A Little Twist

Seventy-Four

No! You didn't! Risa, Daiki? I wouldn't leave like that. Not without saying anything or leaving a note. Don't believe a word, Risa! Shu hangs his head to hide his face. 'If I find out you harm them in any way, I will hunt you down and kill you.' 

Laughing sounds. 'Oh my, did I touch a nerve? Your voice is cracking up. We got him now, Neesan.' 

'Stop taunting him.' Carla goes to the door. 'If you or anyone else doesn't find the real killer, you'll be staying here with us longer.' 

'Should I get us some insurance? Like, that lovely girl Risa? Or should I go pick up that little boy? That should break you for real.' Shin is being dragged by his brother. 

'Keep it up, and I will lose my last family relative.' 

Moping, Shin follows his brother. 

*** 

Ruki drops to the chair. 

'You do know that we're talking about one of his sons, right?' Kou heard about the phone call. 'Chances are that he knows about it. And what can we do? Whether he left or not, we don't have much to do with it.' 

He turns to his friend. 'I had Risa on the phone and not someone else.' How can I refuse her after everything I did? Things could be different if I do help her. 

'Just think about it. Yes, he has fans at school but none of them could take him away. They are not that strong. Does he have enemies? Also yes, he's the son of a diplomat in the human world, but again, they won't be strong enough to subdue a pureblood vampire,' continues Kou. 'They should consider searching the demon world. No one here in the human world can take him by force, seduce him away from Risa, or anything like that. The demon world is a different story. There he's the son of the demon king, who also happens to be the vampire king. That creates another type of enemies, but even they wouldn't want to cross Shu or the king.' 

'That's asking for trouble.' Yuma hears them talk. 'Only we were at odds a few times. But we'd never go and create real trouble.' 

'He's right.' Azusa teleports inside the room. 

Ruki leans with his head on his fist and his elbow on the armrest. 'Well, the man has been missing for almost a day. We saw him at school close to his homeroom, but he disappeared after it. I don't want to give Risa bad news, I had her on the phone.' 

'Then what do you want to tell her? Or how long before we're giving up the search? We can't go to the demon world, and that's where he's most likely to be held. The real question is by whom?' Kou stares at the ceiling. Who else do we know? 

'Could it be those two morons? You know that One-Eye, who always talks us down because he despises us. He doesn't hide his hatred for us.' Yuma suggests. 

Kou knows his eye flickers between red and blue. 'That is a possibility, but it also means that searching the human world is not needed. If those two are involved then they are in the demon world for sure, and we can't go there.' 

'If you want... I could tell... her the news,' offers Azusa. 'They won't... get mad... at me.' 

'That's one thing for sure,' knows Kou and he turns his head. 'That's the best option we've got. Let him go.' 

Ruki turns his eyes to Azusa. 'Try to talk a little faster. Risa is already worried and the baby could be crying because of it.' Daiki cried easily when they were here. Yes, and I was so stupid to throw them both in the basement. Never again. 

'I'll try,' promises Azusa before teleporting to the other house. 

*** 

It's hard to see her like this. Haruna comforts Daiki with her eyes on Risa, who sits on the window sill. Where she's been ever since Reiji left the room. 'Risa, come on, he can feel you being worried and anxious. That or he's missing his father too.' She puts the baby in his crib. 'I'm just a good friend, sweetheart, but I can't take your father's place or your mother's.'