Merry Christmas! :)

Your sweet sweet reviews have kept me wanting to come back to this for years, life just kept getting in the way.

It felt like Zelman's stomach dropped when he realized he had put too much distance between himself from M. He had wanted to give himself some breathing room in this fight but he had not calculated the infinite possibilities of M's intentions. How could he? He could have…he could have imagined the worst-case scenario and that should have been his clue.

Zelman raced forward, he knew it was futile, but he threw the hottest flames he could towards Masato and the air between Mimiko and the gun. He knew deep down that he was too late, but he could still try. He only partially registered a female scream from behind him – without a doubt Cassa. He was there in an instant, but half an instant too late. M was dead and Mimiko had been shot. She had her hands covering the wound, looking down at it and what appeared to be an attempt to staunch the bleeding. It wasn't going to do anything. Abdominal wounds are deadly even in the best of cases and in this case, she had already lost a lot of blood, no thanks to him. It wouldn't be long before she went into shock. She needed a doctor, and fast…. she didn't need just a doctor, she needed entire fucking surgical team. Zelman had seen enough gunshot wounds to know. He estimated that she had about 15 to 20 minutes before her heart gave out, maybe less. She just didn't have enough blood in her system.

Zelman repeated the realization: M was dead. M had said he wasn't planning on leaving her without one of them dead. Maybe he had wanted to die and just needed an excuse. It seemed…too easy. In that last moment, he didn't even fight back. He doubted M shooting Mimi was part of Cassa's plan though. He briefly remembered back to the realization he had at their loft earlier in the night, that Mimiko wasn't actually apart of this; M only targeted her because HE had thought she was part of it… Mimiko was only here because he had focused on her. It was stupid. Was it stupid? No, it wasn't stupid. He had to admit he had rather enjoyed himself the last few days; toying with everyone. Mimiko blood was worth the wait. Zelman reached Mimiko's side and squatted down next to her.

"Mimiko. I'm going to try to help you. I need to look at your back to see how bad it is" He wasn't sure if he should leave her sitting against the wall or lay her on the ground. If her back was bleeding as much as the entry wound, it wouldn't really matter, but if the bullet hadn't exited her back, he would have get her lying on the ground. Mimi's eyes slowly closed and opened and became unfocused. She was going into shock. She coughed a little and tried saying something, paused, and then tried again "You….you said you'd make sure I was ok"

Zelman put his hands on her shoulder and leaned her forward slightly to get a look at her back. There was blood all over the wall and dripping down her back. Time was much shorter than he estimated. "I underestimated him, I'm sorry". Her breaths were starting to be very shallow, she didn't respond to his comment and seemed to be drifting in and out of consciousness, she probably wouldn't wake up again. The closest hospital that could treat this kind of trauma was 15 blocks away. The closer hospital didn't have the equipment to treat this kind of injury. Either way, it was too far.

When the gun shot went off, Jiro's back was to Zelman and M. Casa had a clear sight towards the other fight, but her focus was on her own. Both Casa and Jiro pulled back into defensive stances when the shot went off. Neither was expecting gun fire; although, Jiro had been hoping for some gun fire from the suppression team that Kataro was hopefully hailing. That would have been more rapid, and hopefully deadly. This was a single shot and it sounded like it was from a revolver. Jiro didn't take his eyes off Casa, he was watching her reaction. If he glanced over his shoulder, she would no doubt take the moment to finish him. It took all his focus to not feed his curiosity and see what was going on. He was half hoping for the same thing from her. Just a moment and he could get the upper hand and finally end this fight. Casa's face wrinkled into a snarl, and she started half screaming and half cursing: "You stupid fucking fool; you selfish bastard; THAT BITCH WAS MINE", she took a half step forward, and Jiro met her although he half flinched at what his mind was telling him that meant. He was trying to ignore it, but the part of his mind not in this fight was screaming at him to look over his shoulder. It took every single ounce of his will to not turn away from her. If he turned, he would be dead. If he flinched away, he would be dead. Casa took a long arching swing at Jiro's side with her blade, it was sloppy but powerful and Jiro had to twist his stance to block it. He blocked with his sword almost vertical, hers almost perpendicular to his. This was a cover; it left her open for a possible hit but she was planning a retreat. During this fight, Jiro hadn't been thinking about how to stop her from retreating or leaving because she was so determined to finish him off. It was only now that he really realized that this garage left 360 degrees for retreats. All she had to do was get to a wall and she could be gone.

