Chapter 25 Reunion

Sachi stood by the hanger doors, waiting patiently. Staring at the tip of her boots. She was patient even if her index finger kept tapping on her forearm. She was patient even if her shoulders were really tense. She was patient even if she was on high alert, and would pull out her gun in her pants at the slightest jump.

“Why are you so jumpy?” Megumi was before her.

“Don’t act like you aren’t feeling the same” she said. She had felt her coming, but couldn’t react because of her nerves. Was this how she was going to freeze when they came face-to-face with their big problem?

Megumi got into the passenger’s seat, giving her sister time to calm down. She was the one driving, and wanted to leave in one-piece.

Sachi leaned away from the hood and walked to her side. She opened the door and got in.

“No security with you” her younger sister pointed out.

“I thought you’d be too busy trying out some new Gucci product, or a new addition to your thousand pair of shoes”.

Megumi laughed. “Isn’t that from Barbie?”

“You’re living that Barbie life, aren’t you?”

“It’s fantastic” she answered truthfully. She couldn’t lie to her sister anyway. She missed the back and forth they constantly had. The fights. The holding each other back. And every day moral support. But things had to change.

“I told them to lay low for a while. To avoid more deaths” she said softly.

“How did you find out anyway?” Megumi whispered.

“Karou” Sachi supplied. “She’s good at this”. “Haru wasn’t home when his apartment exploded. That was the E for him. Karou had said everything before that, and it was all alphabetical. Him missing this, I don’t know if it was deliberate. To draw us out” her arms stretched, her knuckles cracking.

“What do we do now?” because she was lost.

“He’s obviously not going to send us a message. So I guess he’ll find us” the older sister shrugged.

VVVVV

Karou opened her eyes, and then she yawned. Her right eye itched. And she wanted to scratch it, but she couldn’t move. In fact, she couldn’t move anything.

Was this sleep paralysis? No if it was sleep paralysis, she wouldn’t be able to open her eyes. She didn’t know much about it, but that seemed right. Everything seemed to work. She could see, move her eyes, and breathe. Everything worked on the inside, it was just on the outside.

She had to be calm. Paralysis didn’t just start like that. She was sure of it. So what was this?

An aroma caught her nose. She tried turning, but she couldn’t. Someone was in here, and was making breakfast. That….when she caught the animal she would-

“Glad to see that you’re awake” Takashi greeted her, with a coy smile.

“You animal!!” she yelled. She was glad to know that still worked.

“Calm down” he sighed, sitting down by her feet. “You know this wares off” he told her. “I made French toast” he said waving the plate around. “Would you like some?” he offered.

“Offering me food? In my own home? With my own ingredients?!” she bellowed. “When I get out of here…” she threatened. “I will beat the shit out of you. This time no one will-Ack!” she choked.

Takashi had stuffed food in her mouth. “I heard when girls go on and on and on, they’re just hungry. So eat up” she smiled, watching her chew.

She calmed down a little. She would disregard the fact that he was a god cook, it didn’t really change the situation. She was at his mercy. He had found her, found out where she lived, came in like he owned the place and paralyzed her. And she had been peacefully asleep. She knew he had changed. He wasn’t the scared little sissy that almost wet his pants at the sound of guns.

He could kill her.

That was terrifying.

He knew it wouldn’t be quick. She knew he wouldn’t take it easy on her because of their relationship. It would be a long and difficult death.

“I didn’t come here to kill you” he stated.

“Your actions speak louder” she snorted.

“Just tell me what I need to know, and I’ll be gone”.

She relented. She didn’t know how long this would last. She could be here for a long time, with the itch that was still there.

“What do you need to know?” she sighed.

“Glad you could cooperate” and he held another piece for her to chew on. “Who wants me dead?” he skipped right to the chase. He didn’t like the look on her face

VVVVV

After arguing the entire time, they had decided to go to a café. They were both angry, making them cranky. And they decided that if he was eventually going to show up, it would be in public. Not like they didn’t endanger civilians most of the time, but they were at an advantage. If anything was going to happen, they would be easy distractions.

