Chapter 18: Burn It All Down - League of Legends

Day 7: 20:30

The Team

The four days in the hospital were the worst, most painful, emotionally and physically, days of Lin's life. From waking up to find out he failed in his job to keep his charge and Mai safe to having to call Noll's parents and explain the situation to dealing with his own recovery and rehabilitation. He didn't argue with the doctors or nursing staff, because he knew that if he did everything they told him to do, he'd be out soon and recovered enough to find Noll and Mai.

That didn't mean it was easy though. The first day was spent with respiratory therapists making sure that his stomach surgery didn't affect his breathing. Then later in the day, physical therapy came in to assess his ability to walk. It was quite painful but he pushed through regardless.

Emotionally though he had to call Martin and Luella to inform them that their only surviving son was kidnapped by human traffickers who got a hold of his compromised identity and that he was shot trying to protect him. That…went down about as well as he thought it would. They were happy to hear that their team was on it and investigating. They were going to be on their way to Japan in 4 days as they got their funds together and paperwork done. In the meantime, they sent money over to cover any expenses needed for tracking them down. They also had backup documents for Mai and when they got them back would work with her to help advocate for getting her identity back and reestablished. That was going to be a headache.

The next day came with more physical and respiratory therapy and a daunting call from Detective Yojiro. Takigawa came storming into the room behind enraged.

"Woah, what's got you so upset?" Ayako asked.

"The police dropped the case! Detective Yojiro said that it was 'beyond their scope and abilities.' When I asked who was going to take over finding them he said he wasn't sure and that 'it would probably be someone who got paid more than he does!'" Takigawa yelled.

A nurse came in hearing his yelling. "Is everything OK in here?" She asked.

"Yes, everything is fine. My friend just got some…upsetting news involving my case," Lin said.

"Alright, well try to keep the stressful phone calls and talk outside. We've got other patients that can get stressed out hearing that yelling," she said.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that," Takigawa apologized and then bowed respectfully. The nurse nodded and took her leave.

"Idiot," Ayako said, smacking Takigawa in the arm. "You're going to get us kicked out!"

"I'm sorry! I'm just so mad! How could they do this? Is it seriously up to us to find them and bring them home?" Takigawa asked.

"At this point, it would seem so," Lin said. "Things are looking better for me, so if things go well, I should be discharged tomorrow. Once I am, our investigation will really begin. We are not going to let Noll or Mai suffer for their incompetence."

Everyone in the room cheered up considerably and felt confident in their abilities to bring home Naru and Mai. They got to work. Yasu kept researching more information on the yakuza members and this 'Alaina Sullivan' woman. Takigawa and Ayako began discussing with Lin the identity of Oliver Davis and more about how his real name could've been leaked. Meanwhile, John and Masako sat away from the others and pondered together.

"I wonder how many people we're going up against," John muttered, looking down at his hands. "What are a bunch of spiritual exorcists and mediums supposed to do against literal yakuza?"

Masako sat up and her eyes went wide. "That's it! Spirits!" She said, "We can amass spirits!"

"What are you talking about Masako?" John asked.

"There's an old technique written long ago about mediums being able to cross over to a part of the astral plane where spirits who hold major regret roam. According to legend, that's how some roaming spirits cross over to our world. If I can cross over into that part of the astral plane, I can get enough spirits to come over to the living world and help us!" She said ecstatically.

Everyone stopped talking to look at her. Most were confused, but Lin glared disapprovingly at her. "That technique hasn't been used by mediums in centuries for a reason. It was too dangerous! Many mediums became lost themselves trying to find their lost loved ones. They've died, Masako. It's out of the question."

"Wait, what is she talking about?" Takigawa asked.

"I can do it! I know I can!" Masako countered.

"Is anyone going to explain anything?" Ayako asked.

"You're an experienced medium, but we can't lose anyone else to such dangerous conditions! Going alone is suicide!" Lin argued.

"I'll go with her," John piped up.

Everyone turned to look at him shocked, including Masako.

"It sounds like Limbo if I recall. At least, in my religion, that's what we call it. Souls not yet decided on, drifting through time, watched over by the entity of Death. I'm aware of a similar technique used in the Catholic church. It was studied in depth over the years across Eastern and Western Europe. It's dangerous alone and without a guide. I'll go with her," he finished.

The silence in the room was so heavy, you could hear a pin drop in a corner. It was risky, but what other option was there?

"Let's think about it tonight, and if we don't have an answer by tomorrow when I'm discharged, we'll do it," Lin said.

