Chapter 37

Rodrigo walked back to his room after what happened with Diablo. He couldn't believe that it was the same Diablo who had saved him and his little sister all those years ago. It must've been this lifestyle, that person, that changed him like this, changed him into this.
He laid down on his bed to try and get some rest, but almost as soon as his head hit the pillow, the intercom in his room buzzed, summoning him to the living room. Once there, he saw Diablo standing in front of that person, who was sitting in the middle of the room.
Man: You finally made it.
Rodrigo: Sorry. What's going on?
The man smiled at him.
Man: We're getting company.
He gestured to a screen on the wall. On it, was Hikiru, Kane, Ling, Lanfan, Ed, James, and Ryuu.
~
Hikiru: Okay, now that everyone's here, we need to figure out what we're going to do.
Ryuu: What do you mean 'figure out what we're going to do'? We're going to go get Kat!
Hikiru: No shit Sherlock!
Kane: She means, what way we're going to go about getting her back. We can't just run in and get her. We need a plan.
James: What about a diversion tactic? You could send three of us in on one end, and four on the other. We should take less numbers for the diversion, and more to get Kat.
Ryuu: The less people go in the back way to get Kat, the greater chance we have at not being noticed. And we don't know how many people will be waiting for us. Sending only three people in the front, they could be taken out easily and then that leaves us sitting ducks. It won't take four people to get her out.
James: Kat is the priority. We need to get her out. What if her room is guarded? What if they could easily take out three people?
Ryuu: The more people go to get her, the longer it will take for us to all get out!
James: What if she needs carried out?
Ryuu: Then I can do that myself!
Kane: Ryuu, I don't know if you being part of the team that gets her is a smart idea.
Ryuu looked at Kane shocked.
Ryuu: What do you mean? She's the mother of my child! My girlfriend! Why shouldn't I be part of the team?
Kane looked at Ryuu with sympathy and wouldn't explain, so Ryuu turned to Ed and Ling, who had the same look. Even James wouldn't make eye contact. When Ryuu looked at the one person he knew would tell him, even she looked a bit sympathetic.
Hikiru: Ryuu, Kat may be in bad condition. If she is, you'll blow the mission because you'll go after the guys who did it to her.
Ryuu: I won't blow the mission! I want her out just as badly as everyone else! Even more!
Kane: I think you should be part of the team that goes in the front. James, Lanfan, and I will go get Kat. You need to go with Ed, Ling, and Hikiru the front way.
Ryuu: James? You won't let me go, but you'll send James in after her?
Kane: James is a medical alchemist. That's why we put off leaving until we got him back. He can help her right away. He needs to be part of the retrieval team.
Ryuu stayed silent.
Hikiru: You can either accept this, or not go. It's your choice.
Ryuu paused for a moment, before locking eyes with Hikiru.
Ryuu: And how do you plan on dealing with James' reaction? He loves her, too.
James: Ryuu, there's no one else here who can help her like I can! You think I would let her life just slip through my fingers, when I could be doing something about it? When I could be healing her? I wouldn't run off and leave her to die, just to punish the guys who beat her around. That's just as bad me killing her myself. There's time to punish them later. Kat comes first to me. I would never just leave her to die!
Ryuu: And yet you're suggesting I would? Are you suggesting I love her less?
James: No. I'm saying your love for her is so great that you're too blinded! You love her so much that you can't stand to see her in pain and your first instinct is to punish who did it to her! It'd be the same for me if I wasn't a Medical Alchemist! If she's hurt, in any way, I will hunt down the men who did it to her and make their life a living hell, but only after I help her, because I know that I have the ability to! You don't have that ability, that obligation to help the injured first!
Ryuu: You're a womanizer who drinks all the time! And you're standing there, saying you have an obligation to help people?
James: I may be a drinking womanizer, but at least I can do something! At least I found a way to help other people even when I can't help myself! I may not be able to cure me, but I can damn sure cure other people! I know that you love her! And it's that love for her that guides your decisions about her! But because you love her so much, you should want her healed as fast as possible! I can do that. I can heal her. Let me. Let me save her for you.
There was a tense silence throughout the room as everyone waited for the next line to be thrown. Ryuu moved closer to James, looking at him with an intense glare.
Ryuu: If I find out that there was something you could've done, and you didn't, and she gets worse because of it, I will come after you. I promise that.
James stood his ground against Ryuu's glare, confidence radiating off him.
James: You can count on me, Ryuu. I won't let her die.
Ryuu kept his close proximity and glare for a moment longer, then backed away towards Hikiru.
Ryuu: I'll go along with your plan.