They got what they asked for, and they just sat there eating by each other’s side. Two. On a table of three. They stayed there for a while longer, and nothing happened. Sachi was already impatient, and added with the nerves, it wasn’t a good thing.

“He’s not going to come”.

“Give it time” Megumi said with her mouth full. She was really enjoying the cakes.

“What time? He isn’t a god to know where we are. We could find someone to contact him so we could meet”.

“And when we meet, what then?” she wanted her sister to answer.

“We take him out” she seethed.

“You say it like it’s so easy. You know who he is” pained her to admit, that there was someone who intimidated her, and was better than her at something.

“He isn’t a god!” she argued.

Sachi gasped.

Megumi coughed.

A hand had dropped on both sister’s shoulders. That was practiced stealth. They hadn’t heard a thing, in this boisterous café. Nothing at all. And that was saying something for the well-trained sisters.

“Sachi” the mouth whispered really close to their ears.

“Megumi” he grinned, and he stood straight. He removed his hands and rounded the table. He pulled the chair and sat before them.

“Hayata” her older sister said coldly.

Said man smiled, a crazy one. He made sure all his teeth showed, and his eyes became so small.

“So cold Sachi” he shook his head. “Is that how you greet your older brother” he blessed them with that creepy smile again.

“You are not our brother!” Megumi fought back. Not her best comeback.

“A bastard looking for foreign glory” Sachi huffed. Back to cool and indifferent. A drastic change from the nervous one earlier.

“Always so mean Sachi” he said casually seated. Like he was meeting up with friends. Normal looking guy. Tall, lean and long black hair. Like the two of them. That didn’t mean anything. Most people had black hair. Looking at this guy, who didn’t look threatening, one would think he was just another guy.

No one would think he was a sadistic, coldblooded murderer. Looked like it was a family thing, but the sisters didn’t kill for money. That was beneath them. Unless it was unavoidable.

“Why did you kill my men?” she asked immediately.

“It’s nothing serious. It’s just business” he didn’t smile. Megumi looked to be radiating anger off her body. Her fingers clenched on the handle of her mug. “I needed to get your attention”.

“Well you have it. It’s not a good thing” she said through grit teeth. A grin of her own.

“OOO” he said making a gesture as if backing off. “Calm down. It’s nothing personal. I love you guys”.

“One more stupid thing out of you, it will be your last” Megumi warned.

“I’m an assassin, not a liar” he said seriously. “This is just business” he reassured them. Both hands on the table. He ignored both women removing their hands.

“Who wants us dead?” Megumi asked the obvious question.

He was back to playful. “You know they never really tell me their names, so there’s not much I can say. It was a guy. Fairly young. Came to me with an odd looking girl. Told me my baby sister’s name. I couldn’t just take you out like that” he made a face, looking like a cartoon.

“Is he a gangster?” Sachi questioned.

“Yes. He’s just like you guys. He reminded me of father, for someone so young”.

“Say his name one more time” Megumi said, face blank.

“She’s daring you” Sachi sipped leisurely.

“I didn’t come here to fight” he placated.

“But you came here to kill us” Megumi corrected him snappily.

“Bingo! I knew you were bright baby sister” then he sighed. “I need the money. Upkeep, weapons. I’m not as loaded as you….”

Megumi’s plate finally broke.

He quirked his brow. He had expected her to throw it at him when he arrived. A new record.

“Your mother…..” she said it with disgust. “Didn’t want anything to do with my father. She called him evil. Called him the devil himself. She didn’t want his support. And didn’t want his money” every word dripped with venom. “It’s not anyone’s fault you gre up the way you did, but your mum. Don’t try playing the victim with us” she warned.

Their table had a lot of attention now.

“I know” he chuckled. “I’d never blame anyone for that. Look how I turned out”.

“An assassin” Sachi supplied done with her tea.

