A/N: Hey guys!

Here I am, publishing on time for once (at least on my timezone). I hope this chapter is worth the wait and that you all enjoy it. I had a lot of fun writing it and am looking forward to what happens next in the story. Any comments are greatly appreciated. Reviews really help to motivate me to keep writing on this story. If you've got a few minutes, please feel free to drop me a quick review and let me know what you think of the chapter or the fiction so far.

Thanks to everyone who reads and supports this story. I adore all of you! Thanks again to Kitty for their wonderful review of my last chapter. I really appreciate the support. Without further ado, here is chapter 27 of Who Knows What Fate May Hold For You. Enjoy!

Your grateful author,

Spiral of Destiny

Chapter 27: With Backs to the Wall

Hibari watched the door as Makoto let himself out. Thoughts of what had just been discussed shuffled through his mind as he sorted the relevant from the unnecessary. Slowly he exhaled,running a hand through his hair.

"Honestly,this is far too short of notice." Rubbing his eyes in frustration, Hibari made his way over to the small couch that rested against the wall and collapsed unceremoniously onto it. Resting his arm across the back of the couch, he picked up his cellphone from the cushion beside him and brought it to his ear.

"Hibari?"

"Where are you?"

"I just got home. Why? What's the matter?"

"Makoto was just here."

"What'd he want?"

"He wants me to undertake an attack against the Blade Children tonight."

"…"

"No, you aren't involved." An audible sigh was heard on the other end of the call.

"Then…why are you calling me?"

"You should know their movements by now. Where are they most likely to be?"

"That would depend on who you're looking for."

"Don't get smart with me, little brother." Hibari's tone was even and dark. A muffled scoff sounded from the other end of the line.

"I don't know what you want me to tell you. My orders were to watch them at school, not to keep tabs on their every movement."

"Well then consider your orders changed."

"You don't have the authority to do that."

"I have the authority over you!" The menace in Hibari's tone shut down the other caller and a moment of silence fell before he spoke again.

"What do you want me to do?" Hibari sighed heavily, irritated. He rubbed his forehead wearily.

"I want you to find them."

"Now?"

"Right now."

"They're probably at home at this hour."

"Then confirm that!" The caller sighed, defeated.

"How am I supposed to do that?" Silence met the inquiry. Another sigh sounded. "Alright. I'll call you when I find out anything." Without a word of thanks or farewell, Hibari ended the call.

OOoOoOo

The sun had set as Rio, Ryoko, and Kousuke sat next to the window in a small cafe. After leaving Asura behind, the three had decided to go out together and spend the evening in each other's company somewhere warm. Though only having intended a short visit, the trio had now exhausted most of the evening. Currently they were sharing a pot of tea and talking about school and any extra-curricular activities they were busy with. For once nothing of the Blade Children or their fight was mentioned and each member of the conversation seemed pleased to spend some time acting as though life was normal.

It was Ryoko who at last broke the pleasant evening by rising.

"This has been fun, but I have to get going. It's getting late and I've got some things I need to finish up before tomorrow." Kousuke nodded and stood as well.

"Yeah, I guess we have been here a long time. We should probably get going, right Rio?" The smaller girl nodded, still maintaining her smile.

"We should do this again soon." She commented as they reached the door. Her two companions nodded. The door moved away from them as Kousuke reached for it. The action was sudden and before Kousuke could react, the person entering the cafe ran into him.

"Sorry, my bad." The newcomer apologized, looking at Kousuke with familiar gray eyes.

"Don't worry about it." Kousuke shook his head, looking with slight surprise at the brown-haired student, not having expected to see him. With a dismissive nod, the student moved deeper into the cafe.

The three watched him go before disregarding the chance meeting and moving out onto the street. From within the cafe a single text was sent as gray eyes stared in disgust after the receding trio.

"I found them."

OOoOoOo

The "Hunters" moved quickly through the cold night. By the time word of the Blade Children's whereabouts had been delivered, Hibari had gathered his team and was waiting to begin. Now the group of six men were fanned out across the nearby area, the intention to find the Blade Children and box them in.

