I stirred awake encased in Gio's arms. Night had fallen, casting the room in a darkness assuaged only by the faint moonbeam shining through the floor-to-ceiling windows. A moment after, there was a muffled thump on the bed, and a feline silhouette laze around my vision. Korn snuggled somewhere my torso and purred. I laid my hand on his velvet fur and ruffled it as he arched his soft body and glided into my touch.

"Hey there, buddy. You loving it here?" I whispered, not wanting to disturb Gio's sleep. Korn just purred in response.

Careful not to wake Gio up,  I carefully wriggled out of his grasp but he stirred and tightened his hold of me some more.  He then mumbled something that I didn't quite understand.  

I guess I'm trapped here then. 

I snuggled closer, hugging Korn into me more, and my head partially resting on Gio's shoulders. The stillness of the room was broken only by the steady rise and fall of his chest accompanied by his rhythmic heartbeat and Korn's purr.

At least, tonight, I would allow myself to enjoy this peace, ignore that nervous dread that seemed to accompany my every heartbeat. Dwelling on it too long felt like being submerged in water. Suffocating.

I snuggled closer and breathed Gio's scent, where I was safe. A calm before the storm.  

I shifted, and couldn't help but stare at Gio's boyish face as he slept. His face had not changed much. His bone structure was more prominent, but over all, he still bore striking resemblance to the thirteen year-old boy I played with all those years ago.  I smiled when I realized his hairstyle did not even change.

Now that I got my memories back,  it baffled me that Ran would end up as Gio's bitter enemy. As a child he was aloof but he was not cruel or evil. He played with us. He and Quin seemed to bond over the more nerdy stuff.  Was his change related to the family feud within the Lee family? I made a mental note to research more about the Lee family after this was over.  

Speaking of the Lee family, I had not met any of them during my entire stay here. There was never a visit from a family member. Or a phone call. Gio never talked about them either. Damn.  Just how deep does this family feud go? 

I glanced at the wall clock at the wall. It was already past midnight. Almost twenty-four hours from the bombing of Ran's building. If he was as smart as he claimed, he should have ordered a sweep of his other buildings by now and found the other devices I planted.

Mixed feelings of anticipation and sheer nervousness took residence inside my chest again.  I snuggled closer to Gio for comfort.  

So close now.  I'm so close to finding him. 

"What's the matter, Nyan?" Gio sleepy drawled. I looked up at his hooded eyes.  

"Nothing." 

Gio held me closer and shut his eyes again, the crook of his neck cradling my head. "It's not nothing. You're fidgeting."

He knows me so well, it's unnerving. 

I gulped. "Gio, can I ask a question?" 

"Mhmm." 

"What happened to you and Ran?" 

Gio's breathing hitched. The arms encasing me tensed a little as silence stretched between us. I thought he went back to sleep, but a deep sigh escaped his throat.  

"It's a very long story, Nyan. But to cut the story short, Ran blames me for what happened to his mom."

"I remember her being sickly." 

"Mhmm. My side of the family is at odds with Ran's side of the family.  Our parents, though siblings, were bitter enemies."

"I remember reading something about the family feud." 

Gio began stroking my hair absent-mindedly. His eyes had a far-away look in them, sorrowful and haunted.  

"As you know, I am my father's bastard son. The Lee Family is very... backwards and chauvinistic. The Family Constitution would only allow a male heir to head the businesses." 

A feminist grunt of protestation involuntarily left my throat.  

"I know, Nyan. I know. I don't agree with it either. But back then, I wanted to prove something." 

"My father then was the first born male, and current head. Ran's mom was the second child. Back then, my father's only legitimate heir died under mysterious circumstances. Not wanting to relinquish control, my father took me in and taught me the business. Obviously, this didn't sit well with Aunt Joanne, who wanted Ran to have the reigns."

"What happened then?" I was genuinely intrigued. 

"My father had me go against Aunt Joanne's businesses and topple them to remove any question as to who should lead the family."

Gio released another deep breath. He paused for a while, seeming to gather how best to phrase the next part of the story.  

"I did what I was told. I bested Aunt Joanne." 

"And Ran hated you because of that?"

"No. Ran didn't care about the business. Even when I was going against his family, his attitude towards me didn't change." Then Gio paused and pondered. "Actually he doesn't care even now. The only reason he runs it is to annoy me every now and then."

"Then, what happened?" 

"There was a big altercation at a family event. That night, several men ambushed me and I fought back. I was barely lucid the entire time. I couldn't remember everything that happened. When I came to,  Aunt Joanne was a battered mess in front of me, barely breathing." 

"Oh. She...died?" 

"I don't really know. Ran and his dad kept any information about Aunt Joanne under lock and key after that. But Ran blamed me for what happened to his mom." 