“And wanting to kill his sisters. The irony” he made hand guns.

Both were alert. They both knew he wasn’t a normal guy. Those fingers could be weapons. “I mean nothing by the events that will follow after” best to apologize early.

“You’ll soon stop meaning anything” Megumi said.

Sachi sighed. Done with the back and forth. “Well mine will mean something. You are nothing but Isami’s bastard. Something he surprisingly didn’t get rid of. I’ll be doing the honors”.

She stood up. “Nothing personal” she said bored. Her face didn’t go with the words. It was going to be a personal affair. With how they looked at each other, there was no love lost between the two of them. Out of both sisters, Sachi had a more personal relationship with him.

A lot was going to happen as soon as they left the establishment.

“Are you always mean?” he asked placing his chin on his arm, looking up at similar eyes.

“What did you tell me before?” she sneered recalling. “Gangster life?”

Megumi stood up. Shoving her cake into her mouth. So much for being a lady.

Hayata sat up, pulling his immediate sister’s plate towards him. “You know the popular saying” he smiled digging into her cake. “There’s no time to waste when the alphabet assassin wants you dead” he made that smile again.

“Tick tock” he said haughtily.

Megumi made a rude gesture. Sachi’s hair flipped over her shoulder dramatically as she turned. He smiled, as he and the rest of the patrons watched them go. He didn’t like it, but a job was a job. He had nothing against them really.

Not like they had the best relationship, and they hated him openly, but those were his baby sisters.

He’d make it quick.

VVVVV

“He’s so infuriating!” Sachi practically screamed as they walked out, punching and kicking the air. If she held something, she would probably throw it. If someone else were here, she’d punch them.

“I know” she replied. “I was there”.

“I should have pulled out and just shot him between the eyes” she grumbled.

“Easy” she soothed her sister. Tokyo isn’t Osaka. Didn’t you say the police chief isn’t fond of you?” she reminded her pointedly.

“Misogynist ass!” she spat.

“Now isn’t the time to get emotional. We are dealing with Hayata”.

“You sound worried Meg” Sachi teased cruelly. Glaring at her from the side.

“Well I have to be. This is where he excels. He kills for a living. What makes you so sure he doesn’t have a plan to already kill us?”

“And why are you so sure he’ll be successful?!” she hissed.

“I never said that!” she argued.

The older pressed her key, making the lights on her car blink. “Well we should get out of here before you wet yourself” she just took a step, then she stopped. She was certain she heard something. Something was off.

Looking to the side, there was an incoming out of control car. Not unusual, but unusual when there were a lot of people. Nothing good was going to come of it. It kept swerving left, then right.

“Another one” Megumi said. They stepped away for the car for now.

The truck eventually stopped moving. It collided with another car. It didn’t just end there. Both sisters took cover as the back came off and curved rods became airborne. It was all over the place. There were a lot of screams.

Then there were close crashes close to where they had found shelter. Things wouldn’t calm down. No one would shout calm down and everyone would do just that. Sachi made a movement with her hand, but her sister stopped her.

She stepped out, and it was to see that the car they came with had rods impaling it, through the windscreen. It even pierced through the seats. This wasn’t time to overthink, but she couldn’t stop herself. If they had both been in the car, and had waited for the car to stop, what would have happened?

Would they have gotten out of the car in time?

Even if they did, what about the other rods?

Would they just have died like that?

Not how she imagined both of them dying, but……this was a close call.

Sachi stepped out. Taking in the scene. Taking in the state of her car. She made her face and kicked her tire. “I’ll call Karou” she said.

“What’s this letter then?” she questioned as she fished for her phone.

“He went back to A, so I guess accident” she shrugged.

Megumi put a hand on her waist. “Looks like you were wrong. When it comes to this, he is in control. He’s a god”.

Her sister glared at her. Just as she got her phone it rang. “Karou” she stated. “Talk about freakishly efficient. Can she sense when we’re about to die too?” she laughed. This wasn’t a humorous situation, but she wouldn’t be Sachi if she didn’t react wrong.