As the clock struck 9pm, the first "Hunter" caught sight of his targets. They had nearly made it to Ryoko's apartment when he carefully aimed and pulled the trigger. By sheer luck the shot was altered by the wind and went wide. Instead of penetrating his back, the bullet only grazed Kousuke's jacket. Kousuke jerked violently into Ryoko, instantly on high alert to the very real danger they currently were faced with.

The "Hunter" cursed as he heard the command to run and the three took off running to escape the street. He moved quickly into pursuit.

"I missed them. Cut them off." He relayed into his headpiece. Confirmation came a moment later and the familiar pop of a silenced gun sounded. The shot had been fired from too great of a distance to connect, and it fell short of reaching the Blade Children. However, it served its purpose as the trio redirected their path and headed for an alley that led to the next street over.

"They're heading back your way. Do you have a shot?" The question came from the shooter.

"Not sure. I'm going to try."

"Negative." Hibari's voice came over the mic. "Just drive them forward for now. We can't have a shoot out in the streets."

"But if we move them somewhere secluded then they can fight back or we could lose them! We shouldn't draw this out!"

Hibari's eyes narrowed at the distrust of his orders.

"Not if we isolate them. For the time being focus on keeping them moving. If they're pressed hard enough they'll slip up. I want them separated by the time they do."

"Very well."

"Alright."

"Fine."

"You better know what you're doing." Various confirmations sounded from his men and Hibari nodded in approval. He had caught sight of the Blade Children, as well as the "Hunter" that had taken the initial shot, and moved to join in his efforts.

The chase continued for five minutes before the Blade Children managed to slip out of sight. Hibari came to a stop beside the other "Hunter".

"This isn't working! Now we've lost them!" The other complained.

"It's working fine." Hibari's tone was calm, though his breathing was quickened from the exertion. "Don't forget that not all of us are on foot." As if in response the squeal of car tires sounded and the scream of a young girl was heard.

"Come on." Hibari moved quickly in the direction of the scream, his accomplice on his heels.

"They're heading for the docks." Hibari nodded.

"Good. We can corner them there. Get moving." Casting a quick look at his companion, Hibari turned sharply and moved in the direction of the docks.

OOoOoOo

The Blade Children reached the docks several minutes before the "Hunters". Making their way alongside one of the many shipping containers, they paused to catch their breath.

"Damn, where'd they even come from?" Kousuke surveyed the tear in his jacket before looking back in the direction they came from, trying to catch his breath.

"I…never… thought they'd come after us…like this." Rio gasped, hands on her knees.

"Can't those stupid "Hunters" give us just one normal day?" Ryoko spat, the only one not out of breath from their run. Kousuke shook his head. It had been reckless of them to let their guard down and they all knew it. Kousuke grit his teeth.

"So what now?" The two looked to Rio for an answer. They were surprised to see how scared she looked.

"I-I don't know." She said meekly, looking back at both of them. Kousuke's eyes narrowed and he pushed past her to gain a better view of the area in the direction they'd come. It was obvious she wasn't going to be useful in the current situation.

"Alright. Then I saw we fight." The girls looked at him in dismay at the prospect. He looked back at them, hating the fear he saw in their eyes. "Any objections?" He forced out. Rio and Ryoko hung their heads, stooping to retrieve their weapons from their bags. He swallowed hard. "Good," Kousuke pulled his gun from his pocket, looking back into the clearing as the sound of footfalls reached his ears. "Because they're here."

The "Hunters" had barely arrived at the docks before shots started flying. Since the Blade Children had the advantage at the moment it was them that fired first. Those who had arrived by vehicle ducked down to avoid the shots and the four other "Hunters" scattered. Limited on ammo, the Blade Children fired two shots before moving locations to avoid being discovered. Their movement was just in time, as gunfire peppered the container where they had previously been. Hibari forced the shooter's gun down.

"Don't waste your ammunition." He scolded, earning a glare from the "Hunter".

"Mind your own business!" He snapped.