Hikiru: Now that that's out of the way, we need to decide how to go about this. Ed, Ling, Ryuu, and I will create the diversion. They wanted me, obviously. So it's important that they see me. Ed and Ling should create a problem of some sort at the gate and stay there to fight while Ryuu and I head in. Ryuu, you specialize with gun-enhancing alchemy; you need to cover me. As soon as we get inside the building, start shooting. I'll take out anyone who comes along, and once you've created enough noise, start helping me. I can only fight so many at a time. Eventually, someone important will come out and we'll go from there.
Kane: James and Lanfan, you two and I will go to the back of the building and head in an airshaft. We'll follow that to the room Kat's in. Once we get into her room, James and I will check her out, and Lanfan we need you posted at the door. If she can move, we'll leave the same way we came in. If she can't, we'll have to leave through the hallways. If we're lucky, the guard will go towards the diversion. If not, we'll have to take him out, but that shouldn't be a problem. After we're out, we'll go wait in the car- if we have the time for that. If Kat needs more medical attention right away, we'll have to take off. If that happens, Hikiru's dragon Sansi will be there to give the others a ride back. Still, we can only wait 15 minutes.
Kane turned to Hikiru.
Kane: Which you means you have to be quick.
Hikiru glared at him.
Hikiru: I know that.
Kane's gaze softened.
Kane: And you have to be safe.
Hikiru blinked, caught off guard, but soon withdrew back into her shell. She looked away from him.
Hikiru: Everyone should be safe. This is a dangerous mission. We don't know anything about these people. We don't know what to expect, so expect the worst. Is everyone ready?
After a collective nod from the group, Hikiru let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding.
Hikiru: Then let's get going.
~
Rodrigo: They're coming for Miss Katherine?
Man: It would seem so. Go guard her until I give you further instructions.
Rodrigo: Yes.
He headed for Kat's room, being stopped halfway there by Diablo's arm.
Diablo: Don't you help them.
Rodrigo yanked his arm free.
Rodrigo: What are you talking about?
Diablo: You know exactly what I'm talking about! You're thinking about helping her escape!
Rodrigo: I am not! We're letting her go anyway, so why would I help her escape when she can just walk out herself?
Diablo: Just watch yourself. If you step out of line, he won't hesitate to kill you! Do you really want that?
Rodrigo: You think I don't know that? You act like I have no idea who we're dealing with! I know exactly who he was and what he's done. I know I'm just a liability, which is why I didn't want to do this in the first place!
Diablo: You know we had no choice!
Rodrigo: Really? Did we really have no choice? Because I'm beginning to think that this is just another on of your schemes!
Diablo: What do you want from me!
Rodrigo: I want my cousin back! The guy who saved my little sister! Remember him? He is my cousin. Not you. Not someone who goes and rapes pregnant women.
Rodrigo stormed off, leaving Diablo to stare after him.
~
It didn't take too long for the team to reach the place where Kat was being kept, and they were currently going over plans again in the car. After Kane and Hikiru were sure everyone knew what to do, they decided they were set for action. Everyone filed out of the car and got into position. Kane stopped Hikiru before she could walk off.
Kane: I mean what I said at the house. Be safe. You better come back.
Hikiru: I'll be fine. Worry about yourself and your team. If any of them get killed, I'm blaming you. If you die, I'll kill you again.
Hikiru followed her team around the side of the building, leaving Kane to stare after her for a few moments before turning towards his own team.
Kane: Alright, who's got the map?
Lanfan handed it over to him and he looked at it for a moment before rolling it up and putting it away.
Kane: Okay, let's get going then. Remember, watch where you're going, and watch out for everyone. We don't know what condition she's in, so prepare for the worst. James, do you have everything you need?
James: Yes.
Kane: Alright then. Time to go in.
He led the others to the air duct they would be following, pulling off the grate once he was up high enough. He pushed on it with his hand to test how much strength it could take, before crawling in slowly. Deciding it was safe enough, he waved the others up and they started off. It was a little difficult at first, what with such small space to maneuver with in the air duct, but eventually they got the hang of it. However, when crawling through the tiny vents, Kane realized something that disappointed him: they would never be able to drag Kat back through here. There best shot was that she was okay and could move for herself. But if she wasn't, they'd be taking the difficult way out. And that wasn't something anyone looked forward to.
~
The door creaked open slowly, alerting Kat of another's presence in the dank hole she was being kept in. She would've lifted her head, but she saw no point. For all she knew, it was Rodrigo coming back to rape her again.
Rape her again.
She still couldn't believe it.
