be, obviously dislocated. Even his chest was covered in burns and cuts.

"Stop right there!" Katsu yelled from the stairs. She pointed the gun she had stolen at Ayumu, making Hizumi stop.

"I thought you didn't like guns," Hizumi said.

"It's useful in this situation, don't you think?" Katsu smiled, walking down the stairs.

"Where are the others?" Hizumi asked.

"None of them are dead if that's what you're asking," Katsu answered. "I only have business with Ayumu."

"No, you have business with Kiyotaka," Hizumi said. "You're just bringing Ayumu in it."

"And what do you care? Aren't you the least bit sad that Yaiba is dead?"

"Of course I am," Hizumi said. "I just know Ayumu had nothing to do with it. He's not like Kiyotaka."

"Not like him? He's identical in every way!" Katsu glared. "It won't be long before he kills you, Hizumi. I'm doing you a favor." Katsu clicked the gun and Hizumi's eyes widened. Ayumu closed his eyes as Katsu pulled the trigger.

Click.

The three of them stared at the gun. Katsu frantically pulled the trigger more times in astonishment, each bullet not firing. "T-that's impossible!" Katsu said as she felt her arms being tugged behind her while she was in shock. Kousuke firmly held onto Katsu's wrists while she continued to stare, not comprehending what was happening.

Hizumi quickly went over and carefully cut away the wires, freeing Ayumu.

Katsu started to laugh. "There were never bullets in the guns, were there?" Katsu asked. "It was all a trick to get me to freak out long enough to grab me and free Ayumu. I'm such an idiot."

Hizumi smiled. "Tricky, huh?"

"That was a lot to bet on," Ayumu said, flinching as Hizumi helped him up to his feet.

"Hey, it worked, didn't it," Hizumi beamed. Hizumi walked up to Katsu. "I should kill you, you know."

Katsu chuckled. "Yeah. But will you?"

Hizumi sighed. "You're a family friend and I don't know if I could. I'm not like my brother."

Katsu laughed softly. "No, you're definitely not like Yaiba. Sorry to say that I am." Katsu surged forward, head-butting Hizumi so he fell back and then elbowing Kousuke in the ribs. She tossed a circular black object to the ground, causing the room to instantly fill with smoke. "Bye bye!"

The five of them coughed and covered their faces until the smoke began to dissipate. They didn't need to look around to notice that Katsu was gone.

Hizumi steadied Ayumu on his feet, who looked like he could pass out any moment. "Here," Hizumi said, picking up Ayumu from the ground princess-style. Ayumu flinched at the pain and felt his face flush in embarrassment.

"I can walk, Hizumi," Ayumu protested.

"It doesn't look like you can. This will be much faster so just put up with it," Hizumi said, making his way towards the stairs.

Kousuke snickered. "I won't let you live this was down, Narumi."

"It's like real life BL!" Rio exclaimed, earning confused faces.

"What's BL?" Kousuke asked.

"Boy's love," Rio answered with a smile, causing all three boy's face to flush at the thought. Rio laughed.

"That's it, put me down," Ayumu said, sounding more tired than forceful.

"I'm joking, Ayumu," Rio laughed. "You can't walk fast right now so just let Hizumi carry you."

The group walked out of the house and Ayumu took in a deep breath of the fresh air. He smiled. He was finally out of that hellhole.

Hizumi looked down at Ayumu. He looked really broken, and Hizumi felt like a lot of it was his fault for not doing something about it earlier. He had suspected Katsu in the beginning, but part of Hizumi didn't want to believe it. Not to mention he knew it would be hard to beat Katsu so he could free Ayumu.

Hizumi watched at Ayumu smiled and closed his eyes, falling asleep in Hizumi's arms. Hizumi couldn't help but smile. Ayumu was strong. Stronger than any person Hizumi has met. After Ayumu was healed and all better, it will be as if nothing had happened. At least, that was what Hizumi thought.