"This is my business." With a scoff the shooter moved in the direction the Blade Children had gone and the others followed suit. A few moments later shots sounded again and a scream broke the night air. The latest attack forced the Blade Children to scatter and managed to direct Kousuke back toward the loading dock. Eager to catch him, a "Hunter" followed in close pursuit. He lost sight of the red haired teen just before reaching the open area of the loading dock and was taken off guard as Kousuke tackled him from behind. The two of them fell to the ground and the "Hunter's" gun went flying. Kousuke was quick to regain his feet and managed to kick the gun into the water before the "Hunter" had successfully risen. Giving the "Hunter" a swift kick to the face, Kousuke retreated back to the relative safety provided by the massive shipping containers.

Hibari arrived a moment later to see the "Hunter" kneeling on the ground and cursing while blood poured from his nose.

"What happened?" He demanded.

"Brat tackled me! Then kicked me in the face." He looked around the ground as he spoke. "I think he drowned my gun too!" Hibari glared at the man before sighing, looking back in the direction of the shipping containers.

"Here." He extended his own gun to the "Hunter", not bothering to redirect his attention. "I don't need it. I can do just as well with this." He slipped a slender switchblade from his pocket and opened it. The "Hunter" gingerly took the gun with a slow nod, unsure about the situation. As soon as the gun's weight shifted to the other "Hunter" Hibari took of in pursuit of Kousuke.

It took nearly fifteen minutes for Kousuke to relocate Rio and Ryoko. The two had managed to relocate one another and were busy fending off a group of two "Hunters". Rio had managed to hit one of the men in the shoulder, but the the wound didn't seem to be slowing him down. When the girls saw Kousuke they retreated and fled several rows down until they reached a raised container and slipped beneath it.

"What do we do now, Kousuke? I'm almost out of ammo." Ryoko said, changing the magazine in her pistol and focusing forward.

"We have to find a way to get rid of these guys." Kousuke whispered.

"And how are we supposed to do that?" Ryoko snapped, glaring at him. He ran his hand through his hair, clearly stressed.

"I don't know."

"You guys, knock it off. This isn't the time to be fighting each other." Rio cautioned from where she lay next to Ryoko. Kousuke and Ryoko fell silent. "Let's just try and stay hidden. With any luck they'll give up for tonight." The others nodded silently, taking the available time to prepare mentally for what was likely to come.

Nearly a half hour went by before the sound of footsteps could be heard coming toward them. Since entering their hiding spot they had heard footsteps and words spoken at various distances from them, but never so close. They readied their weapons.

Their current position was extremely dangerous and they knew it. The container they currently hid under was pushed against a wall and so left them only one point of entry and exit. The three cast a glance at one another, a silent goodbye, before focusing forward again. The footsteps grew closer. Each Blade Child held their breath as the footsteps stopped right in front of where they hid. They could see the feet of at least two "Hunters" and hear their voices.

"Look at this. Their footprints are all over here." One said. Kousuke bit his lip.

"Yeah." A pause. "And look at this. Drag marks." The men turned to face the container. Silence fell. A gun clicked. A split second decision was needed and Kousuke made the call. Taking aim, he grit his teeth and fired his gun. The sound of the shot was deafening under the metal container and he felt pain burst in his ears from the volume. He ignored the pain, wincing slightly as he fought to keep his vision oriented on his target. He could see the "Hunter" laying on the ground clutching his leg while the other "Hunter" dropped to his knees and aimed under the container at them. Their eyes met as Kousuke pulled the trigger again. The shot reverberated through the air again, but all he could hear was the heavy ringing in his ears. At first he wasn't sure if he had hit his target until he felt Ryoko grasping his shoulder and pulling him forward. Looking at her he could see her lips moving but he couldn't make out any sound. Still, her message was clear enough.

"Move! We need to go!" Nodding numbly, he dragged himself out behind her and took off running, all but trampling the "Hunters" as they ran. Behind them the "Hunters" screamed in pain and rage. Their cries fell on deaf ears.

The sound of gunshots drew Hibari and the rest of the "Hunters" in the direction of the recent attack. Within minutes of the shooting they arrived to find two of their men on the ground, one nursing a desecrated ankle and the other adding pressure to a wounded collarbone and bloody ear.

