"I'm tiiiiiired...." I rolled around in the middle of the van.

Riki: "You were amazing out there, Kuin, get as much rest as you need."

"Hey stop moving!" Takuto says as he tries to secure the bandages on my thigh.

"Hey guys." I lie still so Takuto can finish up his work, "I've only heard of this before, but do you know of the surgery that can kill off your nervous system, so then one doesn't feel pain?"

I see Riki's and Kenshi's eyebrows furrow in the rear view mirrors. Hiro froze on his spot and blinked at me.

I continue anyway, "Killers do that so they can fight to their fullest without worrying about pain. Maybe I should think about doing that? Considering how often I get half-killed?"

"Killing off your nervous system also means you'll never feel anything again, right?" Takuto says as he finishes up wrapping the bandages, "That's too much to pay. All you have to do is to make sure not to be in danger again. I'll make sure you'll never be in danger again."

"Takuto...."

His eyes weren't even looking into mine, how do those simple words move me to the point of Titanic? Probably because he's mostly quiet, when he says something, it's pretty shocking.

Yeah, that's why. It must be the reason.

"Thanks, Takkun! My baby blondie is all grown up~!" I reached out my arm and patted his fluffy hair. The rest of the Black Foxes laughed. To my surprise, Takuto didn't have a reaction. I was fully expecting him to bat my hand away while yelling at me, but he just stared at me with those eyes. What's he trying to say?

Hiro: "Takkun's right, Lillie! Those kind of surgery is just cruel."

Riki: "Yeah. It's not like you need to endure any more lava-like burning pain after this."

Kenshi: "Yup! Everything's over and we'll always protect you."

"Haha, I'm not that weak. Speaking of which, I've protected you guys tons of times too." I maintain normal to dodge suspicion. "...I'm gonna take a nap."

Kenshi: "Alright. I'll wake you when we're there. Sweet dreams."

Though I'm pretty sure I'll be dreaming of anything but sweet.

Very soon I fell into a deep sleep.

Knives flew at me.

Fire burned at my flesh.

The bleeding won't stop, and I don't know where it's coming from.

My legs were numb, I couldn't move, I couldn't run.

Fear made itself in my heart. Shivers ran down my spine endlessly. No one could hear my screams. No one could see my tears.

I need a delirium. I want anything to take me away from where I am now.

Death is an eternal sleep, right? That means it must be peaceful.

My eyes shot open. However I wasn't breathing hard or anything. It wasn't a bad feeling.

"You're awake."

I turned my head over to see Takuto sitting on a stool. I looked at the ceiling again. Ah, this is his room.

It didn't felt like I slept for that long. "What time is it?"

"4am." He answered, "We actually came back faster than estimated."

Takuto's POV

She had a calm demeanor around her as she slept in the bed. It's amazing how fast she recovers after each trauma.

Just then, her eyes flew open, as if never asleep at all. She woke up clean without any signs of a nightmare. That usually means one got over it.

Good.

"What time is it?" She asks. The dark room making her red eye shine out. All she got was bad luck and prejudice from her eyes. One will think it's strange, but why can't more people see that it's just beautiful?

"Four a.m." I said after checking my phone. We couldn't wake her up when we arrived so I carried her up here.

"Huh." She hummed in response. I couldn't take it anymore.

"Lillie." I tried my best to look her in the eyes, "This is a bad time to say this but..."

She showed she was listening, but she didn't indicate anything in her features.

"...I...I love you."

Her eyes didn't widen. Her lips spread out into a wide smile. It made my heart beat. Could this mean...?

She giggled quietly. She was genuinely laughing. I'm confused.

"Hee. Thanks for cheering me up, Takkun. I needed a smile back on my face." She patted her palm on my hand before retreating it back into the covers, "You should get some rest, too. Call me in the morning when breakfast's ready, kay? Oyasuminasai."

It was when I left the room and shut the door that it hit me: she thought I was joking.

I sighed. At least this means I did indeed make her laugh. Although I did not intend to.

I'll just sleep in the bunk bed tonight.

The next morning. When I woke up, it was already 9am. Pretty good considering I only got 5 hours of sleep. I tumbled out, did the mourning routine and went downstairs.

Everyone else were all carrying out as usual. It was a rare weekend in which none of us have any serious work to deal with. The smell of pancakes and noodles filled the room.

