He had the advantage over her though, the window illuminating the room just enough for him to sight her.
Something shot from the ceiling at her, and unexpected as it was, Neko didn�t have time to react. Her shoulder stung a bit, but she barely noticed as the room swam before her. She reached back for the wall to steady herself but it was farther back than she expected it to be, and she ended up falling into it.
A light was turned on from above, and Neko closed her eyes, shielding them from the startling brightness that felt like he had just blasted her corneas. She groaned and sunk to the floor, unable to run towards the ladder he had just lowered into the basement, had she even noticed its appearance.
�Wha- why�?� was all she managed to get out.
�I thought you would like something to eat and drink,� he answered.
Neko forced her eyes open. The effect was very dizzying, but if she really focused, she could almost see him setting up food on a table for her. She tried to get a better look at her surroundings with the better lighting, but turning her head made her even more woozy, so she closed her eyes and put her head between her knees. �Not� hungry,� she mumbled.
�Nonsense. If you aren�t now, you will be. I want to make you comfortable, but I couldn�t very well let you run around free while I extended my hospitality, now could I?� She heard him come close to her, and she forced herself to lift her heavy head to take a look.
�Wha d�ya� wan wimme?� she asked him, failing her attempt to speak without slurring. All her energy was being spent on figuring out who he was. *Black hair� dark eyes� I think? He�s� older looking�*
�I�m sorry you had to get involved. Really, in a perfect world, I�d be able to get revenge on your lover without involving anyone else. But that�s life, you know.�
From Neko�s vantage point, he did seem genuinely sorry. Her head was too foggy to even process ways to try and reason with him. �R- Revenge?�
�Sorry to be the one to break it to you, but your koibito has a few skeletons in his closet. But�� his voice trailed off, and again his voice filled with sympathy, ��don�t think about it yet. Wait until the drug wears off.� He plucked the dart he had shot at her out of her shoulder and returned to the ladder. �I�ll come check on you in a bit.�
Neko put her head back between her knees and began to weep as her captor ascended out of her prison.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Mi-chan fought to keep Neko�s dizziness from affecting her. How was she supposed to come up with a rescue plan when Neko�s kidnapper had caused such a haze through their link?
She and the guys had just come up with a brilliant plan to use the palace�s advanced computer system to check out a map of the area. The only drawback was that she was not particularly adept at using computers. But Jasper was confident he could hack his way into the system if needed, and she knew Jian-wa was good with computers as well.
Just as they were about to go, there was a knock at the door before Ami peeked in. �Honey, did you�� Her eyes widen in surprise at the odd group she found there. �I was looking for Neko.�
�Right. Which would make sense as this is her dressing room,� Mi-chan answered quickly. �Only she�s not here.� Ami nodded at Mi-chan�s obvious observation, clearly expecting a better explanation. �She was so excited, she went out for a walk.�
�Out in the gardens,� Jian-wa added helpfully.
�Can you call her back?� Ami asked.
Mi-chan shook her head. �She�s connected to Tenshiko right now.� For the first time ever, Mi-chan was glad that her ability to contact Neko was severed when Neko switched over to Tenshi. For a moment, she had panicked, since once upon a time she wouldn�t have been able to get out of such a request.
�Oh, well. If you see her, could you give her these?� Ami handed Mi-chan her brand new pearl earrings. �I thought she might like something new and borrowed.�
*To go with her old blue necklace* Mi-chan realized just before asking. �I�ll make sure she gets them,� she told her okaa-san, eager for her to leave.
�Arigatou.� Ami�s eyes lit upon Jasper very briefly, and Mi-chan feared she was going to ask why Mi-chan was tolerating him to be in her presence, but she didn�t. Instead, the blue-haired queen of Mercury left without another word and shut the door behind her.
Smack.
All three of them jumped as a small envelope hit the floor. They each went for it, but Mi-chan snatched it up. �Where�d this come from?�
�Must have been attached to the door,� Jasper suggested.
Mi-chan tore into the envelope and ripped the enclosed letter out of it, only to stare dumbly at it. �What is this?� It kind of looked like�.
�Chinese.� Jian-wa knew instantly, looking over her shoulder at the letter. �It�s in Chinese. And�� Confused, he spoke slowly. ��it�s to me.�
He pointed to the symbols at the top that Mi-chan recognized as the same symbols he had taught her for his name. �Well, what does it say?� she demanded of him.
Jian-wa took the letter and read it, paling slightly as he did so. �It�s revenge. Against me.�
�Against you? But why would he kidnap N��
�It was supposed to be you,� Jian-wa whispered. �He thinks he kidnapped my girlfriend. He wants revenge for the murder of his girlfriend. He must not realize you guys are twins.� Mi-chan realized his hands were shaking. She put a hand on his, causing him to look her in the eyes. �Mi-chan, it could have been you. It could have- Oh, god, I�m sorry.� Mi-chan couldn�t tell if he was apologizing because he was sorry it was supposed to be her, or if it was because he felt guilty for Neko�s abduction.
�It�s not your fault,� she told him lightly.
�It is. I murdered that girl� a thousand years ago. I killed her.�
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