"What happened?" Hibari demanded. The "Hunter" with the mutilated leg couldn't answer, curled on the ground and sobbing, but the other managed to speak.

"They were under the container. We got hit before we could even shoot back." Hibari grit his teeth tightly, his eyes narrowing as he spun around to face the remaining "Hunters".

"Find them!"

OOoOoOo

Nearly two hours passed after the most recent attack. Disoriented and injured, the Blade Children had taken refuge in one of the shipping containers and now waited in hopes that the "Hunters" would give up. They had attempted to leave the area, but had been intercepted by "Hunters" at each exit. Hiding, they'd determined, was the best option left available to them.

Immediately after taking refuge they had tried to call for help, but the massive metal containers around them were preventing any cellphone signal from going out or being received.

Rio and Ryoko now sat together, leaning against one another while Kousuke sat nearer to the entrance. Blood stained his face and jacket from a shallow head wound. Miraculously his hearing had started to return, though the ringing was still nearly deafening.

"What do we do now, Kousuke?" The red haired teen turned back to look at Ryoko. She sat supporting Rio, who was resting with her head on Ryoko's shoulder, her eyes closed. Kousuke looked down, moving his gun slightly from where it hung from his hand that rested limply over his raised knee.

"I'm not sure. Just rest for now." Ryoko nodded, mentally exhausted and physically spent. Kousuke returned his gaze to the door. "Ryoko…" He heard her shift, indicating that she was looking at him. "If something happens to me, don't stop. Protect Rio and get out of here. Promise me?"

"Kousuke…"

"Promise me!" Silence fell, lasting several minutes. As Kousuke turned to glance back at Ryoko, the sound of creaking metal filled the container and his eyes shot forward again. Slowly, moonlight filled the space as the door opened, revealing Hibari standing in the opening. His eyes were black with hate.

"I found you."

"RUN!" Kousuke shouted as he raised his gun and pulled the trigger. His gun clicked uselessly, the last magazine spent. Before he could react Hibari had entered the crate and tackled him to the ground, his knife drawn. "GET OUT OF HERE! GO! NOW!" Kousuke screamed as he caught the knife seconds before it could be buried into his face. In his peripheral vision he could see Ryoko frozen in place, watching wide-eyed and unbelieving. "RYOKO!" The sound of her name seemed to snap her back to reality and she grabbed Rio's arm before fleeing from the container. Hibari tried to pursue them, but Kousuke tackled him. Hibari was forced down onto his chest, his knife pinned on the ground to his left.

"The girls are heading west. Don't lose them." Kousuke's eyes widened as he heard the command and he beat Hibari's head on the ground as he attempted to loosen the ear-piece from its place. Hibari fought to stop Kousuke, but the teen managed to get the ear-piece out and staggered back before dropping it and stomping firmly on it. Once finished, he turned in an attempt to follow Rio and Ryoko. Panic flooded through him as his gaze fell on the form of Hibari blocking his path.

"Well…" He wiped blood from his forehead. "Aren't you the noble one." Kousuke grit his teeth, lowering his stance defensively.

"I'll never let them die to you "Hunters"!" Hibari's eyes burned darkly.

"I'm afraid you don't have a choice anymore!" Without warning Hibari charged Kousuke, catching him in the chest with a shoulder charge and sending him falling back, landing hard on his spine. Adjusting the knife in his grip, he dropped to bury the blade into Kousuke's chest, but the teen was faster and managed to roll just clear of the attack. Hurrying to his feet, he charged Hibari, pinning him to the metal wall and attempting to wrestle the knife from him. Hibari observed the effort calmly before dropping the knife and boxing Kousuke's ears. A cry of pain from the teen told him the attack had been effective and he shoved the staggered youth back before retrieving the knife and going at Kousuke again. The younger male barely managed to catch his arm and hold it still, the knife a mere two inches from his face once more. His eyes were narrowed in pain and blood had begun to run from his ears.

It was clear that Hibari was stronger and the knife slowly moved closer toward Kousuke's face.

