Chapter 9: Kidnapping

"Did Auntie Flare and Noel treat you well?" Kiara asked as the three walked down the street.

"They were nice," Haruto wasn't exactly lying. Since Haruto had time to calm down, he could now see that Noel had no malicious intent.

"That's good. I wouldn't be surprised if Noel did something that would make you feel uncomfortable but I'm happy that didn't happen," Kiara's face darkened.

"If she did, I would have to have a nice chat with her," Kiara's voice turned into something in which Haruto can only describe as sadistic.

"N-no! Onee-chan didn't do anything bad!" Haruto said frantically. The last thing Haruto wanted was his mother to go after Noel.

"Kiara, you need to stop making that face. It's scary," Calli said while shuddering.

"Oh, I'm not that scary. What do you think, Haruto?" Kiara laughed.

When she didn't get a reply, Kiara asked again, "Haruto?"

When Calli and Kiara turned around, she realized that Haruto wasn't there.

-

"Nice job," Haruto was awoken by a male voice. He blinked his eyes open to see that he was in an unfamiliar room with two grown men in suits conversing with each other.

"Yeah, we'll get a shit load of money if we sell the kid off for ransom," the other man said. Haruto decided to identify one as "shades" and "hatty". Their names were self explanatory.

"Oh, look who decided to wake up," Shades turned his attention to Haruto.

"Who are you?" Haruto asked. He recognized these were bad people and he knew how to put on a brave face. He was used to being hit.

"None of your concern," Shades replied.

"Be a good boy and shut the fuck up or you're going to get hurt," Hatty cracked his knuckles. Haruto tried to move his hands and legs, but he realized he was tied up.

"We can't hurt the merchandise. I doubt we would get business if we do," Shades turned to Hatty.

"Doesn't matter what state he's in. If Takanashi and Mori want their precious child, they're going to have to pony up the money, no matter what," Hatty shot back.

"I guess you're right. Just don't kill him," Shades sighed, seemingly giving up the argument.

From what Haruto had heard, he was certain of a few things. These people were hostile and apparently wanted to sell him back to Kiara and Calli.

These people are idiots, Haruto concluded. These two dolts had no idea how scary his mama and papa was and they were going to get it when they find him.

"Hey, what's with that smug look on your face?" Hatty growled before slapping Haruto with the back of his hand. The familiar sting of pain flared up in Haruto's cheek but he didn't waver.

"Mama and Papa will find us and you're going to get it," Haruto forced a smile. In reality, he was scared of what these people were capable of but he wasn't about to crack to these two idiots.

"What was that?" Hatty shouted before punching Haruto in the stomach. Haruto barely had time to react before he was hit square in the face.

"Jeez, calm down!" Haruto felt blood drip down his nose and left eye bruise, but he was still able to see Shades hold back Hatty.

"Hey, what gives?!" Hatty asked as he squirmed free from Shades' grip.

"Aren't you letting this kid get on your nerves a bit too easily?" Shades reasoned.

"Yeah, you should be ashamed with the way you're treating this kid," A third voice, catching Hatty and Shades off guard, made itself known.

"Who the hell are you?" Shades said while turning around to confront the third figure.

"The name's Nik," the man introduced himself as he walked up to the two men, "Want to explain why you're kidnapping a kid on that turf."

"That pin…" Shades turned to Hatty, "I don't think we should fuck with him."

"How special can this guy be?" Hatty asked. Before Shades could respond, Nik took advantage of the situation to land a punch to Hatty's face, sending the man sprawling to the floor beside Haruto.

"I was sure I sent the protection order out to the guys," Nik grumbled to himself as he entered a fighting stance, "I was certain there were two guys in this area. I wonder where they went."

"You're not going to get away with this!" Shades shouted as he reached into his coat. Haruto stiffened slightly when he pulled out a switchblade, but Nik seemed unfazed.

As Shades ran up to his opponent, Nik just kicked the man in the face. Shades instantly fell to the floor, hitting his head.

"Don't come any closer!" In a weird sense of deja vu, Haruto felt a blade to his throat. Nik stopped in his tracks.

"If you fucking move an inch, I'll slice this kid's throat! I'll fucking do it!" Hatty shouted. Haruto squeezed his eyes shut. Just because Calli pulled a blade on him before didn't mean he wasn't scared of blades.

The next thing Haruto heard was a loud crash and the sounds of bones crunching. When he didn't feel the blade on his neck, he opened his eyes.

"It's okay. You're safe now," A short woman with short, white hair and a halo. She wore white and blue clothing but she had a black and gold suit jacket over her clothes.

"Third Chairman!" Nik exclaimed.

"Untie the kid," The woman demanded.

"Yes ma'am!" Nik ran around the chair and started to untie Haruto.

"My name is Amane Kanata. I've heard a lot about you, Haruto," The woman introduced herself.

"Thank you for saving me," as soon as Haruto was untied, he wiped the blood from his nose.

"It's no problem," Kanata smiled at Haruto before looking down, "I'm sorry this happened. Ever since C- the old chairman retired, people started to think they can go around committing crimes without regulation."

Haruto didn't exactly didn't know what to say. He didn't understand why Kanata would be responsible for crimes being unregulated, but it was probably some grown-up talk that Haruto wasn't old enough to know about. Thankfully, he was saved by the loud sound of the doors opening.

"Haruto!" Kiara shouted. Kiara and Calli bolted over to the three before screeching to a halt as they noticed Kanata, Nik, and the two unconscious men.

"Mind explaining why Haruto is hanging out with the yakuza?" Kiara growled.

"As much as I wanted Haruto to meet you, Kanata, I don't think you should be involving the Kiryu family," Calli added.

"Mama! Papa!" Haruto ran from the chair to embrace his parents.

"Oh, you poor baby. What did they do to you?" Kiara hugged the small child back.

"Some idiots thought they could ransom your son out," Nik explained.

"I sent out an order for anyone who sees Haruto to protect him, but I guess that didn't work out too well," Kanata pinched the bridge of her nose, "I'll be sure to give those two idiots a stern talking to. They spend too much time hanging out in alleyways and not enough time doing their damn jobs."

"Well thank you for protecting him…" Kiara looked at Haruto's battered face, "To the best of your abilities."

"Hey! He was like that before I got here!" Nik protested.

"Yeah, yeah," Kiara waved the man off.

"Mama, can we go home?" Haruto asked.

"Of course," Kiara smiled softly at her child, "You were so brave. Mama is proud of you."

"We'll make sure this doesn't happen again," Kanata crossed her arms.

"Allow me to join you," Calli growled.

"Are you sure?" Kanata asked.

"I guess you can say your boy has a bone to pick," Calli replied.

"Stay safe, Calli. I'll take Haruto home," Kiara pecked Calli on the cheek.

"Y-yeah," Calli's face flushed as she walked over to Kanata's side.

"Bye papa…" Haruto waved Calli goodbye.

"Bye kid," Calli waved back before Nik, Calli, and Kanata vanished in a haze of black mist.

"Now, let's get you home," Kiara said. With a brilliant burst of orange, a pair of flaming wings sprouted from Kiara's back. Kiara bent her knees before soaring into the air with Haruto, crashing through the ceiling.

-

In an undisclosed location, a mysterious pink gem started to crack.