The Voice of Japan

*9*

There were multiple words he could think of to describe his mindset at that moment. Dread. Worry. Anger. And yet, the biggest thing he was doing was praying. Praying that the sight of the women was just a coincidence and that they weren't here. That his Harper wasn't in trouble or hurt. He knew she had to be afraid of what was going on and what was around them, so it was why he was flying down the hall with Feliciano as they searched for the others.

"Where are they?" Feli asked him.

"I don't know." he replied, "Somewhere here."

"Think Vlad will be ok?"

"He should. We cared for his wound as best as we could."

Shouts echoed the last door as they met the end of the corridor. He nearly sprinted to the wooden piece as it got louder and language fouler. They were all in there. Throwing the door open, Kiku saw the others as they were all fighting with their wives. Demanding to know why they were here in the first place. Through the confusion and fighting, he looked around the room, hoping to see here. To hell with fighting or being angry with her, all he wanted to do was hold her close and know she was alright.

But as he searched, there was no sight of her. Nothing. He felt his heart race as he tried to figure out where she was. The fighting was nothing more of a nuisance as it grew louder within the room. The guys shouted over the girls as the girls spat back their own reasoning.

"Everyone please." he tried to speak over them.

No matter how many times he tried to gain their attention, he was overthrown with their arguments. Even Feliciano was being ignored.

"Hey guys, it's serious." he heard Feli say, "It's about-"

"Not now Feliciano!" Ludwig shouted at him.

Watching Feli flinch at his words as he tried to help Kiku was all it took to take his anger to the limit.

"ENOUGH!"

That silenced the room. He stood there panting as his fist shook, he was shocked that he even shouted like he did.

Finally, he sighed, "Where is Harper?"

The girls looked at him, then to Nora. Question was on the girl's face as she looked at him.

"She was with you. You shouted for her and she went running over to you. You guys left out that side door as everyone fled the ballroom."

"With me?" panic slowly filled him.

"No. Kiku and I were over taking care of Vlad as everyone fled the place. We didn't have Harper at all." Feli replied.

The air went still and stiff as the words sunk into the situation.

"She's not with you?" Amber questioned.

All he could do was shake his head as the guys gathered around and started to make plans about how to get her and what action to take first. He on the other hand was sinking deeper and deeper into his mind as the fear began to overwhelm him. All he could envision was Nora and-

"Chto ty skryvayesh', Ivan?" Lily demanded.

"Nichego."

"Don't lie to me. You and Alexei have that same damn face, so tell me."

"What is going on?" Brie asked.

"Explain the forty-eight hours Ivan, if not you, all of you men. For you all are hiding something." Lily pushed at them.

"Forty-eight hours? You mean like finding her? Hell, it took nearly five months to find Nora. I mean I understand the rush, believe me I do. I want Harper back safe sooner than later but it's been done before. So why the-"