“Does she know I’m here?” she asked her sister still with her phone on her ear, listening to whatever.

She dropped the call. “She isn’t coming to pick us up” she informed.

“Uh? Why?” she asked quirking her lips.

“We have a visitor and she can’t leave whoever it is alone. We’re taking a taxi” she said nonchalant. Already moving. Forgetting that they had both almost died moments ago. Now they were getting into public transport, with who they didn’t know.

“Does that seem like a good idea?” Megumi asked following after her.

“We can take care of ourselves” she supplied.

VVVVV

The two of them stepped out of the vehicle close to the building.

Did she miss this?

Sometimes she did. Even coming here, she was overcome with nostalgia. Standing in front of the building….she couldn’t say something sentimental like she couldn’t believe it. But she was happy. Her phone pinged.

“Hubby?” she asked with distaste.

“He’s your brother-in-law” and she begun the walk to the building with a smile on her face. Her nose buried on her phone.

Sachi rolled her eyes and followed her. Curious to see who the guest was. Karou was smart, so she was sure she wouldn’t bring a stranger in. It was someone they knew.

They entered the building. There was no one here. Karou must have given the order. They weren’t the gang that they once were, especially with this old building. Karou should be in the office.

Opening the door, she saw Karou. And she saw someone else. She paused halfway.

There was a saying for this. She was actually looking at the one her sister let get away. Why did Karou bring him here?

Oh! She didn’t know the news. Megumi was here.

And speaking of her sister, she stopped directly behind her. Her fingers were still tapping on her phone. She stopped, then he looked up.

“Mistress!” Karou exclaimed quickly getting over the shock.

Sachi looked at her sister through her side, then Megumi looked over her shoulder.

She smirked.

It happened fast. Megumi’s hand snatched the gun from her pants, and aimed. She fired three shots immediately on different parts of his middle.

One to the abdomen, one to the torso, and the last one to his chest. Takashi went down. Karou was so lost, she didn’t react. Megumi stepped close to the man.

“I told you I wouldn’t miss next time” she looked down at him, looking up at her. He didn’t look scared. Shocked yes, but not scared. It baffled her. Well, maybe he hadn’t expected his death to come quick. She raised it to his head.

She pulled the trigger, and nothing. She pulled many times and still nothing. She tossed it to the side, which Karou uncharacteristically clumsily caught.

“Why don’t you have enough bullets?!” she demanded.

“I don’t need much” she replied walking to her desk.

“Because you’re kill shot” she looked down at the still blinking man.

“Why is he still alive?” she leaned closer. Assessing the wounds, well the lack of wounds.

“How did you know he was wearing a bulletproof vest?” Karou cleared her throat.

“I didn’t!” and she stomped on his stomach, making him groan.

“I told you that it was mandatory” Karou told him, stepping away.

“Why in the world is this murderer here?” Sachi asked exhausted. She had an eventful morning, and she wanted no part of her sister and her ex-flame she wanted to kill.

“Is this your idea of a welcome?” Megumi glared at her.

“I-I didn’t even know you were coming” she looked at the man that had dusted himself off, and was on his feet.

“Me a murderer? A pot calling a kettle black” he laughed.

Megumi growled before she moved, but Karou stood in the middle.

“There’s a hit on him!” she said quickly.

“We have bigger issues that someone wanting to kill him” Sachi spoke up, removing her shoes.

“But people are killing us too” she suggested.

“So you think there’s a connection” Sachi laughed. There was no way.

“What we’re up against is not in any way connected to you” Megumi couldn’t help being angry.

“And what is it exactly that you’re up against?” Karou asked frustrated. She wasn’t meant to be kept out of the loop.

“A family affair” her boss replied before Megumi could say anything.

“One of Takahiro’s goons found me. They’re close” she breathed out.

“And what the four of us have in common is, that the day Takahiro died, the four of us were present” Takashi spoke with authority.