Wait. Noodles?

Riki: "Still no pork noodles for you for two more weeks, Takuto."

I glared at him, wanting to smack that smug look off his face.

Then I notice a girl's missing from the picture, "where's Lillie?"

"I don't think she woke up yet." Kenshi says behind the counter, "you should wake her up, lunch is almost ready."

I went up the stairs two steps at a time. I knocked on the designated door.

"Yo you up yet?"

No answer. She's probably too tired and fell into a deep sleep.

"I'm coming in." I said as I opened the door and walked into the room.

The empty room.

The bed sheets were neatly folded. The window was open, the morning breeze combed past the swishing curtains. My gaze scanned the room and soon found a crumpled up paper across the bed.

'I know where your hideout is, now.

If you don't want me to call the cops on them, surrender yourself to where you didn't recognize me.

You have three hours.'

This is Rabenda's handwriting.

I instantly stop my urge to tear the piece of paper, it's good evidence if it ever comes in handy.

Kuin's POV

After I bid Takuto good night and he left the room. My eyelids start to slide down again. It was certainly a very tiring night.

I lay on my side, face back the window--that's cracked open a fraction for fresh air--and closed my eyes, waiting for sleep to come over me again.

Around ten minutes later, just when I'm already half-unconscious, a small sound startled me back up again. It wasn't a small sound such as a tree branch being stepped on; it wasn't a small sound such as leaves blowing around; it was a small sound as in a dart flew in, pinning a piece of folded paper on the wall I'm facing.

I flipped around to the window, it was fully opened. That was dangerous.

Why didn't whoever throw the dart just creep in and kidnap me the hard way? Assuredly someone who can manage to climb the wall to the second floor and open the window so quietly I didn't even hear it and pin a dark right in front of my eyesight can mix some sort of ecstasy and just toss me into a sack.

It must mean it's someone who's encountered me before, and know I'm a reckon to deal with.

Juro? Nope, he's half the globe away from here in prison. Mafia? What am I talking about everyone in the mafia world knows me and they wouldn't dare pull something like this. Prankster? I highly doubt it. No one would take a prank this far.

That leaves only one person. Rabenda. That chick just doesn't know when to give up.

Not a single shadow is seen outside. She's experienced, all right.

Anyhow, I took down the dart and unfolded the note.

...

I sigh. If I just tell the guys--

My breath hitched when I realize what her threat really is. All the guys are people who have a reputation out there. Especially Riki, he's a government official and has a huge public image.

1) We can't change addresses because they can't give up everything they have and go on a running.

2) Rabenda knows our faces and names.

3) There's no way we can get rid of all evidence of us being the Black Foxes within three hours.

We have weapons in the basement for goodness' sake!

I really should've been more careful...and got rid of her when I had the chance...!

In rage, I crumpled up the paper and chucked it at the wall in front of me.

.... I understand.

I was still in my mission clothes. I redid my pony tail, folded the bed sheets and changed into another black leather jacket before I leap out of the window.

Lemme think. The place where I didn't recognize her.... What does that even mean?

If she chose a location where we met that's within the memories that I forgot, how am I supposed to know where that is?

I banged the side of my head against my palm.

Vague images of me passing by a mysterious blonde woman with a thick violet scarf flashed into my mind. Judging by the blurring backgrounds, it should be the entrance of my apartment.

There we go.

I started to run down the streets.

Very soon I arrive at the destination.

I found her leaning against the wall at the side of the building. Is she sure she wants me meet up somewhere so public?

A smug look came over her face as soon as she spotted me. Immediately she pointed to the button on her collar, "don't even think about making a scene. I have my buddy here on speed dial and when I press this key, it sends a signal for him to call the cops."

"Alright, alright."

She seemed surprised at my obedient attitude.

"You really care about them, don't you." she muttered in a barely audible voice, which I think I wasn't supposed to hear. She then shook her head, "anyways, come with me."

It felt like she was in a process of completely making up her mind as well as she led me to the back of the building.

We were face-to-face in the parking lot with only a few street lamps to light up.

Rabenda looked at me with a determined look on her face and utter hatred in her eyes: "I know you were just asleep half an hour ago, but good night, Lilith."

I couldn't comprehend what she said before something covered my mouth and a hand pulled me back over my eyes. Apparently she isn't alone.

But I am.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

March 20th 2016

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