Enchanted by Illusions

"Are you positive? Absolutely positive?" Iyuki asked for what had to be the twelfth time he knew. It was probably annoying, but he wanted to be absolutely sure that Miyako's answer had not changed.

Birthday shopping for the quiet dearest of his was quite a pain, he had one small bag and that was it. A travesty!

Miyako had been taken along to help her, Otouto having had no interest in this and the woman was also his dearest's friend. Her birthday was swiftly approaching and he needed something, some things really and he had hoped that Miyako might have some ideas and provide help. But both had been somewhat stumped... So far some rare chocolates had been acquired on his part but not much else.

"I am sure. I didn't see anything or hear anything about what she'd really want for her birthday!" Miyako sighed, reaching over to poke Yuki-nii's anxious side with a small grin. She wasn't too annoyed, it was adorable how much the man cared for Muika. She couldn't help but be pleased with it.

At least Miyako had found a few small things and gotten ideas for her gift, but right now it was helping Iyuki time! And coordinating things time! They were just window shopping at the moment but that was fine with her. "I didn't even get to take her to anywhere with rings or jewelry yet, so don't even ask again. I have no idea what she'd like..."

Cutting off that question with a long suffering but amused sigh, she grinned up at Iyuki and then glanced around again. "Maybe we should just settle for lots of sweets. Lots of rare sweets... Maybe get a new recipe book and try some stuff out? I called dibs on the cat sweater so don't steal!"

Iyuki's sigh matched Miyako's, sighing strongly as she repeated her response. Nothing... There was nothing... Muika had seemed so easy to look for before, but now there was not much he could give her! And saying that he would give her himself or something tacky such as a do anything card was below him!

He puffed out a breath of indignation as Miyako poked him though, about to reply and retort to her actions but stopped as her words caused deflation. "...I suppose there is no help for it. You will get this information though? Yes?"

They had been gone since mid morning and it was going on noon now, though he was beating himself up for not calling such things on the sweater himself. "Yes yes, that is fine. I shall find something better, such as what you suggested! I am sure there are sweets she would love to try. She might prefer a combination of homemade items and bought things as well..."

It bore thinking on. However... The man did not seem to notice their tail, normally someone who was alert and aware, the previous weeks had lulled him into a sense of security. That and shopping for presents had him utterly distracted. The man did not notice the people following them at all...

"I will I promise. It'll make her happy too, I'll do my best okay Yuki-nii?" Miyako almost was insulted that he didn't trust her and she stuck her tongue out but wasn't truly upset. He was worried, understandably. The man seemed like such a control freak in some ways and having the perfect items for Muika for many things would make him happy.

"Haha, better... Well here, I know a few smaller shops nearby. We've been sticking to the main road so that'd give you more ideas. There's a little bakery nearby to get ideas from, we can get some snacks and think on it?" Lunch was soon and she was starving... Maybe hinting would help? Miyako obviously knew nothing of the tails, she was far too trusting and happy to notice them at all.

"Thank you Miya." Iyuki gave a firm nod and followed the young woman, accepting that she would do her best and also accepting her superior knowledge of the area. "Well then, I suppose we shall allow you to take over as guide this time. A bakery you say? It is always good to get new ideas... I suppose this can not be too problematic of a stop."

He was teasing her softly, knowing the baby otter would need to fill her stomach too. He had accounted for such things, hence why it was supposed to be an all day outting. Muika had been informed he would be gone and unable to talk to her, knowing if he kept his phone on he would be tempted to talk quite a bit to her.

The crowds that had filled the main stretch were absent here and Iyuki sighed in relief, smiling down at Miyako as he was about to speak. Something...Something sharp was jabbed into his neck though and he heard an odd sound. "H-Huh!?"

His blue eyes widening, he attempted to turn but felt woozy for some reason and his vision was blurring. "M-Miya...ko... Where..."

What...? Was that... a van? Where... had it come from... He stumbled, feeling arms catch him as he dropped the bag of candies... unable to move or even speak now... There were odd voices around him... Who?

Miyako waved her hand at Iyuki, rolling her eyes. "Ahahaha, you won't be saying that when you see your wallet~ I'll eat you out of everything nii-san just for that mean teasing!"