"You didn't think you Blade Children would get away forever, did you?" Kousuke growled at him in place of speech. The knife was mere centimeters away from his cheek by this point, and the effort going into subduing Hibari's free arm prevented the red haired teen from moving the knife. His eyes narrowed, Kousuke made eye contact with Hibari before allowing his grip to drop as he dodged to the right. The knife caught his cheek, but his feint was enough to force the knife cleanly down his face in a slicing motion rather than a stabbing one. His arms free, Kousuke tackled Hibari and forced him to the left in a downward direction. Having not expected the sudden release of resistance, Hibari was forced off balance and Kousuke was able to control his movement completely. Unable to offer any resistance to the impact, Hibari hit the ground hard, forcing his teeth to clench and his grip to loosen on the knife as his shoulder impacted full force.

"I'm not going to die to the likes of you!" Hibari's eyes widened as he felt Kousuke's grip close around his throat, tightening quickly as the teen took his place over Hibari. Feeling his vision haze under the pressure, he moved to stab Kousuke in the side with his knife, but his movement was slow and Kousuke managed to dodge to the right and evade the attack. He staggered back to his feet as Hibari did the same. Both eyed each other warily as they attempted to catch their breath. "I don't have time to deal with you." Kousuke gasped, glaring at Hibari. He wanted to turn and run but knew such an act would only lead to a knife in his back. Hibari's breathing slowed.

"Then die already." Before the words were fully spoken Hibari was on top of Kousuke. The teen staggered away from him, narrowly missing being impaled by the knife as Hibari stabbed at him. Feebly, he grabbed Hibari's arm and tried to wrench him off balance, but the act only managed to get Kousuke pulled forward off his feet. He collapsed to his knees, and dodged immediately to his left out of instinct. He felt the knife cut his shoulder, but he escaped without a complete stab wound. The pain barely registered.

Adrenaline pumping through his veins, he was back on his feet again and managed to wrestle the knife free from Hibari with a strong twist to his wrist. The "Hunter" hissed in pain and forced Kousuke back against the wall. The two struggled against one another for a few moments before Kousuke got enough leverage to duck down under Hibari's arm while slamming the older male's head forcefully into the wall. The blow was enough to knock Hibari back and Kousuke had him down on the ground again in seconds. Before Hibari could fully process what had happened Kousuke had grabbed him by the hair and was beating his head repeatedly back against the metal floor of the container. The pain was blinding and, while he tried weakly to free himself from Kousuke, it wasn't long before his vision went black. The last thing he registered was the red haired teen rising to his feet and running out of the container.

Kousuke ran for several feet before collapsing to the ground. His whole body was trembling and his breathing was coming in short bursts. He tried to struggle to his feet, but the repeated blows to his ears had scrambled his sense of equilibrium and he only managed to stumble around before collapsing again. Ultimately, he settled for crawling forward. With the adrenaline rush fading with the absence of immediate danger, his vision was turning spotty and he fought to keep his mind and vision focused. As he crawled forward, he heard the sound of gunshots and he struggled faster. Hearing the shots meant that Ryoko and Rio had been found. He needed to hurry. He dragged himself for roughly twenty feet before his strength gave out and he collapsed.

OOoOoOo

Rio and Ryoko ran hard as they moved farther and farther away from the container where they'd been hiding. After getting outside Rio had taken the lead and Ryoko had followed close behind. Several times she had tried to go back and help Kousuke but Rio forced her on. The icy temperatures sat heavily in their stiff limbs, making running difficult and painful. Still, they continued on. They had nearly made it to the clearing that would lead them away from the docks, the only option left available to them, when Ryoko caught sight of the remaining "Hunters". She pulled Rio to a halt and pressed them both against the front of a shipping container, but the rapid footfalls told her that they'd been spotted. Cursing, she tightened her grip around her gun to steady her hand and looked at Rio. All earlier signs of fear had vanished from the shorter girl's features as she readied for the fight. Leaning around the side of the container, she took aim and fired. Her shot didn't find purchase, but it forced the "Hunters" to halt their advance. Once footfalls could no longer be heard, the girls moved again. They barely made it across the alley between crates before shots impacted the ground at their heels.

