What Goes Around...Comes Around - Chapter 6

It has certainly turned out the man was right. President Morton had indeed been a target, though Hazuki’s involvement and the possibility of her actually working for the police were yet to be determined.

The car swerved onto the ramp to the highway, and Kaori winced as the gun bit deeper into her side. She sighed inwardly. At least she’d beat her record of days on a job without getting held at gunpoint. She’s been working with Mick for almost two weeks before she’s been kidnapped, while Ryo had gotten her into a jam the very day she met him.

But was it any wonder, really? She’s been more vigilant about Mick and his well-being than her own, thanks to what Ryo had confessed to her the night before. About his fears about his friend’s ability to still be a sweeper, of him taking on Kazue’s assignment to keep an eye on Mick...The kidnappers had been right. Their moves hadn’t been coordinated. She guessed it was mostly her fault again. She didn’t know how to work with anyone else but Ryo.

“That guy and the bitch are following us.”

Kaori blinked. She didn’t have to turn her head to know who was following the car. She could feel him. Thank you, Jesus.

“Who does he think he is? Lose him.”

The goon holding her at gunpoint leaned out the car window and started shooting before she had an opportunity to react. But as soon as he was back inside reloading his gun, Kaori pounced, sinking her teeth into his hand.

Sure, it got her a stinging slap, but she felt better. How dare the bastard shoot at Ryo? And how dare he bitchslap her?!

Then she heard the unmistakable shriek of metal on metal, and everything inside her went on alert. There were no other cars around. The highway climbed slightly, the gentle swell ending up in a curve. Ryo was driving the Mini tightly against the guardrail, no doubt looking for the right angle to shoot out the tires. The billboard up ahead, flanking the road, would lessen the impact...

As if hearing his order, she ducked, covering her head with her hands. Before her captors could even blink, two shots rang out in rapid succession.

There were two muffled bangs; the driver screamed as he lost control, then the car swerved, kissed the guardrail, and then vaulted over it, straight through the billboard. With another muffled thud, it came to a stop at the bottom of the gentle knoll.

 

“Are you insane?” a muted female voice sounded.

The ringing in Kaori’s ears subsided, and the woman’s voice became more distinct. It sounded like Hazuki. But what was she doing there?

“Oh, my God, they’re all dead! You are insane. Jesus Christ.”

Ungluing her tongue from the roof of her mouth, Kaori slowly lifted her head. And the ringing started again, along with little stars swimming in her line of vision. “Ouch.”

“Kaori? Oh, my gosh, Kaori!”

Hazuki helped her climb out, and Kaori winced at the look of her captors’ broken bodies hanging half out of the car.

“Are you okay, Kaori?” His voice might’ve sounded nonchalant, but there was worry in Ryo’s eyes.

She smiled slightly at Hazuki. “I ducked right in time. Still, I got a lump as a souvenir.”

Hazuki blinked at her. “But...You could’ve been seriously hurt. Killed even. How did you—”

Kaori ran her fingers through her hair, careful to keep them away from the throbbing part of her scalp. “I knew Ryo would shoot, so I ducked.”

Hazuki glared at him. “And how could you shoot like that with Kaori on board?”

He shrugged. “I knew she’d duck.”

They’ve never done this before and Kaori would just as well not repeat it any time soon, but she had to admit they were quite a team.

“Jeez, you two should think about getting a portmanteau.”

With a huff and a hair toss, Hazuki climbed back toward the road, leaving Ryo and Kaori to stare after her in bewilderment.

“What did she mean by that?” Kaori asked, a jolt running down her spine as she felt his fingers softly brush against her hand.

“Are you okay?” he murmured.

She nodded slightly. “It’s just a bump, the impact wasn’t as soft as planned.” She brushed her fingertips against his. “But I’m fine. How’s Mick?” she asked as she started climbing toward the road.

“No idea,” he replied.

She turned, her eyes wide, wobbling a bit, so he had to place his hands on her waist. “What?”

“I went after you,” he reminded her, flexing his grip on her. “But we’ll find out as soon as we return. Up you go.” And he lifted her effortlessly over the guardrail.

X Y Z

“How are you feeling, Mick?” Kaori softly asked him. He certainly didn’t look good, his face crisscrossed with scrapes and bruises, his neck in a brace.

Mick winked and offered her his trademark grin, but she could feel the dejection in his eyes, the resignation. “Don’t worry about me, how are you?”

She waved her hand. “Just a bump, nothing big.”