"Huh." 

"Mhmm. Ran, he loves very deeply and passionately. He was the most loyal. And he loves Aunt Joanne the most."

"But he liked you too, didn't he? You're his Gi."

"He did. Even went against his parents to see me on occasions. But after what happened to Aunt Joanne, he changed drastically. Like, something in him snapped completely. He made my life in the family a living hell afterwards. Ran was beloved by the relatives and I was the illegitimate usurper, a newcomer. So you can just imagine." 

"Wow. I can't wait to meet the in-laws." I rolled my eyes. 

"Don't worry too much about them.  They speak in terms of money. After they realized that Ran isn't as business savvy, they eventually accepted me. As long as I give them their share in the profits, they don't really care who has the reigns." 

"I see. Is your father alive?" 

"No. He died a few years back." 

"Gio...is Nan alive?" 

There was silence once again that seemed to stretch uncomfortably between us. 

"No, Nyan. Nan, she was killed." 

I was so shocked I bolted upright. A disturbed Korn jumped of the bed with a huff, and disappeared under the sofa. 

"Killed? By whom?" My heart hammered inside my rib cage at the sudden news. 

Gio heaved. His obsidian eyes suddenly seemed to dull for several moments. Hurt flashed then vanished, replaced by a coldness I only had the opportunity to witness once, back when Ran still held me hostage. 

"Aunt Joanne. She had her men abduct her, Nyan. Used her as a leverage so I would back down. I wanted to. My father wouldn't let me. In the end, they killed her as I helplessly watched."

I gasp. Never in my wildest dreams had I anticipated that such a wispy woman from my memory was capable of such murder and cruelty. 

"I--I have no words." My mouth suddenly felt dry, my mind became a jumbled mess of memories upon memories with Nan--her gentle hands as she tucked me to bed; her soft voice as she told me stories to keep me occupied during those times I was home alone; the irritated look on her face whenever she saw a new injury on me. I blinked several tears away.

"Do you know? She wasn't even my biological mother. My mother, apparently, was a nameless prostitute. She delivered me in a box, put me in front of the Lee Mansion with a note.  My resemblance to my father couldn't be questioned but they didn't want to do anything with an illegitimate child. Nan, who was a helper there at that time, took me in. Eventually she left when I was still a baby because the family didn't want me there. Nan eventually went to your family." 

My eyes were brimming with tears at this point. My Nan. My beautiful, wonderful Nan. Killed mercilessly. Caught in a crossfire. Like her life didn't matter at all. 

I laid down again and sniffed. Gio's arms tightened around me. "I'm sorry,  Nyan."

"Was Ran involved?" If he was involved, I was determined to tear that little dork maggot to pieces with my bare hands, childhood playmates or not. 

"No. He only went ballistic after Aunt Joanne got hurt. He thought that I was avenging Nan. He was convinced of it. No explanation from me would pacify him."

"Oh." 

"I'm sorry, Nyan. I couldn't save her." 

I wasn't really expecting Nan to be alive after all these years. She was already sickly even before that fateful night happened. But to learn that she was killed like that. My gentle Nan. I felt like something pierced my heart again and again. The tremendous ache constricted my lungs.

"I'm sorry you have to find out this way." Gio stroked my hair.

"It isn't your fault. I did ask about it." I buried my head on Gio's neck, striving to get my emotions in order. I had to maintain a clear head from this point onward. I must not lose sight of my goal. It took a while but finally,  my emotions subsided, buried deep. 

One of these days, I would grieve and break down for my Nan.

I kept my mouth shut after that. So did Gio. Both of us trapped within our minds.  

The first glimmer of sunrise reached our bedroom. I turned towards the light and was greeted by the tempered magnificence of the young morning, different shades of indigo claiming the sky to herald the new day.

"It's morning," I whispered.  

"Mhmm," Gio mumbled. 

After a moment, I felt Gio's hand glide across my body under the sheet. 

"Enough," I chuckled as I swatted his hand away.  "Geez." 

"It seems like you need the distraction," he said, smirking.  

"Sheesh." I got up. Covering myself with the blanket, I dragged my sore body to the bathroom. 

"Don't you dare follow!" I shouted from within the shower as I did my morning ritual. 

"Wipe that grin off your face." I huffed. I buttoned my top and adjusted the sleeves, putting my wet hair up in a bun to get it out of the way. Gio's grin just widened some more as he dried off his damp hair with a towel. 

"What? It saved us time." Gio winked and managed to look naughty and adorable at the same time.  

"Saved time, my ass. If you've just left me alone, I would have finished in fifteen minutes. Now, look at the time. Geez." I averted my gaze from him and concentrated on getting dressed. The sun had completely risen, bathing the room with morning light. 