"Run! Don't stop!" Ryoko urged as she and Rio headed toward their only escape. They ran until the "Hunters" had made it around the edge of the row before ducking out of sight again. They maintained this tactic for fifteen minutes, moving themselves closer and closer to where they needed to be. They hadn't seen any sign of Kousuke, but Rio kept assuring Ryoko that he would be fine. Now, as they neared the clearing, Rio spoke.

"We can't keep running. If we go out there we'll be killed before we make it back to the street."

"What can we do, then? I won't kill them!" Panic and anger sounded in Ryoko's voice.

"Then they'll kill us, Ryoko! Kill or be killed! You need to decide!" Ryoko closed her eyes tightly, loathing what she was about to do. She heard Rio stop and did the same, turning to face their pursuers. Within moments, they saw their attackers. Shots sounded as Rio fired at the three approaching men. Her assault seemed to hold them at bay to a point, but it wasn't enough to keep them all away. Ryoko pressed her back against Rio as the "Hunters" scattered down different rows in order to surround them. Rio dropped one quickly with a shot to the thigh and prepared to engage the one that was inevitably coming from her right. Ryoko stood rigid, the gun held tightly in both hands to try and steady her aim. Her hands were shaking terribly and she closed her eyes in an attempt to steady herself. When she opened them again the "Hunter" was in front of her, within range. She grit her teeth and took aim. She had the advantage. She was faster… she hesitated. A shot sounded, then pain, then darkness. She didn't remember hitting the ground.

"Ryoko!" Rio screamed as she fired her last shot at the "Hunter" behind her. The sound of sirens could be heard approaching and the "Hunter" glared at the two girls with loathing.

"What should we do?" A second "Hunter" asked, coming up from where he'd gone around to surround the Blade Children. The first "Hunter" grimaced.

"Get everyone together. We can't afford to try and explain this." The "Hunters'" looked up at the command to see Hibari leaning against one of the nearby containers. It wasn't a request. Cursing, the two "Hunters" ran down the row and retrieved the man Rio had injured before disappearing deeper in to retrieve the rest of their fallen. Hibari remained where he was, glaring at Rio and the fallen Ryoko.

"Until next time, then." Without waiting for a response he pushed off of the container and struggled after the rest. Rio watched him go, tears in her eyes, as she cradled Ryoko's head and put pressure on the wound forming red roses just below her heart.

OOoOoOo

Kousuke was dragged back to consciousness by the muted feeling of hands on him and the muffled sound of speech. He tried to move, but a hand held him down. His heartbeat elevated. "Hunters"? No. The touch was too gentle. Rio and Ryoko maybe? No, the voices sounded male. With great effort Kousuke forced his eyes open. Two EMTs stared down at him.

"Take it easy. You're okay." One of them tried to calm him. His eyes widened.

"Rio, Ryoko!" He gasped out, struggling against their hold on him.

"Take it easy. Lie still. Are you talking about those girls? We're taking care of them." Kousuke collapsed back to the concrete, his strength failing him with the relief that they were okay. He remained this way for a moment before moving again.

"I need to see them. I can walk!" He pushed the medic's hand away as he struggled to his feet. He stumbled a bit but soon stood steady. "Where are they?" His tone was serious and desperate. The EMTs looked at one another.

"Sir, you need to stay still. You've been through a traumatic.."

"Not until I see them!" Kousuke cut the man off. "If you won't show me where they are I'll find them myself." He began moving away from the two medics before hearing a sigh and feeling a hand placed on his shoulder. It was more than strong enough to stop him.

"Come this way."

Five minutes later Kousuke and the EMT's made their way into the clearing. His eyes went immediately to Rio and his stomach turned to ice. She was standing by herself next to the ambulance, wrapped in a blanket, and sobbing.

"Rio?" Kousuke felt the word catch in his throat. "Rio!" The small girl looked up, her eyes red and tear-filled.

"Kousuke." Forgetting everything else, Kousuke hurried to where she stood. As soon as he reached her she buried her face against him, holding onto him for dear life.

"Rio, what's wrong? What happened?" Rio didn't lift her head.