“And now that he’s dead, his son took over, and he wants to avenge his daddy” Karou took over. “His bodyguard, he one who attacked me in the club was s survivor. Must have told the son what he needed to know”.

“Hayata said that he was a gangster” Megumi reminded her sister.

“And he said an odd girl” Sachi hummed.

“She wears a mask on one half of her face” Karou told them. “Thanks to Takashi” her eyes swept over him.

He rolled his eyes.

“Who’s Hayata?” Karou wouldn’t ignore that.

“Someone who’s taking us out” Sachi replied. No need hiding it now. But now that he had their attention, everyone was safe. He wasn’t an overly emotional person. So he wouldn’t just go on a random killing spree.

“So, random people dying, Karou getting told a boy is after her, Hayata saying he got told to kill you by a gangster. Then a hit on me”. “Do you need to know anything else?” Takashi asked smug.

“Keep talking like that, and I’ll take advantage of that hit” Megumi said.

“Like Sachi said, bigger issues” he said rounding the room. “Where do we go from here?”

Karou looked at him. She was the one who brought him here. The looks that were being thrown her way wasn’t encouraging. She would pay for this.

“Did you come here to boss us around?” Sachi asked him, her face blank.

“And what do you mean when you say that?” Megumi smiled dryly. “You’re in this on your own” she stated.

“And you know this Hayata?” he asked not waiting for a confirmation. “Why haven’t you killed him yet?”

“I won’t explain to you!” Megumi yelled.

“Yes, we know him” the boss sat up. “You don’t know him. Do you think your talent, your little gadgets will help you?” she asked mockingly.

He laughed back. “If I knew him, and knew where he was, like the two of you did, he’d be dead”.

“This isn’t time to fight ourselves. Someone wants us dead. Not the other way around”.

“I never imagined someone like him being married” he said mostly to himself.

“First thing first. Karou, find out who this son is. Then we’ll see where we’ll go from there” Sachi ordered.

“Yes ma’am” she replied attentive.

“That’ll take too much time” Takashi said.

“And you’re here, questioning my authority. Trying to run my gang for me” Sachi turned to face him.

“And what makes you think that they won’t make more attempts why Karou run your errands?” he talked back.

“Get him out of here Karou” Megumi said quietly.

The all knew she wasn’t going to say it again.

“Yes Mistress” and she looked to him. He rolled his eyes, but didn’t complain. He followed her out of the room.

“I can’t just stand that idiot, just standing there and being right!” the younger woman raged.

“I don’t like it any more than you do, but he’s right” she agreed.

“We don’t need anyone to find Hayata. We’ll find him, and we’ll kill him” Megumi was determined.

“Agreed. And at the same time, find the brat and destroy that gang for once” Sachi stood up. She pulled her sister close, in a back hug. “Then you can kill Takashi” she grinned crazily.

It was really something.

The smile.

The craziness.

It was a family thing.

VVVVV

Karou punched him in his ribs.

It hurt, but he wouldn’t show.

“You know the hell I’m going to go through” she lamented.

Takashi ignored her plight.

“You’re going to find out who this person is? Takahiro’s son?”

“Like you heard” and they continued walking.

“Find out who this Hayata is. If they’re not going to tell us, we’ll find out ourselves”.

“There is no two of us. You know Megumi will kill you. You can’t wear a bulletproof forever” she whispered.

“The only reason I’m here is because I have no other choice. I wouldn’t be a gentleman if I didn’t offer my help”.

“They can take care of this. If I were you, I’d keep my mouth shut. Let today be a lesson to you”.

He wouldn’t listen to that. He wasn’t scared of her. Or any of them. They made him like this. Tough, fearless. No self-preservation. He’ll be damned if he ever cowers to the like of them ever again.

He wasn’t going to die because of a child’s command.

“You’ll die” she stated. “But don’t be sad. No one will be there to cry for you” Karou smiled cruelly.

He ignored her.

He was used to her. Her obsession with Megumi. Best not to test her.