As Casa ran her blade along Jiro's, she made a break for it. Mimi was shot and M was gone, there was no chance of getting her or her blood here. She couldn't fight Zelman and Jiro here. She bolted past Jiro and with his blade up blocking her pass he would never be able to turn quick enough to get her. He could pursue her, and he would probably be faster than her with her bum leg, but Casa knew he wouldn't. Not with Mimi injured or possibly dead. Maybe M's move was a miracle in disguise. Casa had been starting to lose her battle with Jiro. She wasn't sure if M had noticed this or not; probably not, but if Zelman had beat M there was no way she could have beaten both of them. This way, she could escape and live to fight another day. Find another way. She had every right. Her bloodline was no different than anyone else's. She had the right to restore her lord.

With three bounds, Casa was over the parking lot wall and sailing across the sky to the neighboring building. There was a three-story building adjacent to the garage. She landed on this, but her leg buckled below her, she tucked, rolled onto her side, and then bounded out of the roll continuing her run across the roof. At the far end she dropped down a ladder and followed one of her escape routes she had mapped out earlier. Separate from M's kidnapping hideout, she had found three other places that she could spend a few days without anyone noticing. She would be on her own again if she stayed in the Special Zone. So, the question was stay and fight or leave and get reinforcements. If she left, she didn't know if she could get back in. She only got in this time disguised as Masato's companion. Masato had been welcomed into the zone. They might get smart to her tricks if she left this time.

As Jiro came out of his block and around to try to catch Casa all four of his swings fell short. He bounded after her and was on the half wall about to leap after her when he heard a call from the other side of the garage that made him pause. It wasn't a yell but was loud enough that Zelman knew he would hear. "Jiro, she doesn't have long". Jiro paused as he watched Casa disappear between the next two buildings. It was too late, he wouldn't be able to track her that far anyways, she was too skilled at covering her tracks. He finally let his brain settle on the horrible idea. That gun shot had been at Mimiko. Jiro raced to join Zelman at Mimiko's side. His mind was racing; now that the fight with Casa was over all the thoughts he had been suppressing flooded back and threatened to overwhelm him. Where was Kataro? Did he make it to Cain and Sei? Was Mimiko going to die? Was the suppression team on their way here? Could they track Casa? Why was she here? Was she really planning on bringing back the Kowloon King? Was Kataro hurt? Why did she keep saying that she needed Mimiko's blood?

Mimiko was sitting where she had been before. Her leg was mangled, and her shirt was covered in blood. Zelman had pushed some sort of bundled up cloth against the gunshot wound but it wasn't really doing much. Mimiko was pretty out of it; more unconscious than awake.

Zelman's voice snapped him back to reality. He was calm and matter of fact tone, if he didn't know better, he would say devoid of any emotion. But Jiro knew better than that; an Old Blood had seen too much to get emotional over an injured red blood. "She only has a few minutes." Somehow, this set Jiro off; a flash of anger crossed his face before he got it under control. He wanted to blame Zelman for this, as wtf had happened back there but he brought his emotions into check quickly. They could play the blame game later, right now they needed to focus on Mimiko. Jiro leaned down to pick her up "I'm faster than you, I can get her to a hosp…" He trailed off as Mimiko brought a weak arm up in protest. Zelman shook his head but they both knew it wasn't enough time. "She would just die in your arms on the way there, she's past surviving this as a human…as a red blood" he corrected himself. Zelman was looking at Jiro with an eyebrow raised. "Well - - what are her wishes? Death or turn her?" The question hung in the air as Jiro wrapped his head around what was going on, he couldn't help that half of his brain was stuck on Kataro's safety was Kataro alright? "JIRO" Zelman yelled at him trying to get his attention, he was about to open his mouth again to ask what Mimiko's wishes were but the stairs door besides them burst open and Kataro, and company, along with some of the suppression team burst into the parking garage.