She and Iyuki got along well, poking back and forth much like siblings now that she had forgiven him and she led him along the side street that was a bit more rundown. The bakery was nice though and was a bit ahead despite the closed buildings around it.

Hearing Iyuki stumble though, Miyako turned with a small grin and was about to tease him when she saw several people holding him as he called her name. She stumbled back in surprise, attempting to scream before her instinct to flee kicked in. "What the... IYU-"

A hand clamped over her mouth, a strong arm wrapping around her waist and holding her to them before she too felt the sharp jab in her neck. Her small struggles were useless as she quickly fell under the drug, her last image the sight of Iyuki being hauled into an unmarked van...

Iyuki woke up...floating. He was floating... Where was he? There was no sound really, it was all muffled... Muffled voices, muffled sounds. He felt odd, weightless and just out of sorts. His hands wouldn't obey him, he couldn't open his eyes and he just felt nothing really.

There was a sharp pain in his arm but it quickly faded as some heat ran up from that sharp point. He let out a cry but even that was muffled as he struggled briefly to escape the pain. What... Where was he? His brief stint of wakefulness was quickly dowsed as he fell back under for now. What was going on!?

Miyako had woken up long before Iyuki... Unfortunately for her. Wearing only a hospital gown, she was shaking with more than just cold. Fear, pure and utter terror...

She had awoken on a bed, strapped down and with a pounding headache from whatever had knocked her out... A sharp pain in her neck from the entry point of the needle (she had quickly realized) and a few scary looking doctors staring down at her with just awful awful curiosity.

Before she could get her bearings, she was bombarded with questions. Questions about her powers, questions about Iyuki's powers, questions about Muika and Hibiki...

Though they called them numbers. They...they were not nice people... If she had been slow they had done some sort of weird shock to her foot or other body parts. It had continued for some time before they released her only partially. She was then chained for all intents and purposes to the most cruel of the doctors... A man with terrifying eyes. He hadn't said anything, only zapped her the most when she hadn't responded quick enough.

For now she was sitting on a table, chained to it while shaking and terrified. She was in the Bell's viper... She knew that now... And she watched the man adjust settings on the large tube holding the naked Iyuki floating in it. "Hibiki..."

She whispered that softly in hopes he couldn't hear, curling in on herself as the Doctor turned his cruel eyes back on her with a rather evil grin... "Now, how about you show me a bit of those things you can do? Don't think about tricking me or trying to harm me, if I get hurt the young man's tank is set to kill him. Painfully."

His voice was just as cold as the rest of him and she just whimpered and nodded as she was tossed her bracelet... Not Iyuki... She wouldn't let him get hurt... Hibiki...Muika... please hurry...

Late...it was getting late.

She couldn't contact Iyuki, his damn phone was off as he'd said. She regretted she'd agreed to that. After the bubbles, she'd perhaps been more attached that usual...but it wasn't like either minded.

Iyuki worried about her, and she worried about him.

She was concerned about Miyako as well... She wasn't...answering either...

Miyako was supposed to have her phone on, but no matter what she got no answer. Th...That was the agreement though, Iyuki would keep his phone off to avoid talking, but Miyako would have her's on...

No answer...

It was getting dark, most shopping places would be closing soon and neither were typically ones to stay out this late.

Muika attempted to keep her concern down despite the time, thinking those two were probably having fun shopping...and they typically didn't have much of a chance other than work to spend time together to bond...

Still...

Muika released a sigh, her fingers poking aimlessly at her feet as she sat curled up on the couch, her knees hiding the lower half of her face as she sat in the quiet room.


Muika was jolted awake by the sound of a ringtone, quickly realizing it was her phone she reached for it and answered immediately.

"Okura?"

Hi...Hibiki...?

"Miyako there?"

"...No."

There was silence for a bit after, which only added to her concern. Why had Hibiki called, and why...why was he asking if Miyako was here.

"She's not with you...?" She questioned, her tone cautious.

"Tch, I wouldn't be asking you if she was, dumbass."

"Then are they still shopping...?" Muika ignored the insult, that being the least of her concerns right now.

"Dunno, neither's answering their damn phones..."

"Iyuki's is off."