"Ryoko." She broke down sobbing again, unable to continue. Kousuke froze, staring down at Rio in disbelief. Ryoko what? Was hurt? Was missing? Was…? Kousuke looked around frantically. His eyes fell on a scene unfolding nearby. Medical personal were huddled next to a still form lying on the ground. They were placing monitors and various tubes and other items that Kousuke couldn't make sense of. He caught sight of tawny brown hair in the ambulance light.

"Ryoko.." He tried to move toward her but was stopped as Rio tightened her grip on his jacket. Anger washed over him at this action. He was about to pull roughly away when he realized what he was doing. As much as he wanted to run to Ryoko's side he would only be in the way. There was nothing he could do for her. But Rio needed him. She needed him to be strong right now. Tears ran silently down his face as slowly he wrapped his arms around her small form and held her tightly to him. "It'll be okay." The words sounded hollow to him. He felt Rio nod against him. He held her tighter. "She'll be okay…" Again he felt her nod. In his mind he couldn't help but add, "she has to be."

The two stood embracing each other until Ryoko was lifted from the ground and taken into the ambulance. Rio and Kousuke followed close behind. Sitting on the bench beside the gurney, neither of them spoke as the ambulance began to move. As they made their way toward the hospital, Rio pulled out her phone and dialed with shaking hands. When the call connected she choked down a sob in order to speak.

"Eyes, we need you right now! Ryoko's been shot!"

OOoOoOoOo

When Eyes reached the hospital he found Rio and Kousuke seated in a small, private room in the emergency room. The small girl was wrapped tightly in a blanket and was leaning against Kousuke for comfort. The older male had his head resting back against the wall and was staring listlessly at the ceiling. They both glanced at the door when Eyes was admitted.

"Eyes…" Rio's voice was laced with sorrow and exhaustion and he dismissed speaking in favor of walking over to stand before her. Before he had even stopped she had buried her face in his coat and wrapped her arms around his waist. Kousuke didn't move.

"What happened?" He asked softly as he gently held the younger girl. Kousuke shook his head.

"I don't know. I was unconscious when it happened." The amount of self-loathing in the red head's voice prompted Eyes to lay a comforting hand on his shoulder. To his surprise Kousuke was quick to place his own hand over the performer's.

"Where is she now?" Eyes asked, gently rubbing Rio's back.

"She's in surgery. The doctors won't tell us anything, though." Eyes nodded. His gaze traced over the taller male, noting the thick bandage on his cheek and the wrappings covering his ears. Blood could also be seen on his jacket sleeve. Eyes' gaze softened. He tightened his grip on Kousuke's arm.

"How are you doing?" Kousuke shook his head, staring upward and refusing to look away from the ceiling. He swallowed hard. Eyes nodded in understanding. Slowly turning, he released Kousuke's shoulder and guided Rio onto his lap as he sat down beside Kousuke. Neither of them spoke. They didn't need to. Right now all three being there together was enough.

OOoOoOoOo

Eyes remained at the hospital for an hour before the nurse forced him to leave. Due to the police involvement and the situation surrounding their injuries, both Rio and Kousuke were required to stay overnight for examination. Although visiting hours had long since ended, the nurse on staff had made an exception for Eyes because of the emotional states of his two companions. Now, she ushered him from the room and Rio and Kousuke to the beds spaced evenly apart from one another. After observing Rio and Kousuke's reaction to Ryoko's entering surgery, she had bent the rules another time and allowed the two to share the same room. While it was unconventional to maintain co-ed rooms within the emergency room, she felt it was a better option at the moment. The Blade Children seemed to agree.

So it happened that at nearly 3:30am, Eyes stood in the lobby of the emergency room. Ryoko was still in surgery and the others were preparing to sleep. They were safe for the time being. Eyes sighed heavily.

With a final glance at the woman at the reception desk, he pulled his coat tighter around his neck and left the hospital. As soon as he was on the street once more he pulled his phone from his pocket and hurriedly dialed. As the call connected and a voice came across the line, he felt a wave of relief and calm that he hadn't felt in a long time. Kanone's voice sounded strong; in control. His question was brief, but exactly what Eyes needed to allow him to speak.

"What's wrong?"