[b][center]Akira Takizawa / Lucina Cobbs[/center][/b]

By now it was around 8:00PM, Akira wasn't sure how far he had driven but it took an hour to reach Luci and by now the sun had set and the two were driving down the freeway in darkness, the only light provided from the motorycycle's one headlight. The entire drive back to Chicago was in complete silence, granted it was difficult to speak whilst on the motorcycle (which relieved Akira) but even so there wasn't any form of communication, only sounds of a loud engine and roaring winds were heard. The bike wasn't designed for long distance travel and by now the gas was almost depleted. The thought of having to call somebody for a ride was unpleasant, the only person he thought would keep quiet as to why he was so far out of the city was Shuya but-

[i]Shuya![/i]

Akira cursed under his breath, he immediatley rushed to the library when Luci called him and the following events completely took his mind off of the assignment Takiko had given him. He was sure Shuya could take on two bikers but Akira hadn't spoken to anybody since he was separated with his partner, he would have to explain where he had been. The sight of a gas station illuminating the dark freeway took Akira's mind off of the Yakuza, and he quickly turned to the right lane moments before turning into the gas station itself. He was sure Luci would infer why they had stopped here. He honestly wasn't looking forward to getting off the bike, he would have to say something to Luci. Anything really, he put the girl through hell. The feeling of her arms around his waist reminded him of how guilty he should be. The whole drive he couldn't muster up an appropiate apology, anything that came out of his mouth would basically come down to "Hey, sorry for getting you kidnapped and everything!" What an asshole. He wasn't going to avoid it though, his dumbass caused this mess so he was at least going to own up to it, it wasn't even the least he could do.

Inevitably Akira came to a stop beside a gas pump and switched off the engine. Instinctively he reached for his neck, but realized halfway the one helmet he owned was on Luci, so he couldn't unstrap his helmet after switching off the engine of the motorcycle, as was procedure. The immediate silence that followed the engine turning off drove Akira mad. He sucked it up though, putting on a straight face he dismounted the motorcycle and awkwardly glanced at Luci, "We're low on gas," was all he said before turning and walking into the convenient store. Halfway towards the door he realized he didn't ask her if she wanted something, or if she was hungry, or anything. No doubt he had never felt so guilty in his life, this was probably the worst thing he had ever put somebody through. 

Well, somebody he cared about at least. 

He walked through the store almost aimlessly, trying to ignore the fact he was avoiding Luci. He grabbed a candy bar he wasn't even sure if she'd like along with a small can of tea before approaching the counter and paid with a 20$ bill. "Put the rest on uh, I think 3?" The reptilian nodded and punched in some numbers on the register. Akira sighed heavily as he walked out of the convenient store, approaching Luci. 

The girl was no longer there, she was on autopilot going through the motions. She kept a firm grip on the man's waist to not fall off the vehicle and hung her head low staring with unblinking eyes at the pavement below them. They pulled into a gas station and she let go of the man her eyes never leaving from their fixed gaze on the ground. The man's deep voice came out like hollow static to her not registering what he said in her mind to give back a response. Nothing was there but a dark void of numbness. Red. More red. Too much red. The halfling's blood all over the room and on her father's hands, the blood of the dead woman on the library floor. Her running away from [b]him[/b] and...what he did to her. Having to pretend to be a terrorist, so much violence. 

 Luci blinked a few times as her consciousness came roaring back to life, all she saw was red. It was his fault that everything fucking happened to her, all because of some dipshit money debt to some fucking Asians! Why her of all people? Why her father? How dare he put her all through that delibratly and just walk away? Not say anything or acknowledge the events that led up to them being in the middle of nowhere? All Luci wanted to do was scream. She wanted to scream at him so much and cry and beat on him, but she couldn't. Not till they drew up a contract and then sign it, then she'll slap him. 

 Her head shot up as footsteps came into her field of vision, if course it was him seeing as they only people here. She got off the bike and removed the helmet fluffing up her wind whipped hair on instinct, her face remained stoic as she spoke to him with a hard voice, "We need to hurry and get back to my appartment. I want to get that contract done as soon as fucking possible..." 