The night passed, and by midday, they were still no closer to an answer than when they had started. Lin's rehabilitation was quick and astounding. He was to be discharged that evening as he had no complications post-surgery, worked extra hard with rehab and respiratory therapy, consulted with his physician in the hospital, and even nurse Hiro was amazed by his quick recovery.

"You will need to follow up for rehab for a couple more months. You're well enough to be discharged from hospital care, but you shouldn't strain your body. Take it easy and at a good pace, and you'll have made a full recovery in a few months!" His physician said.

By the time it was 20:30 that night, he was down in the hospital basement parking lot walking with everyone to the SPR van. They were talking about their next move when Masako stopped dead in her tracks. She whipped around and stared at a man briskly walking to his car nearby.

"Masako, what's the matter?" John asked.

"That man…that man right there…Mai's spiritual signature is on him!" She said, starting to breathe heavily.

"Masako are you sure?!" Lin asked.

"I can feel, no…I can see it! There's no doubt in my mind, it is that powerful! He's been around Mai recently!" Masako said shakily.

Lin and Takigawa took off running at the man. He had just gotten to the trunk of his car when Lin and Takigawa tackled him to the ground. Their combined force made him collapse and drag on the ground a whole meter. The man on the ground yelled out in pain which echoed across the parking garage.

The man started to struggle hard so Takigawa threw a punch that connected on the man's left cheek. "You son of a bitch, where are they?" Takigawa yelled in his face.

"Who are you people?! I don't know who you're talking about! Let me go!" He yelled.

"Don't lie!" Masako said angrily, stomping over to them. "You have Mai's spiritual aura signature practically ebbing off of you."

"Mai? Do you all know her?" He asked hesitantly.

"You bastard, where are Naru and Mai?! Where are you keeping them?!" Takigawa growled, grabbing him by the throat.

"Takigawa, stop choking him and take him to the van. We have a few questions for you," Lin said, getting up and grabbing him by his shirt.

They picked him up and half carried, half dragged him over to their van. Lin's stomach was hurting from the exertion at this point so he had Takigawa take him the rest of the way. They all piled into the back of their van and dragged the man in.

"Start talking, who are you and where are Mai and Naru? Are you one of the kidnappers?" Takigawa growled out.

"Fuck! Can you give me a second to get the ringing in my head to stop?" The man said.

"No," said Ayako. "Give us one good reason why we shouldn't take you to the police?"

"Because you'll kill them if you do and then you'll never find them!" He said, clutching his head in pain. "I'm Dr. Yuuto Hiroa, and I'm not one of the yakuza, I've been the one keeping them alive."

"How do we know you're actually a doctor?" Takigawa asked.

"This is the third time in a week I've had to show my credentials like this; my ex-wife can suck it, it was worth it to get it laminated!" He muttered, fiddling around his wallet. He brought out two laminated cards and handed them to Takigawa. They all looked at them and handed them to Lin.

"So you do know where they are?" Lin asked. "Tell us what you know."

"First, who are you people?" Dr. Hiroa asked.

"Their Team,"

"Their family,"

"Their friends,"

A collection of everyone's voices erupted in the van at the same time. Dr. Hiroa giggled lightly. "Dr. Oliver Davis and Mai Taniyama are alive." A collective sigh of relief filled the van's occupants. "It hasn't been easy though. There have been quite a few…setbacks."

"What's happened to them?" Lin asked apprehensively.

"The leaders want to have Dr. Davis channel his PK through Mai to use as a weapon. They want to sell them as mercenaries on the black market. I was brought in in case things went south in their training. The first day I met them, Mai had been beaten within an inch of her life, and Dr. Davis didn't look much better. I was able to help both of them and get them to get them to their training, but things went terrible on day one," he explained.

Masako, John, and Ayako all gasped and clutched each other's hands for comfort. "What ended up happening?" Ayako asked.

Dr. Hiroa took a breath and said, "Dr. Davis' PK overwhelmed Mai. It electrocuted her and sent her into cardiac arrest."

Everyone except Lin and Takigawa made a noise that sounded like their hearts broke in despair. Takigawa grimaced down into his lap and Lin locked eyes with the doctor. "But you said they were alive right? How?" He asked.

"Dr. Davis and I performed CPR and brought her back. Even though Dr. Davis was severely injured himself, he threw himself into action. He saved her life."

Ayako started crying silently and Masako raised a hand to her face and closed her eyes. She realized that that must have been when she felt Mai's spiritual signature shift.

"I didn't know he was capable of caring. Naru the narcissistic doctor went through all that pain to save Mai?" Yasu asked incredulously.