"Fucking pefect..." A sigh followed, a heavy one; "So you haven't talked with them?"

"Nuh-uh..."

"..."

A voice sounded. He was no longer floating, at least physically...

"The tube isn't well tested, he needs to rest outside of it for a bit. This is the perfect opportunity to get blood! I wonder if there is some genetic compone-" An excited voice was rambling. A cold one cut them off though.

"Possibly. Apparently 542 and he are related. Its possible that monsters like these tend to band to together instinctively and form communities."

There was real disgust in this voice and Iyuki winced as he felt another sharp pain in his other arm.

"Oi. He's waking. Does him again, with the dosing we keep having to give to him it should be enough to kill an elephant... At least that girl is here, if he gets too sick she can fix it."

"Y-Yes sir! Aha this is fascinating..."

Iyuki fell back under again as the burning pain shot up his arm, but there were things holding him down and he floundered again.

--------

"Pick up pick up pick up..." Takuya was in a panic, unable to get ahold of Iyuki and freaking out as he ran for the pairs apartment. The cab he had stopped early as there was a slight traffic jam on the street closest to their place. He dove over a bench, the twentieth call not going through...

Iyuki was unreachable. Himeko had collapsed earlier in the day, screaming bloody murder about something. She had finally woken up in the hospital, screaming about Miyako and Iyuki.

Takuya had been trying to contact the young man all day and at that news from his father he had freaked and headed towards them. Fujio would contact Hibiki, he would deal with the other... Though Muika's number hadn't been gotten by him.

Instead he reached the building, breathing heavy as he tore up the stairs and tossed the door open. "M-Muika they are gone. Someone... Something has em. Mom's freaking out. Collapsed. Gone. They are... danger lots of danger... Might die..."

He fell to his side, almost wheezing and not caring about what he looked like half out of the doorway like this.

Hibiki would be receiving a similar call at this moment...

How much more blood were they taking? Miyako didn't think she had any left right now... After a few hours of testing by that sadistic man, she had been fed quite a bit before they began pulling blood from her.

She laid on the bed, strapped down as the latest vial was taken by a doctor she hadn't seen before... Who was this one again? None of them introduced themselves except for that excited one who bowed and thanked her...

She had been captured by the bells viper. Bruises covered her from the evil doctors actions, let along the blood they continued to take. Samples collected from her... Even a large chunk of her hair chopped off. She... there was more..she wasn't thinking of it though. Iyuki was fine... Iyuki had to be fine. She hadn't seen him since that tank in that room. They'd keep him alive right? He was a valuable specimen too? And good to keep her docile... Not that she could do too much, woozy from the blood loss at this point.

Hopefully this was her last...last... Oh...no the cold one was back again and smiling... Miyako whimpered and closed her eyes.

"Time for more testing. Lets see how well you can make those rainclouds again, shall we?"

The two had hung up, Hibiki saying he'd attempt to call Miyako more before calling her back. She had no way of contacting Iyuki since his phone was off, so Hibiki had just told her to wait.

How the hell was she just supposed to do that when neither were picking up!?

Muika was drowning in her concerns when the door was promptly swung open, causing a shriek from her as she expertedly leapt back from her seated position on the couch and onto her feet, her weapon instinctively drawn as she saw...

T-Takuya!?

G...Gone... What the hell did he mean gone!? Danger!? Himeko had collapsed... b-but...but...

His words definitely hit her, and without much though she attempted to run towards the door; "I-I'll go find them, r-rest! I-I-I'll g-g-go!"

Her manner of dress didn't concern her, shorts and a sweater, as she attempted to rush out of the door, not even a single concern to her shoes as Takuya's words sunk in.

M-Might...d...

No!


What the hell!?

Wh...What the fuck was...

In danger!? Could di...

Hibiki had gotten the news, and had promptly run out of his apartment and off towards Okura's as he'd been told to do. Takuya was there and they were meant to group with him on this...

God damn it!

Going out...it was a bad idea, it'd been a stupid idea! They'd gotten too relaxed, they'd let their damn guards down! Just because the damn place was disappearing didn't mean it was gone... He knew that, but...but he hadn't expected them to...make a move like...

Gh... God damn it!

