Disclaimer: Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon & Sailor V are property of Naoko Takeuchi

Dangerous Attraction

Chapter Eight - A Murder of Crows

Mid-morning the next day, Minako returned to their apartment with milk and bread to find the bicycle in the courtyard. She wondered if Kunzite had kept an extra key for the lock.

Shutting the iron gate, she stopped mid-stride at the sound of a loud, hoarse caw, and then a click. Peering up at their building, Minako used the back of her hand to shield her eyes from the suns bright rays, and was surprised to see a black crow perched at the very top of their apartment building.

"It's unusual for crows to travel without their murder." Wide eyed, she slowly turned toward the elderly gentleman standing at her side. He smiled, his white teeth standing out against his bronzed, aged skin, and pointed at the bird. "A flock of crows was once referred to as a murder," he said. "Obviously now they're widely referred to as 'flocks,' but I like the term murder better."

She smiled, but she wasn't sure if she should have been afraid or entertained. Shifting her weight from one foot to the other, she did a swift onceover. His curvy posture and shaky stance let her know he couldn't be that dangerous. Despite his somewhat morbid opening conversation, she welcomed his small talk.

"Are you a birder?" Is that what they were called? She wasn't sure.

"Not necessarily," he cocked his head to the side. "You live in apartment A2."

Minako's eyes narrowed as she processed his words. How did he know where she lived? In the four years that she resided in the small apartment complex, she had never once laid her eyes on him.

"Yes," she said cautiously. "Do you live here as well?"

"As a matter of fact, I do." He nodded his head. "I'm the head of the maintenance department." Holding up a broom that looked as though it had seen its better days and a black dustpan, he smiled warmly up at her.

"How many of you are there in maintenance."

"One." Minako blinked. He took two slow steps into the courtyard, paused momentarily, and then slowly proceeded towards a red lawn chair in the middle of their yard. "I've worked here for fifteen years." Hastily, she moved across the courtyard and over to his side, wanting to help him as he shakily eased himself into his chair. He quickly, but politely, dismissed her assistance. "I don't really do much maintenance anymore," he gestured towards the chipping stucco. "The owner hired landscapers to take care of the yard now, but I think he lets me sweep up the place as a pity job to keep me busy till I die." He smiled to himself, placing his battered broom to his side. "What he didn't realize is that I have far too much to accomplish, and I'm terribly far behind, so I ain't ever gonna die."

Minako couldn't help but laugh at his comment. "What's your name?"

"Everyone here calls me Grandpa Hino," he grinned. "Ami calls me gramps."

Ami? So that's how he knew where she lived. Ami always did say she was a seventy-year-old trapped in a young woman's body. Minako wouldn't have been surprised if Ami came out here during her short study breaks and spoke with him. She wondered if Grandpa Hino also knew about Zoisite.

"You said it's unusual for crows to be without their…er…murder." She said, glancing back at the crow that continued its grating coos. "Why is that?"

"Don't really know," he said with a dismissive shrug of his shoulders. "Back at the Hikawa Shrine, where I used to live in Azabu-Juuban, a huge flock of them lived in my garden."

"Why did you leave Japan?" Minako knew she shouldn't pry, but she couldn't seem to stop herself from asking.

"When my daughter passed, it was very difficult to stay. My granddaughter wasn't safe there either." The smile on lips diminished, and he appeared crestfallen. "I came to America, hoping to give her a better life. I failed at that."

Minako's forehead creased and her lips turned downward. "I'm sorry," she muttered, feeling guilty for having asked in the first place.

"It's okay," he laughed without mirth. "Maybe he's calling his companions," Grandpa Hino said. She blinked. It had taken her a second to realize the subject had been brought back to the loud bird. "Watch out though," he teased, "crows are scavengers, so make sure you hide your meat."

Minako ignored the innuendo. Giving a wave goodbye, she excused herself, and made her way towards her apartment.

Entering the kitchen, she placed the bag of food on the table. Ami was sitting at their kitchen table, thumbing through a few newspapers, the sound of her pencil scratched against her paper.

"There was a gift left for you," Ami said as Minako placed their loaf of bread in one of the cupboards. Without lifting her gaze from her paper, using her pencil, she pointed towards a perfectly, long-stemmed white rose that sat in a tear drop shaped glass vase. "I'm guessing your lover boy from the nightclub." A mischievous grin crossed Ami's lips.

Ignoring her friend's remark, Minako leaned forward, taking in the blooming buds fresh scent. A small white card hung off the side of the vase. Picking up the card, she sat down on a chair, and began to read:

The perfect rose for the perfect woman.

Promise you'll think of me while I'm gone.

Kunzite S.

