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Takeru stared down at his drink a feeling of defeat filled him. None of them had even thought that Ai would actually take Yusaku out of the city, their confidence being their down fall for not watching ways that he could leave. Of course he would leave, especially if he knew they would take Yusaku from him (Or in Revolvers case take him out).

Now they are who knows where and there back where they started with no answers, no Ai, and no Yusaku.

He is so damn tired of being a step behind. Takeru may not be the most technologically knowledgeable but he isn't stupid. Ai's behavior did a whole one eighty, two weeks ago. Beforehand he was doing everything he can to rile everyone up, putting Queen in a coma and then later killing her in her sleep .

Takeru felt himself shudder when Revolver sent the message a week ago that after most of the scientists that were kidnapped were released without their memories, Queen was declared brain dead in her hospital. A strange electric anomaly that fried her while she had laid in a coma. Afterwards the ones that hadn't come back we're starting to show up dead.

If there wasn't a reason to fear Ai before, knowing what he was capable of without even being in the room was scary as hell.

Still, would he ever actually turn that scary on Yusaku? Relief filled Takeru two days ago when Revolver informed him that his friend had been sick while in Ai's care. Which lines up to the bottle of cold and flu he found under the bed that was near empty. Taker had gone back to look for clues and confirmed that yes Yusaku was sick when he was taken. It also explained why he didn't escape already, cause not even a steel door would prevent Yusaku from leaving if he damn well wanted to leave.

He feels like he should be more worried about Ai's plans but in reality he was just happy Yusaku was okay and being taken care of. Takeri wished he had gotten to him sooner and be the one to take care of him instead. Now he's being trapezed all over Japan-

A cold drink pressed against his cheek startling him and caused Takeru turned to see Shoichi looking down at him with a questioning look on his face. Jin already sitting down on the opposite side his favorite blanket around his shoulders.

"Here take this. You're thinking so hard I'm pretty sure I could hear you in the truck." Shoichi joked as he sat down next to Takeru handing him some tomato soup. It was getting colder so Shoichi was adding more food to his menu to help people combat it.

'Still worried about Fujiki?' Jin passed his notepad over for him to see, ah so he was obvious about it seems.

"Yeah, but not as much as before. I can at least take heart that Ai is taking care of him. Even if he did kidnap him…" Takeru's face soured at that while Jin was blank. He probably doesn't remember either of his kidnappings, good for him. Takeru still doesn't want to but alas.

"I wish I could say was relieved, but Ai still took him out and now the trail is cold until the Knights or Ghost girl and Blood Sheppard get more clues. Ai made sure we wouldn't be able to follow him. The flight he was on? Had several connecting flights to other cities, which also had connecting flights." Kusanagi cursed looking frustrated and worried, the bags under his eyes more prominent now that he was close enough to see them.

Jin leaned over patting his brothers hand with practiced ease that suggested this wasn't the first time. Taking back his notepad he scribbled more down before pausing and then giving it back to him.

'There is something I don't understand, when Queen was put in a coma and then killed. All her stocks went to Akira, but somehow Ai is buying all the other stocks up that they don't own. How did he even get this money?'

That was also a troubling thin that had them stumped. Revolver and his Hanoi team had all found multiple accounts filed an insane amount of money. Money Ai legally shouldn't be able to have but does. All the deposits we're legal and under different names, and all transactions were not only in person but in cash.

Every time they try to get a picture of the person depositing the money the video blurs.

"It's the most amazing program I have ever encountered, I have never seen anything like it. If I was superstitious I would call it magic…" The older mans head thunked onto the table muttering about 'bullshit coding' and 'Ai and his stupid Ignis algorithms'.

"...Wait, why would anyone fund Ai? How did he even convince whoever is? No one outside of SOL, Hanoi, and us should know anything about the Ignis after all."

"No clue, but whoever it is seems to be loaded. They gave Ai millions!-"

Jin held up a finger cutting off what was probably a rant, Shoichi had sat up with a crazed look in his eyes.

'...Do you think its blood money?'

The two froze as Jin's question staring at the innocent letters.

'I mean, Ai originally just put Queen in a coma after all. If he wanted her dead. Wouldn't he have just done that in the first place? Why bother keeping her alive? And then the scientists a week ago, most came back alive if memory wiped. The ones that didn't are still showing up dead.'

'Is it possible Ai got paid to kill them off?'

Takeru can't fucking breathe.

Oh, God it made sense. Ghost girl didn't kill but Blood Sheppard does, and the man is LOADED. He was more open about the nastier parts of his job after the group was brain storming of what Ai could do to Yusaku.

He threw up when he came out of Vrains, the mental images were too much. While he knows Ai wouldn't do that to Yusaku, knowing other people could do that to anyone scared him.

Oh, God, Ai, what did you get yourself into?

"You know, this isn't how I wanted this conversation to go. I came here to tease Takeru about that lovesick forlorn look he was sporting today" Kusanagi sighed into hand looking sour.

Wait What?

Takeru's head turned so quick he was sure he game himself whiplash. The brothers wore matching shit eating grins on their faces. His own turning red an tomato as he caught on to what Shoichi just said.

"W-Wait, hold on. I don't have lovesick look-"

"You so do! You even sighed like Lady Angelina Azul about her love, Siren~"Oh god that's right somehow someway Ai roped Shoichi into watching Bloody Kisses, that trashy romance soap opera. It was about Vampires and humans, and how they can't live together. But one of the protags, A-mor, was hellbent on making Wisteria his. Takeru never watched and refuses too but Ai and somehow Yusaku do so he kept hearing about it.

Ugh, what was the appeal?

'It could be worse, he could have compared you to Bullet.'

"Jin you watch it too!? I thought we had a solidarity against it!"

'I had to break it, I was home alone and went through all my anime. I was desperate and Shoichi had the first season recorded.'

"This betrayal hurts I hope you now that."

Jin shrugged as if he hadn't just thrown their pact to never watch it into the trash.

"Stop changing the subject, anyhoo~ This little sighing wouldn't have anything to do with Yusaku, would it?"Takeru was going to disown Shoichi as his friend, but considering the growing devious smiles he's pretty sure his face already gave them their answer.

"You know Takeru, You have a really good chance…"

"I'd rather not make my friendship with Yusaku awkward Kusanagi," Takeru stared into his drink. He already had a crush on Yusaku when he first saw him, thinking the blue and pink haired boy to be very cute. But it just kept growing along with his feelings for-

Takeru shook his head hard, no, not right now.

"Right now we have more important things to focus on anyway"

"Just saying, that if you ever wanted to try. I'm very assured Yusaku wouldn't say know. If it helps he thinks you got a cute nerd look and ears."

A hoarse laugh accompanied Kusanagi's as Takeru felt steam exploded from his face.