If Muika had stabbed him it would be only what he had deserved. Takuya calmed down enough to sit up, noticing the weapon formed and pointed at him before she promptly panicked. His arms held out, he stepped in front of the door way. He was breathing heavy still but he couldn't let her go out like that and worked hard to calm his breathing. "Woah woah woah woah! No. Calm ...calm down damn it. You need shoes and clothes, and a place to start looking.... Wandering around will do more harm to them!"

"We need... a plan. Hibiki...should be here soon... More heads, more doing things..." Takuya needed to word right, this was failing him. But he couldn't, it was his little brother in danger and he was panicking just as much. As his dead run to the apartment had shown. "All the help we can get. Immediately."

Immediate help, yes that was a good plan. Keep Muika a bit calmer and thinking and see if there is some sort of Calvary they can call in.

Muika nearly crashed into the man as she was promptly blocked from leaving, and it was obvious by her finnicky movements and shaking she was seeking an opening, even as the man spoke.

Her eyes were rather vacant of anything other than panic.

Calm... Calm wasn't something she could be! After hearing that!? She wasn't going to calm down!

Takuya's words had sent her into breakdown mode, action... She could... She could try to... She'd find... She'd...

She could...

What the hell did clothes and shoes matter!? It was a waste of time!

"I'm dressed enough!" She... Why... She couldn't just...just sit here and wait! She couldn't!

"Oi!" A deep voice came from behind Takuya, a bit distance until it hit the top of the stairs. "The fuck's going on!?"

Hibiki wasn't one for politeness...more so than Muika when it came to language.

Takuya used his greater bulk and Muika's thoughtless panicking to his advantage, keeping her from bolting out of the door for now after she had crashed into him. He was all set to fight her on this, shaking his head. "Shoes. Shoes now! Socks even. Blisters are going to slow you down more and you are wasting time fighting me."

A voice from behind startled him but he called over his shoulder almost immediately. People like his family were used to dealing with stress and pressure so even his panic wasn't overwhelming him. "Like I know! Muika's panicking, she doesn't even have shoes on. I'm panicking. Mom collapsed from how fucking awful it was around noon. Get in here and help me get something on her, she's gonna hurt herself and then we'd never find the pair of em. I don't even know where they went or WHO has em, but I'll bet money on your damned friends there."

Friends there left no doubt who he thought it was, his tone telling them all. Bell's Viper...

Yeah, he could see her...

Hibiki noticed the woman just scanning for an opening to appear, luckily his appearance had somewhat stunned her for a short second as well but now she was back to lying in wait.

"Gh..."

Muika didn't care about blisters, she could take pain! She could handle much worse than a few damn blisters on her feet!

She'd be fi-gh!?

Hibiki, having given a small noise to Takuya as a slight warning, had maneuvered himself quickly past Takuya and into Muika, using her panicked state as an advantage the grab and toss her back.

Damn it, she was out of her damn mind!

Takuya's words though caused him to wince; friends... Yeah, yeah, he got it...

While he knew Takuya probably didn't mean for that to entail guilt, it did. Hibiki had figured...but hearing it stated...

Gh...God damn it! God damn it, this was all...

Shi-Okura!

With a frustrated noise from Hibiki as Muika attempted to get up, Hibiki drew his own gun, pointing it at her to promptly keep her in place.

"Get in, shut the door." He didn't look back towards Takuya as he said this, needing to keep his eye on Okura or else he knew she'd attempt to bolt.

Takuya moved just as Hibiki wanted, allowing the man to knock her away and give him breathing room. He promptly shut the door, ignoring the wince as it didn't matter whether the pair felt guilty or not. Both of them were to blame but it wasn't like they were at fault really.

Takuya didn't blame them at least. He just stared at the panicking Muika with a gun held to her head and the Hibiki standing there keeping her in place. "If its them, we have an idea of where they are being held. But if its some other group... No fucking idea. With those damned bubbles, governments and shit are getting way more active. However its really doubtful they'd know and capture those two this quick."