Akira stared at Luci blankly. He didn't know what kind of reaction to expect from her, considering the fact he didn't even know her, but this seemed appropiate. He was speechless for a moment, and merely held out the candy and drink. "This is for you,"

 Luci's nostrils flared as a sharp breath came out of them. Again with the avoidance. The fucking avoidance and density was getting on her nerves and intensifying her headache. She reached back around her head and felt the goose egg developing releasing a little whimper as she lowered her hands. She dug around in her purse for a moment grunting and searching with more vigor when she couldn't find what she was looking for growing her already monsterous frustration. Luci sighed when she finally found the bottle of extra strength Ibuprofen. As she opened the cap she glanced at his offering, the candy bar would of looked tempting if she wasn't afraid that she'd throw it all back up, "I hate tea." Luci mumbled as she popped three pills in her mouth, swallowing them dry. She let the helmet fall to the ground as she leaned up against a pillar, crossing her arms her steely eyes still dead on Akira. 

He couldn't find the words. Trying to ignore Luci's cold stare, Akira awkwardly placed the offering on top of the gas pump and proceeded to fill the bike with gas. It was terribly awkward but he knew he deserved any unpleasant or uncomfortable feelings. He wanted the gas to continue flowing forever, regret wasn't a strong enough word to describe how he felt. What the fuck is he doing, looking up terrorist organizations? He had even given some detective Luci's full name. He doubted they were still interested in her but who knows, the military nowadays are insane. Akira realized Luci was now a potential leak, if she were interrogated it would be the perfect lead that could do quite the amount of damage to the Yakuza. He had dealt with leaks and rats before, and it never ended in their favor. He wasn't looking at Luci but Akira turned his head further away from her, ashamed that the thought crossed his mind. 

The nozzle made a clicking noise and Akira removed it from the tank and inserted it back into the pump. He kept his hand tightly on the grip and stared at the gas prices plastered on the pump. He could see Luci in his peripheral and wasn't sure if she was still staring at him but assumed she was. He bit his lip, the whole situation was uncomfortable. "Um," he muttered before releasing his grip and turning towards her, staring at the ground beneath her. Eventually his eyes lifted and met hers, his expression was probably identical to an ashamed house pet or something. "I'm sorry," He practically forced the words out and it only made his stomach turn, after the entire drive [i]I'm sorry[/i] was all he could muster up. 

 Luci couldn't control the laughter that spewed out of her mouth at his apology. She laughed deep into her stomach and bent over trying to keep herself together, her chuckles echoing throughout the entire station, "Y-You're sorry?! HAHA Oh..my...oh my god HAHA!' She took some deep breaths and finally calmed her breathing and wiped a small tear from her cheek as her smiling face fell back into a face that could kill twice over, "How can you say that?" She whispered. "How can you FUCKING SAY THAT!!" Her voice picked up two octives instantly as she began to pace back and forth, "Oh is that all you can say since you had to drag your ass out here for some worthless girl who couldn't finish a simple job for you and got herself captured? Daddy would be very mad if you got her killed huh?"

 Luci scoffed at him, "Poor little Akira didn't get what he wanted..." She reached into her bag and pulled out the vanilla file and with a straight face walked over to him and tossed it at his chest, "Oh I got media coverage too!" She reached into her bra and let the flash drive fall to the ground, "Ya. Your not gonna believe what I had to do to get this one. Its a doozy. Some beat cop detective grabbed me and put a gun to my head, demading for me to tell him if I was a terrorist or not." 

Akira stood still and watched awkwardly as Luci released the tension. It was only a matter of time, even so he was ashamed of himself, and didn't stop her. Her shouting made his stomach turn once more and he merely looked back to the ground. This was the complete opposite of what he wanted.