"Boy, have you got it bad." Minako looked up sharply to find Ami grinning at her. Unable to control herself, Minako beamed at her friend. "Are you meeting up with him tonight?"

"No," Minako shook her head, turning her attention back to his note. "He had to head back to Japan, he said he had an event he couldn't cancel."

Ami's smile fell. Concern filled her electric blue eyes. "Are you…okay?"

Minako smiled warmly at her friend. "I'm okay, Ami. I promise." Lifting her shoulder in a half shrug, she added, "He said he'd be back."

Ami was silent for a few seconds. "Okay," she finally said, concern still etched in her delicate features.

Minako wondered how long Kunzite would be in Japan. She never did ask him for his number. She considered looking it up on the internet, but even if she was able to somehow find his contact information, wouldn't he wonder how she got it without asking? She blew out a discontented sigh as she placed the card face down. Minako would rather wait for Kunzite to return than for him to think she was a stalker. Then again, it might feed his ego if he believed Minako was so intent on speaking to him, that she'd gone out of her way to stalk him.

She definitely wouldn't do that.

Picking up one of Ami's discarded newspapers, she skimmed the front page and frowned. Takashi Hino… It was then that Minako remembered that she had promised Makoto she would assist her this upcoming Sunday for the private party being held for the Japanese politician.

"Can he even run?" Minako blurted out.

"Who?" Ami asked, glancing up briefly from her work.

"Takashi Hino." Turning the newspaper towards Ami, she tapped the black and white photo of the older man. "I thought only Americans could run?"

"Hmm," Ami tapped the rubber end of her pencil against her chin in thought. "I believe he's running for Senator," she said. "As far as I remember they only need about nine years of U.S. citizenship." Returning to her work in front of her, she added, "I think you're thinking about American presidents. They are required to be natural born."

Minako turned the article back towards her. "How long has he been in the U.S.? I thought he just arrived…like a month ago."

Ami shrugged her shoulder. "Even if he can run, I highly doubt he'll win?"

"Why?"

Closing her notepad, Ami smiled, satisfied with her work. "Some online Japanese gossip site interviewed his daughter a few years back."

"He has a daughter?"

"Yeah," Ami nodded her head as she collected the scattered newspapers on their kitchen table top. "I think her name started with an R? Risa?" She paused momentarily in thought.

"Rei Hino…" Minako muttered.

Ami snapped her finger, "yes, that's her. Turns out, he would only meet with her once a year." Folding the papers neatly, she placed them in a pile near her notebook. "And that he never visited his wife when she was dying."

Minako frowned. "This all came from the gossip site?"

"Yup." Standing, Ami brushed her palms together briskly. "Surprisingly, it's a pretty reputable site."

One eyebrow lifted, she looked up at her friend questioningly. "A gossip page being highly-regarded?" Placing the newspaper on the table, she blew out a disbelieving pf! And added, "Have pigs learned to fly?"

Ami laughed. "I know, it's crazy, but so far their stories have proven to be true." Turning the paper towards her, she said, "It also doesn't help that she's suddenly gone missing."

"You think he had something to do with it?"

Ami frowned. "I don't really think it's my place to speculate, but…"

"But, you think he had something to do with it."

Ami nodded her head. "It's just a little weird that she would suddenly go missing a month before his arrival, and it not be reported until a month after he finally settled in Las Vegas." Picking up her notebook, she tucked it under arm. "Wouldn't a father, who truly loved his daughter, notice that she was gone long before he arrived."

"If he wasn't really keeping in touch with her, like she claimed, then I don't think so." Minako said, not wanting to side with a suspected murderer, but she hadn't learned about her parents death until two months after the incident had occured.

Ami's frown deepened. "It's disturbing to think that a parent would want to cause harm to their only flesh and blood."

"Maybe he resented her as much as she resented him?"

Ami shook her head in disbelief. "I need to get ready for work," she smiled warmly down at Minako, "if you need anything, just text me."

Minako smiled back at her friend. "I'm taking this newspaper."

"Fine by me," Ami smirked, "less for me to clean."

Staring down at the newspaper, Minako sighed. She wondered what Kunzite was doing, and if his day was more eventful that her own.

"Here you go," Nephrite handed his older brother, Kunzite, a cup of hot coffee. "Any new leads?" Taking a seat next to his brother in the waiting room of the hospital, both brothers raked a hand through their thick, long hair. They may have not been blood related, but the men had adopted a bit of each other's traits through the years.

"No," Kunzite shook his head. Scrolling through his phone, he read through several emails and messages. Opening his notes, he began to delete files, but stopped when he came across Minako's name. He had yet to inform Nephrite about Minako and his suspicions, but he decided to save that tale for another time. Staring down at her name, he remembered that he never did ask her for her number, then again he had a file with all of her information just sitting on his desk–but then she might wonder how he got a hold of her number without having asked. He could always lie and say he asked Esmeraude for her information. "How is Jadeite?" He finally asked as he tucked his phone back into his pocket.