Rodrigo: M…Miss Katherine? Are you awake?
Kat: How many times are you going to call me that before you figure out it's not my name?
Rodrigo: Ah…I'm sorry.
Kat gave a dry laugh.
Kat: No, you're not. What do you want.
Rodrigo: Well, I just, I thought you might want to know…your friends are coming for you. We're going to let you go soon.
Kat: Stop lying to m- wait, did you say they're coming for me? Who's coming?
She lifted herself up as best as she could, looking at Rodrigo with panic in her eyes.
Kat: Who's coming? Who Rodrigo!
Rodrigo: Um, well, I'm not quite sure… I know Hikiru and Kane are coming, and that red haired man you brought out with you when we first tried to trick you, the one with the white streak in his hair? Also, the man who sang to you at the ball. I don't know the others.
Kat froze. Ryuu was coming to get her. He…no! He'd get himself killed… And James… he was obviously coming along to heal her, but would he heal Ryuu if he got hurt? Or would he just leave him behind?
~
Hikiru let out a shaky breath. She couldn't believe she was actually nervous. Not only nervous, but there was this other feeling, and she didn't know what it was, although it felt familiar, somehow… She shook herself, trying to focus. However, no matter what she tried, she couldn't shake it. When a hand landed on her shoulder she jumped.
Ryuu: Hey, it's just me. Calm down.
Hikiru: I'm fine! What is it?
Ryuu: We're ready.
Hikiru: Okay then. Let's get started. Ling and Ed should take on anyone who comes after us, and we'll make our way through. Got it?
Ryuu: Got it.
Hikiru nodded and motioned for Ed and Ling to go on ahead to the gate, behind which was the large walkway that lead to the manor where Kat was being kept. Mentally, she told herself to calm down, she didn't have to be nervous about this, it was an easy mission. But as she took her first steps forward, as the plan was officially put into motion, she couldn't stop wondering where that strangely familiar feeling had come from.
~
Rodrigo: Miss K- ah, what's wrong?
Kat: What do you think is wrong! I need to check on my baby! What if I lose my child? What then!
Rodrigo: C-calm down, I doubt you have anything to be afraid of! Besides, we're letting you go as soon as we get Hikiru!
Kat: What are you saying? That I…I was just brought here as some kind of lure?! Are you telling me that you did all of this, just to get Hikiru here?
Rodrigo: W-well, yes… But, I never knew what Diablo was planning! I didn't, I didn't even think this place would be that bad! And I didn't know that you were pregnant!
Kat: Do you think any of that matters! If I lose my baby, it'll all be for what? Do you really think you can capture Hikiru? She'll kill you before she lets you touch her! And I lost my baby, just so you could attempt a mission that will obviously fail?
Rodrigo: It won't fail!
Kat: You are so ignorant! Of course it will! And the longer you refuse to acknowledge that, the only thing you're accomplishing is giving yourself less time to run away.
~
Kane kept screaming curses in his head; this vent situation was going to be difficult to work around. He just hoped they could get in and out as quick as possible. From behind him, he heard Lanfan stop.
Kane: What's wrong?
Lanfan: I can hear something… I think there are people up ahead. We're getting closer.
Kane: Can you tell us anything else?
Lanfan: There's only two people. One sounds male and the other female.
James: Kat. But who's with her?
Kane: I guess we'll find out.
~
What was going on? Where was she? And…what happened? Hikiru groaned lightly, clutching her head; she had somehow gotten a blinding headache. It was awful.
Man: Look who's waking up.
Hikiru tried to piece everything together in her head, which wasn't easy with it hurting so badly. The last thing she remembered…Ling and Ed had been walking in front of her and Ryuu… they'd gotten almost completely to the house, no interruptions. She remembered thinking it had been too easy… she was on alert! She planned for this! What happened?
Man: Come on, open your eyes!
Hikiru noticed that the familiar feeling she'd had earlier had come back. It was like she had been shot in the stomach, several thousand times; like there was a gaping hole in her middle. But, it was also like she was excited, like she was waiting for more. With shocking, terrifying recognition, she remembered where she had felt it before. This feeling… it had always come with one person. Only one person brought this kind of terror and joy to her at the same time. Her eyes fluttered open cautiously, and as she looked ahead, she could make out a figure. And no matter how blurry her vision was, or how short a glance she got before she had to close her eyes again, she recognized him right away. There was no way she couldn't. She recognized the hair, the smirk on his face, his eyes, and…his tattoo. Before she slipped out of consciousness again, she could make out five words.
Envy: Welcome, Hikiru. I've missed you.