Zelman turned to them and immediately started barking information even as Kataro, Cain, Sei, Jinnai, and what looked like the suppression medic continued forward "Casa was here, she went that way towards that building. It isn't likely but see if you can track her! Keep Kataro back."

Cain grabbed Kataro before he could get too close. Sei and Cain held back a few feet from Mimiko to give everyone else room. Zelman leaned back into a crouch to give the medic room but then shuffled over to respectfully give Janai room. Janai took up Mimiko's hand and started talking to her in a hushed voice. "I'm so sorry Mimiko, I'm sorry I never told you". He kept rambling but Zelman stopped listening. The medic didn't say anything, just quickly took some vitals, examined the entry, and exit wound and gave Zelman and Jiro an almost imperceivable shake of her head. But it was enough to confirm what Zelman and Jiro already knew. There was nothing the medic could do except keep her comfortable. Kataro started crying "Is Mimiko going to die? Brother, can't you do something?!" Jiro's mind finally relaxed knowing that Kataro was safe; now he processed what Zelman had asked earlier. He thought: Her wishes? That hadn't come up, did it?…..no they hadn't discussed her wishes. At the time that seemed so morbid, and I could have protected her from anything there was no need to know. Now that seems so silly to not anticipate. Zelman didn't want to assume what others wished, he couldn't imagine having just died and not becoming a black blood, but it wasn't for everyone, and he wasn't one to tread on anyone else's freedom of choice. He prodded Jiro again; time was running out. Janai was still talking to Mimiko softly, something about her parents being proud and how she was so brave, the medic injected her with presumably pain medicine and moved away from the group to give them more space. Jiro was on Mimiko's right, Zelman off to the side on her left, Jani was on her left side, holding her hand.

Zelman - "What are her wishes, Jiro?"

"I…..i don't know"
"how do you not fucking know? You live with her and go into life-or-death situations regularly!" Zelman had a lot more to say, but he curtailed it at this for now. He liked Jiro and Kataro but sometimes they were so dense and short sighted. After all these years, Jiro STILL let his emotions play him for a fool.

Sei took a step forward and let out a sigh "I know Mimiko's wishes" He let the statement hang in the air before quickly continuing. "She would like to be turned into a black blood. And to use her own words if it is at all possible, she would like to be sired by the weakest house, so that she can hopefully bring strength to that house and continue to support the balance in the Special Zone." Janai picked up where Sei left off "…she always cared so much about the special zone and its success…she was always so devoted to the special zone, I could trust her to be in the most difficult situation….(he looks up at Jiro)…that's why I sent her to meet you and your brother that night you first arrived back in Japan." Zelman looked up at the ceiling and started laughing – everyone glared at him. "What could you POSSIBLY find funny right now Zelman?" Cain growled from behind them. Kataro had stopped pulling at his arms to get free and had turned and was quietly sobbing into his shirt. "Years ago I would have said it was the Warlock house that was the weakest" Cain growled but Sei put a hand up to stall any action. Zelman continued "but since Casa's little stunt, it's the Coven...The Coven is the weakest." Jinnai breaks eye contact with Jiro and glares at Zelman, "no, no that can't be right" Zelman doesn't look at Jannai but glances between Mimiko and Sei. Waiting for confirmation. "shit" Cain mutters. "You are all acting like it's a bad thing…. when it's clearly what Mimiko wanted". Jiro's face scrunches in anger "You don't give a shit about her Zelman" Jiro pushed Zelman away from Mimiko, he didn't loose his balance but let himself get pushed back onto his heels so that Jiro had some space.