"It's not like we are in a hurry, Nyan." 

Another grunt. "Where are we going anyway?" I looked at him pointedly, still trying to hold on to my indignation. 

"It's a secret." He went to me and let my hair fall. He then proceeded to brush it as I adjusted my clothes some more. After a while, Gio put the brush down the dresser. Then he hugged me from behind, his head resting on top of mine. 

"I'm very happy, Nyan." 

Something in my heart made a leap and fluttered. 

"I am too," I answered back. And I meant it. Genuinely. I had not felt this happy and peaceful in a long while. The silent contentment of gentle moments removed from the passage of time.

A gentle puff escaped my own lips. "We should go." 

"Uh huh." But Gio remained unmoving. 

"We should move before the morning rush hour," I said after it became apparent that Gio had no plans to leave anytime soon. 

"Fine." Gio sighed and let me go. "I really want to show you something anyway."

An hour and another mad driving later,  I was standing before Master's old shack. It was different though.  Instead of the rotting beams, hole-riddled roof, and make-shift walls, I was greeted by a quaint cabin, with finished wood and balustrade, and screened sliding doors and windows. The surrounding ground was covered in grass instead of the usual dirt, and all around, flowering shrubs abound. Even the fence had an upgrade, and was now equipped with a working gate.

"W-What? Why? H-How?" The words slipped before I could actually process what was in front of me. 

"Your Grandpa Shao wanted you to have this." Gio handed me several documents, which I immediately perused. They were Master's written will and the deed of the land.  

"Master Shao, he...willed the land to me?" I said to no one in particular.  Gio mumbled his assent.  

I opened the will. Master's sloppy handwriting jumped from the pages:

"To Ranya Anania Nas, I will my land and any other properties I have." 

At the bottom was a postscript: 

"Reianne, the granddaughter I never had, you will always have a home here.  -Grandpa Shao"

Tears welled up again no matter how hard I tried to suppress them.  

I blinked several times in an effort to contain my emotions. I folded the piece of paper with reverence, returning it into Gio's document folder.  

"I upgraded it a bit."

"Thanks, Gio. This means so much to me." I sniffed. "He was such a great man." 

"I know. After I knew about him,  Quin wouldn't shut up about him," Gio playfully remarked. "Want to check inside? There are some personal things which the laborers gathered. You should check which to keep." 

I nodded silently, not trusting myself to speak and not burst out crying.  

The inside of the house was very homey. Gio had made it a point to preserve what it originally looked like, but upgraded the materials and furniture. I sat on the dining table, which was located at the mouth of the entrance, running my hands on the solid wood. Gone was the rickety dining table, replaced by a varnished one complete with a little floral arrangement at the center. 

A slightly elevated platform made for rooms. The one on the right was mine, while the other was Granny and Master's. Gio emerged from the latter holding a big box filled with all sorts of things. He put the box on top of the table in front of me.

"Your grandparents' clothes are still in the room. Other than that, they have these. Why don't you check these out. I have to make a phone call." 

Nodding my understanding, Gio went outside.

I rummaged through the box. It was a collection of all sorts of things--from Master's books, vials, and weapons to Granny's sewing materials, pouches, and  picture albums. I gasped in surprise when a dirty fluffy paw jutted out from under the pile. I quickly pulled it out.  

"Huh. Bunny." 

Somewhere within my head,  something clicked. 

Gio's car careened down the highway while I sat in silence, clutching Bunny tight. Gio must have felt the change in my mood, since he too became more somber. 

The sceneries of the countryside blurred past--from yawning open fields to sparsely placed houses. I had passed by this place so many times in the past, mostly with Blue-chan, but it was only now that I appreciated the calm beauty it offered.  

My eyes wandered downwards,  to where Bunny was tightly secured, its once fluffy white body now trodden by grime and dirt. It was a reminder of the night when our lives were taken away from us. How fragile the innocence of youth was and how everything can burn to the ground in a moment. 

"When is Quin coming home?" I broke the silence first.  

"She should be home anytime now. Her flight back was yesterday." 

I nodded. It would have been ideal if Quin was away as I carried out my plan. But I had to make do.  

"Gio, can we pass by Ran's Bulacan Lab? It's on the way, right?" 

Gio looked at me and nodded. "What are you planning, Nyan? What all is this about? I've been meaning to ask you, but I couldn't find the right time to ask." 

It took me a while to respond, mostly because I was still debating with myself just how much information I should tell him.

"You'll know soon enough. I'll let you listen in when I talk to Ran," I replied as I stared out the window. 

"Nyan... " Gio's tone carried with it a warning. I bit my lips. I really couldn't tell him everything just yet. It was too complicated and I didn't know how he would react. I couldn't waste time convincing him. I also couldn't risk him interfering. 