 [i]I guess this is what happens when I try to do something good.[/i] 

Not for a moment did he feel like he was dragging his ass out here though, he was worried sick. His father hadn't crossed his mind until now, but he wouldn't dare correct her. Not now. Akira prepared himself when he heard Luci approaching him, he assumed she was going to slap him or something, but as he looked up he was taken aback at the sight of a thick folder and caught it as it was thrown at him. He recalled her message from a couple of hours ago, about breaking into the vault or something like that. Akira looked towards Luci, he felt like throwing up. He had no idea where she was or where she was taken, he had no idea what she was feeling their entire time apart but even after everything she made sure to bring him this stupid folder. It meant nothing to him as he held it in his hands, at least not now. The biggest wave of guilt Akira had ever felt overcame him. There was no set of words he could think of that would make things okay. He set the folder on the bikes seat, the whole time keeping his eyes on Luci's, and took a step forward. Her anger was almost palpable, if she wanted to hit him or something Akira wouldn't stop her. Gently he placed his hand on her arm and gripped it lightly.

 Luci jerked back at the feeling of Akira's large warm hand on her arm, she acted as though it burned her, even though she was in desprite need of some comforting right about now. That was the worst part about moving here, she had no one. Her only someone had been ripped away from her forcefully forbbidened to have contact with her, leaving Luci alone. She cringed at the pain in her chest at the thought of her father, as idiotic as he was he is a good dad and friend. [i]'All [b]their[/b] fault.'[/i] She gave Akira a cruel smile as she mocked him, "Your pathetic." "To much of a pussy to fight for yourself? Huh? Well I don't give a fuck. All I want you to do is take me to my appartment and make up a contract relieving my father of his debts." She pondered for a moment and looked back at him, "...Money. I want some money too...I deserve it." 

"First thing we're going to do is the get hell out of this 'country'." She put air quotes around the word country, clearly it wasn't. "This place is really sad, horrible place filled with horrible people. Can't wait to get back to the states...back to Texas." Home. She missed it so much. Her friends, her aunts and grandfather, hell even her ex, Tom. [i]'I so thought Tom was gay when we made out,he was so gentle and loving felt nothing like-" She stopped herself, she wasn't going there. She wouldn't remember or give him the satisfaction.

 But little by little the memory played in her head; the darkness, his hands all over her body groping all of her parts and laughing cruely in her ear. Tears flooded into her eyes and she turned away from Akira, "Damnnit.." she managed to wimper out before she fell apart. Her wails choked by her uneven breathing. She wrapped her arms around her middle to try and preserve what was left of her sanity. 

Akira bit his lip once more, and avoided eye contact with Luci as she cursed at him. Everything in him wanted to yell at her, he didn't have to save her. Nobody would've figured what happened, at least he didn't think so. It wasn't even true, the entire military knew what happened, along with a detective. Akira just wasn't thinking clearly.

"I don't need your help," He said aloud, boldly. "I don't have to write a stupid contract, and I don't have to give you money. I can just leave you at the hands of the Yakuza, you'll be at their mercy." Akira refered to his family as "The Yakuza," something he had never actually done before. It felt strange to say so. He paused briefly, standing in silence, pondering what he was even saying. Nobody had ever spoken to him the way Luci had, at least not without meeting his fist. The whole situation made him feel weird. Approaching Luci he placed his hand on her shoulder and turned her around, "But... i'm not going to do that. I mean, I can. But I won't. All of this wasn't my fault, I was trying to fight those fucking guys! I'm trying to do good but it only put somebody in danger, and yeah i'm sorry. But, whatever. Fuck it." He sighed, and turned away from her, approaching the bike and regretting they were going to spend another half hour so close together on the vehicle. Akira hopped onto the motorcyle, placing his hands on the handles. "You'll get your contract,"

 "Thank you." Was all she said as she wiped her the back of her hands under her eyes not even caring about the wrinkles she could cause. She could of said so much more, how sorry she felt about basically tooling him around, the only reason she was acting like this was because of how scared she was, but it wouldn't have mattered. She couldn't say it the way it needed to be said anyway,Luci was way to prideful. 

 Instead she just pulled out a peice of paper from her bag with her address already prewritten and handed it to Akira, "You don't wanna know why I wrote that down..." She mumbled as she picked up the disgarded helmet and hopped on the back of his bike, once again wrapping her arms around his middle almost snuggling into his body heat, "Lets go."