Dr. Hiroa glared at him. "Hey! I don't want to hear any bad-mouthing about Dr. Davis' actions. He has been nothing but selfless to Mai. He would and has done anything and everything to keep her as safe as possible. They've been through Hell together. They've both suffered together. If there's one thing I know is that those two love each other so much that they have died for each other. It kills me every time I have to treat their injuries because I can't do ANYTHING ELSE WITHOUT ARISING SUSPICION!" He yelled.

Yasu shrank back and looked away.

"What are their injuries?" Lin asked.

"I don't exactly know what happened after I treated Mai's injuries initially. Dr. Davis said something about her spiritual aura being amplified by his PK. All I know is that when I finished bandaging her burns a golden sphere erupted from her and knocked me back like 3 meters! Then when I got Dr. Davis, he just walked in like it was made of air! He did something and there was a huge flash of light and then they both collapsed. She looked healthier. I examined her a couple of days later when they both woke up. Her wounds were healed."

"Healed?! How?!" Ayako asked.

"Again, I'm not sure, you'll have to ask Dr. Davis. That goes beyond my understanding," he said.

"Any mental side effects? Heart issues?" Ayako asked.

"Other than the trauma that they both underwent, no. After what happened, I could not in good conscience let my leaders do what they plan to do. I'm working on an escape plan with them."

"Seriously?! Then why are you here? What's your connection to the yakuza?" Takigawa asked, feeling aggravated.

"I've been their under-the-table medical provider for three years now for my reasons. My daughter is currently in a coma here at this hospital. I had received a call that her vital signs changed significantly and that I should come immediately. I got here and they haven't changed at all. Someone lied to me. I'm suspecting that they're onto our plans," he explained. "Once I realized that this was a distraction, I was on my way back to them until you all jumped me."

"We have to go get them!" Takigawa said.

"How many people would we even be up against?" Lin asked.

"Honestly? About 50-60. Well trained. Stocked to the teeth with arms and ammunition. Itchy trigger fingers. A good handful of them are convicted sex offenders. I've been trying to keep them away from Mai, and Dr. Davis nearly got shot when one of them got too handsy with her. These are sick people."

"Ready to consider my idea now?" Masako asked. She was more determined than ever now. She was sad that Oliver had made his choice and it wasn't her, but she would be damned if she wasn't pissed at what was happening to the two of them. She would do anything to ensure their safety. Including traveling with John to the City of the Dead to get them back.

Lin pondered a moment. "Amassing an army of the dead? At this point, we'll need an army. You and John will make the preparations."

"Wait, why aren't you guys going to the police? I'm sure they have enough people to help." Dr. Hiroa asked.

"I was already laughed out of the police station once. I told them that I was able to sense and track Mai's spiritual signature. They thought I was trying to record this whole thing for ratings. I may be on TV as a medium, but I am a real medium," Masako explained. Passion and honesty came through in her words.

Lin turned around and opened a box in the van. After searching through it for a moment he pulled out two devices. He turned to Dr. Hiroa. "These are two devices we're going to send with you. One is a tracking device that we can put on your car to get your location. The second is a discreet camera you're going to wear on your shirt. It will record audio and video, and at the end of the day, plug it into your computer. The device will automatically upload all footage to our shared drive. Noll will know what this is. Use a VPN and your own private wifi or it will be traced. Yasu," he said, turning around. "When we get the video footage you'll be in charge of running names to faces. We'll collect this as evidence for the police. Our priority is rescuing Noll and Mai." He turned back to the Doctor. "We'll stay back far enough to not arouse suspicion. Be prepared for us to assist in your escape plan."

"Understood. I was planning on escaping with them the night before the auction. That's…a week from now. I need time to get things ready. Now please, I need to get back to them. It's going to take me all night to travel back safely. Who knows what's happened since I've been gone."

"Yes, I'll give you my phone number. Are you able to call from within the building?" Lin asked.

"No, they track all calls going on and out. I'd have to travel at least 30 kilometers out to reach a place where they won't track me," Dr. Hiroa said.

"I see. If something major happens, leave and make that call. Keep them safe Dr. Hiroa. Let them know we're on our way. Let them know their family is coming to get them," Lin said.

"I will. Now, am I good to walk back? Or would you prefer to drag me?" Dr. Hiroa asked sarcastically.

"If you're good to walk, then walk," Takigawa said.

They all hopped out of the van and began walking to his car with the tracking device. Yasu began installing it as they said their goodbyes. Once that was done Dr. Hiroa drove off quickly and the team was left to think about what they heard.

"So Naru was able to channel through Mai?" Takigawa asked.

"It would seem so. He was able to channel it before using his brother as a buffer, but their bond was familial. The bond between Noll and Mai seems to be running significantly deeper. We have to find them soon or else things could go catastrophically bad."