�It has to be a trap.�
�Thank you, Sora, for that stunning realization.�
�I can�t believe you�re still going even though you know that,� he tells me, slight frown in place, �maybe I�d understand if you were just in denial because you still care about him, but you�re fully aware it�s a setup.� Katarina doesn�t look too pleased by this either, though she doesn�t say anything.
�People do very stupid things when it comes to dealing with ones they love.�
Saburo states this from the doorway and we all turn to glance at him. I�m tired of whatever stupid things I�m up to being the subject of conversation, so I change the subject.
�Where�s Satoru?� Despite the fact they always refer to him as Harada I haven�t picked up on it yet. I�m not sure why, maybe partly because I�m used to Ara being the only Harada around me.
�Asleep. Completely worn out.�
The smirk that�s starting to form makes clear the reason why and the tone warns that the answers to further prying most likely do not want to be heard. Sora coughs and changes the subject, I try to ignore it completely, and Katarina, bless her innocence, just looks confused as to why such a simple answer seems to have made Sora and myself slightly uncomfortable.
�Anyway,� Sora tells me, �I hope that you�re not going to be reckless enough to go unarmed.�
�After what happened last time? I�m reckless, but I don�t have a death wish.�
�Well, so long as you�re not that much of an idiot,� Saburo says, glancing over, �I suppose I do have to come save you then.�
�Save me?� I repeat as a question, �Why would you bother?�
�I�d have too. Sora�s too gentle to be fighting unless his life absolutely depends on it, and Harada cares too much about his brother to face him in order to defend you.�
�You know what I meant,� I snap in an annoyed tone. I�m not generally so short-tempered, but I hate it when people purposefully avoid the point. Saburo just gives me a patient look and continues.
�Because if I let the only link we currently have to his brother die or fall into their hands, Harada would never forgive me.�
I accept this answer in silence, somewhat surprised by it. I suppose I hadn�t realized how devoted he was before. A few moments pass before Katarina feels she has to say something.
�I don�t want you to go.�
�I know, �Rina,� I say, giving her my best reassuring smile, �but I�ll be okay.�
�Something bad will happen,� she insists, �what if you get hurt?�
�I�ll be fine, really, I promise.�
She has a look on her face that plainly states she doesn�t believe this, but I guess she realizes she can�t stop me from going.
�Fine,� she says with a small sigh, �but you better not dare break it.�
�I won�t.�
So, some number of hours after that conversation, here I am walking down the street in the yellow glow of the street lamps towards what very well be the end of me. The streets are deserted, as I�d preferred to wait until they were empty; no need to cause a scene and drag innocents in if something happens. Down about a block or so is the coffee shop, but I see no sign of Ara. I pause a moment to make sure that I do indeed have extra clips for my gun (which is his, actually) and that the knife hidden in my jacket sleeve is loosely enough attached so that I can make use of it quickly if need be. I glance back up at my destination and blink.
That guy wasn�t there before. He appears to be waiting for me, and he�s not Arashi.
Ignoring the annoying voice called self-preservation yet again (maybe I do have a death wish after all) I sigh and continue on my way regardless, slightly tensed and ready for anything.
Anything other than what actually happens.
He has short, slightly spiked red hair and emerald green eyes that regard me curiously when he glances up and notices I�m approaching. Not to mention a predatory grin that makes me consider giving into the voice in my head ranting on about how I�m a complete idiot and should turn and run. But, I never did know what was good for me.
�The infamous Nicholas Adel, Agent of Chaos, I presume,� he says, smirking like he knows something I don�t, �sorry to inform you, but Harada�s been delayed.�
�And who the hell are you supposed to be?� I ask, trying not to seem as fazed or worried by this information as I am, �You�re from the company, no doubt.�
�Bladen Murakami,� he tells me, seeming amused by the fact I�m getting more upset by the minute, �charmed, I�m sure.�
�I don�t give a damn who you are,� I hiss, even though I just asked not five minutes ago, �tell me what you�ve done to Arashi.� I swear if he had anything to do with it I�m going to--
�Me? I didn�t do anything.�
�wipe that condescending I-know-something-you-don�t smirk right of off his face. With bullets. Or maybe with the dagger.
�But you know what happened,� I say, trying to keep my voice even, � so tell me.�
�I�m afraid I can�t do that.�
�You can and you will,� I snap, grabbing him by the shirt collar with one hand, the other raising Arashi�s gun level with his forehead, �unless you�d like to die.�
He actually laughs at me, and my vision blurs a moment, I feel kind of dizzy. Kinda funny I didn�t notice the stabbing pain in my shoulder until just now. It�s not the smartest thing to do by any means, but I let go of him in order to press my hand to my pounding forehead.
�Ah, the poor kitty doesn�t react well to sedatives, hm?�
I swear, if I could see straight, I�d shoot him in the head just to make him shut up. I�ll settle for shooting�whatever I happen to hit. My intention is to strike fast, however I suddenly feel exhausted and the muscles in my arm don�t want to go along with this haphazard point and shoot. I feel like I�m moving in slow motion.
�I�m actually surprised that you haven�t collapsed yet.�
There�s a sharp pain in my back, since I was just slammed into the wall that was behind him, and I swear he�s got such a tight hold of my wrists he�s cutting circulation off. But see, none of this is what worries me. What worries me is that, in addition to a headache, I suddenly feel extremely lightheaded and this is leading to a black out. The only thing I can hope for is that Ara comes after me.