Nephrite sat back into his chair and sighed. "Honestly," he looked at his older brother, his eyes were somber. "It seems like he is only getting worse. A few days ago, one of the doctors said that the bullet lodged in his spine is moving into a dangerous position. It may only be a matter of time."

Kunzite swallowed hard, that wasn't what he wanted to hear. The doctors kept telling the brothers to just pull the plug on the younger one. "You're watering a plant that is already dead," one doctor had told them. Kunzite was grateful that his parents weren't around whenever doctors came back with bad news. Refusing to listen, all three brothers agreed to keep Jadeite on life support until he could no longer breathe on his own. Which from Nephrite's diagnosis, it seemed to be coming sooner than they had all expected.

"I can't believe this is happening," Nephrite huffed.

"I know," Kunzite leaned forward, placing both elbows at his knees. Jadeite was the wild child of all four brothers, Nephrite following closely behind, Kunzite mused. Although Jadeite would much rather travel the world than sit behind a desk like the three other brother's preferred, Kunzite couldn't fathom what would possess someone to shoot his baby brother. As far as they all knew, Jadeite had no enemies…except Rei Hino and…Minako.

He rubbed the sides of his temple as he felt a migraine forming behind his eyes. "You are their leader," their father, Endymion, had told him once when he was a child. "It is your job to protect your brother's."

He had failed both his parents, in more ways than one. The thought made Kunzite's eyes burn. "Did Zoisite know you were in Las Vegas this past weekend?" Nephrite asked, pulling his older brother out of his reverie.

"No," Kunzite shook his head. "I didn't want him getting involved."

"You know he'll be upset when he finds out."

Kunzite shrugged his shoulder dismissively. "He can be as upset as he wants," he took a swig of the steaming liquid before adding, "He has his own priorities anyways."

"Mr. Shitennou," Thetis approached the two men. "I just spoke with one of the nurses, they said Jadeite just woke up."

"Thank God," Nephrite said briskly as he stood.

"Can we go back and speak with him?" Kunzite asked. Unlike his younger brother, Kunzite held back his excitement. He wanted to be sure his brother was at least able to answer a few questions. He needed to know the truth. Thetis nodded her head.

The two brothers followed the jet-black haired woman down the hall and towards their baby brother's private hospital room. Stopping just shy of the door, Thetis stepped aside.

"Your brother," Thetis muttered, "he's going to be alright, isn't he?" Her misty eyes were seeking reassurance.

Both Nephrite and Kunzite glanced at one another. Nephrite, unsure of how to respond, told his older brother that he'd go in before him, and expected him to join them shortly.

"I'm sorry," Thetis shook her head, "I shouldn't have asked. It isn't my place."

"I know you're just as concerned as we are, Thetis." He placed a comforting hand over her shoulder. "But we both know it may only be a matter of time before..." He stopped, unable to even whisper out the word. She nodded her head and he heard her swallow hard.

The police had declared the shooting an accidentally inflicted wound. It seemed everyone else around him had accepted that explanation, but he could not. It just didn't add up. Jadeite, his wild younger brother, loved life and women far too much to "accidentally" commit such an act. He was always happy, secure, even though their father felt his devil-may-care attitude did make him a bit lax in his responsibilities to the family business and even his own business. His magazine, The Star Gazette, was one of the most read magazines across the west coast. Jadeite had far too much to live for to want to suddenly end everything.

Jadeite should be enjoying life–flying over the waves in his hydroplane, speeding along the track in his racing car. He had been so flamboyant, so carefree, until he had taken up with a certain raven-haired temptress.

His fists clenched at the thought of Rei Hino. Others claimed she had gone missing, but he didn't accept that either. How convenient the young woman suddenly go missing the same time his brother was found on the verge of death in his own home. But then, there was Minako. Rei Hino's possible accomplice.

Kunzite's heart leaped into his throat at the thought of Minako. He felt a tenderness so intense, it left him breathless. Lately a new kind of doubt niggled at him. What if he was wrong about her and someone else unsuspected was guilty? He wanted to believe in Minako's innocence, but her refusal to speak about the man she had cared for made her seem suspicious.

He pushed open the door to Jadeite's room. His brother's eyes were half closed, his lips moving soundlessly. Kunzite was overwhelmed with searing pain. As Thetis came forward to touch his hand gingerly, Jadeite focused fully on her. A tortured groan passed his lips.

"Would you like me to call your parents and inform them?" Thetis asked as she stepped back from Jadeite's bed, a heaviness in her chest.