His grin grew larger, and she breathed a sigh of relief as a mischievous twinkle appeared in his eyes. “I’m not talking about your head. I’m talking about everything else. It was quite late when you two returned inside last night.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “I didn’t get to ask you earlier, then everything went to shit...Did you guys talk?”

She felt the blush spread across her face and down her neck. Did he have to forget his melancholy so soon? “Yes, we talked.” And kissed. And made out. She actually had to use make-up to cover the whisker burns and hickeys on her throat this morning. And there she went, blushing even more. But hey, maybe the makeup covered that as well.

“Aaaaand?” he insisted.

“And the interrogation time is over,” Ryo interrupted from the doorway.

“Oh, man,” Mick whined. “Just as it was starting to get interesting.”

Ryo smirked. “Speaking of interesting, there’s someone here to see you.”

Kaori met his gaze—he’d merely dropped her off at the hospital earlier, telling her he had an errand to run—but the question died on her lips when Kazue walked into the room, her stricken face half-hidden behind a huge bouquet.

Eyes wide, Mick gulped. “Kazue?”

Then Kazue dropped onto her knees beside the bed, flowers forgotten as she threw her arms around him. “I was so worried.”

A lump formed in Kaori’s throat as she watched Mick’s expression turn tender, his gaze warming as he brushed his fingers down Kazue’s cheek.

“I never meant for you to worry, Kazue. Forgive me,” he murmured.

Kaori shivered as Ryo stepped close, his arm brushing softly against her back. “I didn’t know you were such a romantic,” she whispered. “Playing Cupid to your friend.”

“I’m just returning the favor,” he replied in a low voice that sent another shiver down her spine. “Are you ready to go home?”

She turned her head to look at him from the corner of her eyes, grinning. “We’re a fifth wheel in here anyway.”

“Hmm.” He placed his hand lightly on her lower back and steered her out of the room. Before he closed the door, he looked back at the embracing couple, meeting Mick’s gaze. A wealth of communication passed between them with just one look, but neither said a word. They didn’t need to. Their mutual nods were all the agreement and thanks they needed.

 

They walked through the hospital and to the car in silence. It wasn’t uncomfortable. It was one of those silences—one of their silences—when they spoke volumes without saying a word. Breathing, steps, and movements synchronized without even trying; they walked side by side. And though they moved at a leisurely pace, people stepped out of their way, parting, giving them space.

Some turned, some stopped to watch the striking couple. Maybe because of the imposing figure of the man, maybe because of the beauty of the woman...maybe because of the small, mirroring smiles playing on the couple’s lips, like they were in on a secret they weren’t willing to share with the world...

 

As the Mini’s doors closed in unison, Ryo turned on the ignition with a quick sideways glance, clasped Kaori’s hand, brushed his thumb over her knuckles, and grabbed the gear stick, her hand on top of his.

As she tightened her fingers on top of his hand, something inside him seemed to click back in place, like the last piece of a huge puzzle that had taken him years to complete.

“I was thinking about what Hazuki said earlier.”

“Hmm.”

Kaori rolled her eyes. He didn’t seem to be listening. “About the portmanteau,” she prompted.

“Hmm?”

She turned to look at him. His lips were curved into a slight smile. Figures. Of course, he wasn’t listening. God only knew what he was thinking about.

“Never mind,” she murmured and lifted her hand off his.

He immediately snatched it back, clasping her fingers tightly. “What are you talking about?” he groused.

“Nice of you to finally pay attention.”

“I was paying attention.”

She rolled her eyes again, and he frowned when she tried to get her hand back. “Yeah? What was I saying?”

“You were yammering something about a stupid portmanteau.”

She huffed. “Stupid, huh?”

He growled softly as she tried to free herself again and tugged until he had her hand trapped against his thigh. “Yeah, stupid.” He shot her a sideways look, as if in warning to keep her hand where he held it. “We already have one...Well, sort of, so thinking of others is stupid.”

“What are you talking about?” she parroted, taken aback.

“Now who’s not listening?” he asked, smirking.

Kaori sighed. It was like debating with an eight-year-old. “Enlighten me, then. What is our portmanteau?”

“City Hunter.”

She turned to look at him fully. He was completely serious, his eyes on the road. She blinked rapidly to disperse the moisture gathering in her eyes and, despite his vise-like grip, turned her hand under his, so they were palm to palm and entwined her fingers with his.

And there it was again. The dreamy, happy smile slightly curling his lips. She mirrored it and turned back to watch the road as the sun was slowly starting to set over Shinjuku.

The End