"Plans? Ideas? Muika get fucking dressed and shoes on, or else you can't do shit to help them. The more you're hurt the more you weaken and the more Iyuki will freak when you save him. They've been gone since noon, thats when Mom collapsed but we don't know much else. She finally woke up but she's barely coherent. Besides she wouldn't know where they are anyways." Takuya had lost all his polish, swearing just as much as Hibiki as he spoke. He'd contacted as many people as he could on the way, Selena among them but he hadn't gotten anything back just yet.

Hibiki doubted it was the government, they were getting more active yeah...but there was no reason to target those two specifically.

"Bell's Viper makes the most logical sense... Governments are active, yeah, but there's no reason to target those two specifically. It was the two of them, the two with connections to the two of us.

We have targets on our heads because we ran, they'd attack weak spots. Them..."

A frustrated noise followed Hibiki's words; "Gh...God damn it...Gh...I knew they were still around, but I didn't think they'd actually have the balls to make a move with how much they've been whittled down..."

Fuck, fuck...fuck...

With Takuya's demands to go get dressed, Hibiki gestured the gun at Muika, causing a stronger glare but she back off. He only lowered the weapon once she'd headed to the bedroom the get dressed as ordered...not without slamming the damn door though.

"Fuck..." Plans... Plans... "I don't know about plans, but we can't just barge in. They're smarter than that...gotta catch 'em by surprise...

Smoke bombs...you can make 'em easily out of household shit, could make one for a surprise entrance..." He was listing off suggestions, though unsure if they were some that should be accounted for or not.

As Muika stalked off much like an irritated cat, Takuya turned to Hibiki at the door slamming and nodded. "Yeah, those two are your easiest weaknesses and those two together alone like that might have been too much for them to pass up."

"I contacted tons of people before I got here. No responses yet, but you're right. Barging in might just end up with the pair dead. And yeah, same. I wasn't worried too much since you two are seriously powerful now and even they have to know it. We backed them into a corner though, they know their time is up and are desperate. Fucking hell we should have seen that!" Takuya looked exhausted now that Muika was busy elsewhere, having sensed that showing weakness would have allowed her an opening to exploit.

"Make the smoke bombs if you can, I don't know how much good they'll do but I can handle the clean up. Muika's powers could help too... Know anyone of use at this shit? I'm all out of ideas. I even contacted Selena but she hasn't responded." He kept one eye on the door, listening just in case Muika attempted to leave out of the the window. "Make a mess, a large mess. Don't worry about consequences, it'll be brushed under the rug with no problems."

The smile Takuya gave Hibiki was that of a large wolf whose pack was threatened. A grin that showed the darker sides of that family and their reach.

"Let our damn guards down..." Hibiki's tone was angry, though it'd been angry this entire time.

They'd let their damn guards down and they'd struck; the two of them alone together...gh, they would have never gotten a better God damn chance!

"Ah.." He'd make the smoke bombs then, he returned his gun to it's natural form, not wanting to waste the energy until he needed it.

He'd make the smoke bombs, Takuya would sweet everything under the rug...

"Trust me, you'll have a lot of clean up with Okura how she is, can't promise I'll come out clean myself..."

He'd just kill and be done with it, but...

His eyes glanced towards the bedroom door before he let out a huff, heading for the kitchen to look for everything he'd need. He'd make 'em in the bathroom...

"They have medical shit in the bathroom, want it?" They might have helpful things in there, and if Takuya thought it best to take it then they would.

The door opened shortly after that statement, the bedroom door as Muika stepped out; she was quiet...a lot quieter than she had been back when the initial panic had hit.

Under her normal clothes, somewhat visible, was the bodysuit she'd had made from Mia.

Turning from the kitchen, his arms holding everything he'd need, Hibiki's eyes narrowed at the sight of her. Perhaps her panicking was better...

She was too quiet...he knew that air about her too well...

Takuya just nodded, he knew they had done the stupidest thing and were paying for it now. Iyuki and Miyako were trapped with those fuckers and that was the hopeful part. If it was them then they could be found at least.

With a bit of nonchalance, the man shrugged that wolfish smile there. "A family like ours doesn't exactly smell like roses all the time. Don't worry your pretty little killing heads about it. We can cover scandal and have you two coming out squeaky clean. We've done it for others before when it was needed. Why not our own?"