Jiro moves closer to Mimi, he puts a hand on her arm: "I should be the one to turn her, like you said we've been close for a while now, I care deeply for her." Jiro looked up at Jinnai "and I promised you I would look after her… I'm so sorry Jinnai – I failed you" Jinnai tightened his grip on Mimiko's hand "Its OK Jiro, I shouldn't have put so much on you without telling you everything. It was too much to ask when you already have the Lord Sage to look after." It was an honest mix up in front of Kataro, but Jiro still winced.

Zelman had been half expecting this "Could you? Could you go through with changing someone Jiro? Without the Lord Sages permission?"

Jiro winced back as if he'd been slapped, he glanced at Kataro quickly before catching himself, then back at Mimi. "Casa wanted her blood. She kept saying she needed Mimiko alive and that she needed her blood. She even fought Masato about it, I was almost able to kill her when the shot went off she was so distracted…I think Mimiko may be a distant relative of an old blood, her blood tastes…" Jiro trailed off not wanting to go into detail about something that shouldn't have happened "Jinnai, can Mimiko's blood wake the Kowloon King?...is that what Casa was after?"

Jinnai coughed and cleared his throat not wanting to speak immediately. While knowing he was her niece was one thing…. this was another. Zelman jumped in "I can also confirm Jiro's suspicion, her blood has a special tinge to it" Jinnai glared at Jiro and then Zelman "it is strictly against company policy to drink the blood of an employee! Let alone my niece!" he scoffed once for good measure, he conceded and looked down speaking softly "her mother was a distant relative of Adam Wong" Kataro started sobbing, fear clearly in his voice "Is she going to change into a Kowloon?!". Sei shook his head "No Kataro, it wouldn't work that way." He was FAIRLY sure it wouldn't work that way, but he wasn't 100% positive, they were still learning about the Kowloon children and their bloodline, but Kataro didn't need to hear that right now. Jiro slammed his fist on the ground "It should be me!"

Sei sigh to break the tension: "oh Jiro….I'm sorry you're in this position and didn't talk to Mimiko about it to have her change her wishes to you; however, her wishes are no different than any other legally binding contract in the Special Zone. They must be respected" Another moment of silence passed among them.

"Leave" Zelman didn't take his eyes of Mimiko as he moved towards her and put his right hand behind her head "all of you need to leave, I'm invoking my right to privacy"

Everyone started to leave except Jiro and Cain. Sei took Kataro from Cain, and practically dragged Jannai away from her side. Jiro moved into a crouch and looked like he was about to attack Zelman at any move. Zelman glared back at him unphased. "You got her into this to begin with. Playing some fucking game. If you had just ignored her like you ignore everyone else in your life, she wouldn't have been a target for that lunatic." Well, so much for not playing the blame game now….emotions were so difficult sometimes. Zelman's response was cold "You think I don't know that you think I don't regret that? Don't be so quick to judge me Jiro. You can't even turn her without Kataro's permission. You say it's the Lord Sages blood in your veins, but you fight battles that could easily end your life, and everything stored within it. And let's not talk about what you have been doing to Mimi's mental state. Everyone knows about addiction and yet you're feeding hers like a teen that just learned how to open mom and dad's alcohol cabinet. It's embarrassing. Don't be so quick to judge me when your actions are just as fucked…now leave, she's fading." Jiro held his glare with Zelman for a few moments and then sheepishly looked towards the floor "I didn't know" At that, Jiro got up and started walking towards the stairs and started down them.

Cain didn't move, instead he folded his arms. "I'm staying, if she has Kowloon bloodline in her, we need to take extra precautions in case she becomes a Kowloon."

"I figured you would say that. It won't happen that way, but I won't try make you leave."

Zelman moved Mimi's head a little, it must have accidentally jostled her abdomen because her eyes shot open. They were still glazed over, and she didn't seem to actually be there or capable of answering him, but she was slightly alert. Her breath was ragged and short. Zelman bit into his lower lip; blood started to pool in his mouth. He had not expected this to be how things would play out with her when he ran into her after the bar. "Mimi…I didn't hold up my end of the bargain earlier about making sure you were safe...i miscalculated….just know that I meant what I said earlier…..I'm not good at sharing."