"No," Kunzite shook his head. "I don't know how long he'll stay awake this time, so there is no point in getting them stirred up." The hours since his arrival in Los Angeles had been spent keeping a vigil with his family at the bedside of his younger brother. "I'd like five minutes alone with him," he told her. Thetis' eyes flickered towards Nephrite. "I need him here with me."

Thetis hesitated, then nodded and left. "I'll meet you back at the office," she said before shutting Jadeite's hospital room door.

Standing now, Nephrite joined his older brother next to Jadeite's bedside. "Jadeite," Kunzite said as he placed his hands over the metal rail of his brother's hospital bed, "please tell me…" He hesitated for a moment, "did Rei have anything to do with the accident?" Jadeite slowly turned his head from side to side. "It wasn't her?" Kunzite pressed, "Or are you not telling? Which one?"

Jadeite didn't respond.

"I need to know, Jadeite. I need to know whether or not to keep searching."

"Rei…" Jadeite said below a whisper, "save."

"What?" Nephrite and Kunzite asked in unison.

"Rei," Jadeite repeated, "Save." The two older brother's looked at each other in puzzlement.

"Rei, Save?" Nephrite asked. "That makes no sense, Jadeite. Do you mean Save Rei?"

Jadeite nodded his head slowly, then repeated, "Save, Rei." Throwing his brother's into a loop of pure confusion, he then added, "Hotaru."

"I don't understand," Nephrite peered down at Jadeite. "Who's Hotaru? Did she do this to you?" Jadeite moved his head from side to side. Nephrite blew out a disbelieving sigh. One nervous hand whipped over his dark hair, then dropped to his side. "What, are you just naming off your list of women you've banged?" Nephrite asked, his tone clipped. A nerve jumped in his cheek.

"Save them." He said before closing his eyes.

Kunzite unclenched his hands, feeling a terrible sense of helplessness sweep over him. Both men walked out of the room with heavy steps. Watching the life slowly ebb from his baby brother was like being torn apart. The stress of dividing his loyalties between Jadeite, whom he'd felt deep affection for all his life and the young woman he'd met just days ago was sapping his strength.

As he shut the door behind him, Kunzite was surprised to find Thetis waiting outside the room.

"Thetis? What are you doing here?"

"Mr. Shitennou," she said, panicked. "I apologize, I promise I wasn't eavesdropping, it's just…" she hesitated momentarily, "Your mother called. I guess one of the doctors went ahead and called them." Nephrite rolled his eyes in exasperation. "She asked to speak with you, but I told her you were busy, and–"

"Thank you," Kunzite said, interrupting her, and possibly saving her from the embarrassment of a public meltdown.

"I'll take care of mom," Nephrite nudged his older brother. "Thetis," he smiled down at the younger woman, bidding his goodbye. She smiled warmly back up at him.

Kunzite had always thought that Thetis would marry Jadeite. But one summer, after a rapid fall out, Thetis had taken off back to Japan. Perhaps she had decided that Jadeite was not as stable as she had hoped he'd be. When she returned unwed, his family was shocked. Kunzite had to admit, Thetis was a catch.

She was a petite woman with long, sleek black hair. She was always calm, had no issues with adapting to her surroundings, and handled work, as well as her life with accuracy and efficiency. Jadeite could have used Thetis in his life. There was a good chance he wouldn't have been in this situation had he chosen Thetis over Rei, who appeared to be rather hot headed according to the reports Helios had collected over the last few months.

He swore under his breath. What difference did it make? Never in his whole life had he felt so vulnerable, and a part of it had to do with the siren in Las Vegas.

"I don't suppose there's much use in us being here now that the crisis point has been passed," Thetis said. "I believe Artemis is still waiting upfront to take you to your parent's estate."

"How do you plan on getting home?"

"Helios," she muttered.

And as if on que, the younger man came swaggering down the hall, whistling a happy tune. Kunzite glanced down at the younger woman, whose face was now flushed, before looking back at his subordinate.

"Is there something I should know about?" Kunzite asked suspiciously.

Thetis shook her head. "He gave me ride." When one of Kunzite's eyebrows trailed up his forehead, a mischievous smile crossing his lips, she turned crimson. "Not like that!" She exclaimed, smacking his arm as hard as she could. "My God! You and Artemis are exactly the same!"

Kunzite laughed. God, he knew he needed it. It felt great being back home, being surrounded by those he knew and trusted.

apigrabbit Note: And in come the crow(s)! In the last story, I had referred to them as Ravens, which wasn't accurate. I also hope this chapter answers some of your guys questions concerning Jadeite :) And the plot thickens! Also, to everyone who reads my author's notes, thank you :D - Please leave a review and let me know how you like the story so far. Reviews/constructive criticism are greatly appreciated.