�No, they�re just too close to each other to see on this map. But here�s the cool part.� Jasper hit several more keys and a line appeared on the map. He erased the part behind the first point, then said, �Somewhere along this line is Neko-chan, five or take a foot.�
Jasper wasn�t expecting a �sugoi� or an �arigatou,� but he was gratified as Haruka looked at the map and accepted it. �Look, if Neko-chan�s off the palace grounds��
�She is,� Mi-chan interjected.
��only a few buildings are intersected by this line. Looks like a couple stores, a hotel,� (Jasper groaned inwardly; a hotel would take forever to search), �and a church.�
�It�s the church,� Jian-wa said quickly. Haruka gave him a surprised and suspicious look. �It, uh, just makes sense for his motive,� he mumbled.
�We know his motive?� Haruka asked.
�It�s, uh, revenge?� Again, Jian-wa�s voice had returned to the interrogative.
�Revenge?! For what?�
�On a tight schedule, guys. Anytime soon we could go help her, you know.� Haruka wasn�t likely to ever like him, so Jasper didn�t mind taking the heat off Jian-wa, who at least had a chance. Besides, it was true that Neko needed their help and needed it now.
�Okay, then. Jian-kun and I will go to the church, and, Haruka-san and Jasper-san, you can separate and check out the other buildings, just in case��
�We don�t have time for that,� Jasper interrupted her, solemnly, looking at his watch. As if to prove his point, Haruka�s watch went off.
�Shimatta!� Haruka swore.
�No, no, we�ll just� postpone it again.�
Jasper glanced at Mi-chan, who was starting to look overwhelmed again. �Tenshi-san�s going to get suspicious if we keep doing that, isn�t she? She�s not dumb.�
�Well, what do you want us to do?! No matter what we do she�s going to find out! Let�s just�� She stopped. Jasper could assume she was communicating with Neko, and when she next spoke, he didn�t know if it was with them or with Neko. �I- I�m sorry. I don�t know what to do. Someone has to go get her. He�s come back for her.�
�I�ll go.� Everyone looked at him, but Jasper just shook his head. �You�re all in the wedding, but I�m just a guest. Nobody will miss me.� Well, Neko would have, he knew, but Neko wasn�t there. �I�ll go save her and get her back as soon as possible.�
�It doesn�t matter if the rest of the party is here, if the bride�s not, does it?� Mi-chan pointed out impatiently.
Jian-wa took her good hand. �How serious is Neko-chan about not letting Tenshi-kun find out she�s missing?�
�Really serious.�
�Then, why don�t you stand in for her. Tenshi-kun might never know the difference. Let Heisui-san heal your hand, throw on a tux, and no one will be able to tell.�
�That�s ridiculous,� Haruka scoffed.
�Actually, it�s probably the best chance we�ve got,� Jasper said with a nod to Jian-wa. �As long as Neko-chan is okay with it.�
�Everyone shut up!� Mi-chan yelled and closed her eyes. Jasper tried to take her hand to heal it, but she swatted his away. After a few seconds, she opened her eyes. �Whatever. She�s probably not thinking straight, but Neko wants me to do it.� She thrust her burnt hand in his face. �Just do it and get out of here! Neko doesn�t have time for you to waste!�
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was time. Li Zhou shot another dart at the young girl and watched with satisfaction as it hit her just to the left of where he was aiming. Within moments, she crumpled to her knees with a groan and covered her head with her arms.
He lowered the ladder and crossed the basement to his captive. The sedative meant that she wouldn�t put up much of a fight, if any, as he carried her upstairs and extracted his revenge, but it also would keep her from suffering. He could only hope that Ying had received the same courtesy� though he doubted it.
�I�m sorry about all this, but your koibito needs to get what he deserves,� Zhou told her as he heaved her over his shoulder to carry her up the ladder.
�Atashi no Tenshi�,� she said groggily, and he found himself pitying her even more.
�Kimi no Tenshi?� He fought a smirk at the irony. �I�m sorry, but �your angel� is anything but.�
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
He could have prevented it all. He and Ying were supposed to meet at the park at noon, but he had gotten caught up in a meeting with his manager at the caf�, and he was very late.
She wasn�t at the park when he arrived, but then again, Zhou didn�t really expect her to be. When he went back to the dorm, and she wasn�t there either, he decided it was probably best to call her PHS and apologize.
He let it ring and ring, but still she didn�t pick up. Now he worried that she must be pretty angry with him, but she had to come back to the dorms soon. After all, she had walked to the park, and her car was still out in the parking lot, so it wasn�t like she�d be gone overnight.
But she was gone overnight. He checked with her roommate, but Mei hadn�t heard from Ying either, and when she tried to call her, Ying still wasn�t picking up.
Now it was time to be concerned. Zhou went off to find her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