"I'm no longer going in blind, Gio. Will you trust me if I tell you I plan to come out of this alive?" 

"I don't like this, Nyan. Don't you need my help?" Gio's grip on the steering wheel tightened. His jaw was set hard. 

"I do. Just let me locate where my Dad is. Then feel free to unleash your men." 

Gio took a deep breath, but didn't say anything further. Tensed silence filled the car that I opted to avert my gaze from him and just stare blindly at the passing scenery. I knew the discussion wasn't over yet. I was merely granted a reprieve.

Eventually, Gio's car slowed down and stopped. On the other side of the street was the Bulacan Lab I visited days ago.  

"We're here. What do you want to do here?"

Surreptitiously taking an apparatus from my pocket, I pressed a button specifically designated for the Bulacan Lab.  

Nothing happened. I smirked and turned to Gio. "Can you send a message to your lovely cousin?"

That evening the Reaper sat opposite Ran. Upon my invitation, he agreed to meet with me and discuss my demands. In the background, jazz music played softly, mingling with the constant chatter of the bar. I chose an inconspicuous place for our meeting, a darker corner of a bar which contrasted with Ran's silver hair and pale countenance.  

He really did change. A lot.  

His silver eyes which used to mirror curiosity and awe now held bitter disdain. 

To be fair, I changed a lot too.  

I raised my glass filled with whiskey, swirled it and took a sip. "Do you drink, Ran? Care to order some? My treat." 

Ran's jaw hardened very slightly. He took a cigarette from his pockets and lit it. He puffed and blew smoke all over, filling the place with the scent of burnt tobacco. "Get to the point." 

"Very well. I want my Father back." 

Ran laughed so hard he almost choked on smoke. He started coughing, patting his chest as he strived to breathe normally again.  

"And I'll give him back to you because?" he tauntingly replied. 

"Why? Don't you want your studies and technology back? I kinda toasted your building after all." 

Ran's demeanor changed in an instant. At the mention of his building, the demonic aura that I witnessed during my capture enveloped his facade. It honestly gave me the chills, but I held myself and schooled my features into my best poker face. 

"I knew it was you!" he hissed. 

"Shuush." I held my fingers to my lips and smiled. "It's a secret." Then I winked at him. He sneered.  

"You'll pay for that." 

It was my turn to laugh. "You're funny, Ran. If there's someone here who owes me so fucking much,  it's you." I smiled at him. The one that doesn't quite reach the eyes. "Now, listen. If you want your studies and technology back, release my Father."

Ran snorted. "I can get my men to take you now and torture you. You'll be telling me where you've put those data in no time." 

"Well, you see. I destroyed them all." 

Ran stood up as he slammed the table. "You what?" he shouted.

"Shhh," I said, again putting my finger to my lips. The other patrons looked our way and Ran self-consciously sat down again, seething.  

"I destroyed them but they are all stored here." I tapped my temples twice. "I want a trade: Information for my Father."

"What made you think we couldn't replicate the studies? We've done it once, we can do it again." 

I snorted. "What? Can Aunt Joanne wait until you've redone everything?" 

Ran's face darkened. His pupils dilated once again to pinpricks. I repressed a shudder. 

"That's right, Ran. Gio told me everything."

For a good long while, only the raucous chatter of the bar passed between the two of us. Holding each others' disdainful glare in silent assessment, neither one of us backing down. 

Finally,  Ran relented. "Sure. He served his purpose anyway." 

He averted his gaze, seemingly deep in thought. His mild manners were back, as if we were discussing only matters of everyday business. It was more unnerving than his earlier burst of anger. 

"You have to understand though, that you will have to come to my lab to encode the data there. I'll release your Father once you've completed everything."

I took a sip of my scotch again.  

So close.  I am so close. 

"Sounds fair," I stated, matching his business-like tone. 

"We will have to inject you with a suppressant. I cannot have you wreaking havoc on my lab." 

The suppressant--RNY505. I had read about it in one of their research journals. They had developed a serum that could suppress abilities like mine and Quin, as well as an antidote for it. 

"Of course, Ran. And I want you to understand that if you harm me in any way, you can say goodbye to your life-long research forever."

I took out a needle, a special one, as it contains a lethal dosage of poison, waving it in front of Ran for emphasis. 

"I'm not afraid to die, Ran, and your research means nothing to me. I want a straightforward deal. No bullshit.  Leave my Father alone, and I'll leave you alone. No questions asked and we'll part as strangers." 

A manic gleam flashed in Ran's eyes. "Deal."

 The end is in sight. So. Very. Close. 😂

Do you have questions for any of my characters?  If you do, shoot me a message.  

Also what do you think of Rei's plans?  Do you think it will work though? 

Muahahahugs,

RF

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