Things like this they didn't exactly approve of in the first place...Even if this sort of thing happened rarely and would probably end up cashing in a few favors that could have been used elsewhere... This sort of thing needed a rather firm putting down. "Yeah, grab anything you think might help. I'm not good at that shit to be honest and I can't follow you too far either if I'm to help. Not really a fighter. I can get who you need there though, so just give me information and I'll be off. If Selena contacts me back I'll let her know too. She might be able to help more with all this spiritual shit.'

He felt useless, all he was good for was coordinating and getting the things they'd need... He looked at Muika and nodded. "Better. Kill them all. I don't care."

His little brother was in danger, they deserved death. They deserved the worst this wildcat could give them.

"Ah, I'll grab it..." They'd been damn stupid...Gh, damn it, damn it, damn it...

They didn't need to worry about the mess, good; they could get in there, paint the walls with blood, find the two, and get the fuck out. That was the best case scenario and they need to remain as positive as they could manage.

They shouldn't of... He should have gone with them... God damn it!

Another frustrated noise escaped before he headed to the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.

Muika was standing there, close to the wall as Takuya and Hibiki spoke; hearing herself being addressed, her head moved slightly though she wasn't looking at Takuya as he spoke.

"I will." Her voice was empty, almost as if answering an order rather than a suggestion.

They'd all die, every last one of them... She wouldn't be satisfied until they all were... She wanted to see the light leave their eyes, especially the one that coordinated this...

Them... Oh, they'd get special treatment...

Takuya had to admit he preferred the other Muika, but this one was much more useful of a weapon and that's what they needed right now. Deadly weapons.

He liked these two but it was his baby brother in there. He loved him... He nodded to Muika. She'd accepted his words as an order? Good.

Between the two he felt secure leaving Iyuki in their hands. The other girl was cute and all... But he was his blood. He hoped she made it out. It seemed Muika was taking some sorts of orders from him so... he hoped this would pierce her brain. "He knows the way. Follow him when he's ready, he'll know how to keep those two from getting killed. Maybe it'd be best to send you in and start a bloodbath as s distraction while he sneaks in... Don't know, not the best at this. Still... Don't let em die."

He felt Muika would toss Hibiki and Miyako under the bus if allowed or her hand was forced... but he hoped she listened. "HEY I'm heading out. I need to get shit done. You'll be fine without me."

Takuya knew Hibiki could hear him and he moved to the door, it was time for him to do his part. Starting with turning neighbors prying eyes away from the interesting events soon to happen...

Muika gave a small nod, signifying she was listening as Takuya explained what needed to be done. She wanted to get them out just as badly as they did, all of them... Cause a bloodbath? That wouldn't be hard...

It'd been hard before...she'd thought she'd lost the strength to do so...

This was...different.

They'd captured the two to get to her and Hibiki...that was just playing dirty.... Not that she played clean either though...

Her hand had been hidden behind her back, her blade was still materialized, though it was mostly hidden by the sleeve of her sweater.

"Mm." Takuya was heading out, that was fine; they'd find their way there...

It was a bit longer until Hibiki came out of the bathroom, letting out a large breath.

He didn't really care about getting a finger shaken at him for going through their shit, he doubted they'd mind. He'd gathered the medical supplies they might end up needing, having shoved them into the pockets of his coat.

"Let's go." He gave another huff as he passed Muika, who silently turned to follow shortly after Hibiki had passed her.

The day crew of scientists had been the sane ones. The night crew... Miyako wished she was there again, with those ones. At least those people had wanted to study here. It seemed more and more like these ones wanted to dissect her.

And with her healing powers... well they put it to good use. Even half drugged as Iyuki was he could probably feel the horrible cuts they made on him and forced her to heal. They had her attached to an IV tube, giving her vital nutrients and high density food sources as well. She needed the energy to use her powers... They had learned that in the many times since she had been forced to do things. She'd lost count.

Miyako had lost count of how long it'd been... Had she been here days? Weeks?

However that awful cold voice chimed in as she finished sealing up the wound on Iyuki's leg with a choked sob. "Ah now that is interesting. We should start testing on whether it works on you now. Healing yourself that is, we have enough relevant data from him now."

Hands grabbed her as she tried to scream, eyes wide with fear as she was drug off...