CHAPTER 12 (Hold On)

Gunner was perplexed. He didn't realize everything he had heard because he was so engrossed in what he was doing. There were so many of them that Gunner was having trouble keeping track of them all. The first is the building, the second is the people who were inside, the third is the doctor, the fourth is his brother, and the last is him. How did he become acquainted with him and his brother? It was as if the two of them had gathered all of their information.

He was sweating in beads due to the heat of where he was hiding, and the fact that Ibiza was looking for him added to the pressure. He wanted to sneeze because the smell of the used oil was so strong, but he had to hold it in order to save his life. If they ever caught sight of him, they'd kill him.

Gunner wanted to cry because of the situation he and his twin brother are in right now. He is a man, but a man also cries when he can no longer bear it. They have lost their parents and faced difficult times in their daily lives as they grow older, but isn't that reason enough for the gods to put them through a difficult time? Is their fate written in this way? What happens after that? All they desired was to live a normal life. To live happily ever after doing what they want.

He didn't want to burn all of his grudges against his twin brother, who is the reason they're here, but what could he do? He's powerless to act at that point. In this house, the possibility is unthinkable; even a glimpse of a miracle is out of the question. Gunner hadn't even been in the building for a day, but he was depressed because he was fighting alone. Yes, Gunner was a fighter's weakness. His twin brother was the stronger of the two. His twin brother, on the other hand, was counting on him now.

Slasher was born at least two minutes before him, but this makes Slasher the youngest and much more mature when it comes to thinking. But one day they argued over a case. It was a case of a family seeking their assistance. They ask help for their son, who has been missing for several days and was last seen working at the WIC Company. There have been a lot of cases since more and more have vanished, and they are all males. The police, as well as special agents, are taking action, but to no avail.

Slasher accepts the case of the person who seeks his assistance, but Gunner warns him not to. Because Gunner knew it was too dangerous and risky. After searching in the heart of the woods, all of the police, including the FBI, have also begun missing.

They argued that night, and had Gunner crying in the end, but Slasher did not mind that at all because all he could see in his twin brother at that time was weakness. They are twins but they are not young anymore and have to be dependent on each other all the time. Slasher believes that they must face what is their fate and what decision they should and could make, because they are detectives and that is what they do.

After their fight, Slasher cooks their favorite food and eats together. Slasher apologizes for his behavior and tells Gunner that he is not going to do it anymore, but Slasher lies. He gave white lies to his twin brother, Gunner, just to make him calm. That would make him relieved that he would not be gone. Slasher loves his twin very much because he is the only family that he has but he had to do what he had to do.

When they went to bed and Slasher made sure that his twin was sleeping soundly, he began to sneak out. Little did they know it was their last meeting of each and last meal. Gunner was awakened not seeing his brother next to his bed. He searched for him but all he saw was a little note saying, 'I'll be back. I promise.' With his anger, Gunner crumpled the little sheet of note and cried in pain. He already knows that his twin brother will not come back anymore.

9:00 am

"Tantei S, anata wa soko ni imasu ka? (Detective S, are you in there?)" An old voice knocking on their office.

Gunner was just watching his favorite movie that he had watched so many times but, still enjoying it, was the one who answered the door and opened it.

There he saw an old man together with his wife. Gunner knew those two, it was Mr. Yuma Sato and his wife Mrs. Kanna Sato. They are the family that had their son missing. And after Gunner saw them his heartbeat raced as if he knew what they came for.

Before, Gunner could say anything, because he wanted to make an excuse that they are not available, when his twin brother, Slasher, pops out and he can't do anything about it anymore.

Gunner was skipping all of those cases as much as possible because as much as he wanted to help he didn't risk not coming back. Gunner researched the company. The WIC Company had searched for so many articles in newspapers and even ghost writers. It all started in Arizona. And after all of that research, he told Slasher and, of course, he was serious about it. Slashers have the heart of helping people. That is why he was a detective. That is what Gunner wanted to do, but taking the risk was not on his list. The risk of not having assurance if you are going to live or not. Gunner wanted to help but no one would help them if they were in need to and that is the reality.

"Ohayōgozaimasu, Satō-san. Dōshite koko ni kita no? (Good morning, Mr. Sato. What brought you here?)" Slasher asked as he gestured to the couple to come in and take a seat. While on the other hand, Gunner headed to their small kitchen and made them a cup of tea.

With a heavy heart while making the couple a cup of tea, Gunner was not himself during it. His mind was occupied but his attention was on theirs. He wanted to hear their conversation even though he already knew what his brother would answer.

Mrs. Sato started weeping as she took her seat. It had been days after their son had gone missing and it was their only child and their happiness. And, of course, Gunner knows how it feels to be lost with a loved one's family, but it will never change his perspective. Perhaps he has to talk to his brother after their conversation.

"Satō-san,-dōshita no? (What seems to be the problem, Mr. Sato?)" Slasher began to ask and Gunner placed the two cups of tea on the table and also took his seat at his table while listening to them.

His brother was seriously looking at the two couples as Gunner was looking at him.

"Nonde kudasai. (Please have a drink.)" Slasher offered as soon as Gunner placed the drinks on the table.

"Naze watashitachi ga koko ni iru no ka, anata wa sudeni shitte iru to omoimasu, tantei S. Anata wa watashitachi no kodomo, ryū ga nan-nichi mo yukue fumei ni natte ite, shinda to sengen sa rete ita no o mimasuga, watashitachi wa sore o shinjite imasen. Watashitachiha, WIC kaisha ga kare no ibasho o shitte iru to shinjite imasu. Karera wa shitte imasu... Watashi wa karera ga shitte iru koto o shitte imasu. (I think you already know why we are here, Detective S. You see our child, Ryu, has been missing for days now and has been declared as dead. We don't believe that. We believe that the WIC Company knows where he is. They know... I know they know.)" Mr. Sato stated and Slasher nodded his head with understanding.

Slasher looked at Gunner and Gunner immediately averted his eyes on him. Slasher knows what his twin brother is thinking and he knows they will talk about it later or start arguing this case. He knew his brother very well.

Mrs. Sato secretly looked at Gunner, which caused Gunner to feel her stare, but Mrs. Sato immediately averted her eyes on Slasher.

"Watashitachi o tasuketekudasai, tantei S. (Please help us, Detective S.)" Mrs. Sato pleaded as he wiped her tears away and came kneeling forward to Slasher, which Slasher caused to stand up and make Mrs. Sato stood up.

"Watashi wa kamide wanainode, hizamazuku hitsuyō wa arimasen. Watashi wa watashi no chikara de anata o tasukemasuga, watashi wa nani mo hoshō suru koto wa dekimasenga, hitotsu tashikana koto ga arimasu. Watashi wa anata o tasukeru tame ni saizen o tsukushimasu, soshite sorera wa watashi no kotobadesu. (There is no need for you to kneel because I am not a God. I will help you as to my might, but I cannot guarantee anything, but one thing is for sure. I will do my best to help you and those are my words.)" Slasher stated and the couple seemed relieved and believed what Slasher stated to them and thanked him.

They bid goodbye without even touching the drink that Gunner made. Gunner was skeptical of the woman but he ignored it. What was important that day was that he had to talk to his brother.

After the couple left, Slasher was waiting for him to talk, since he had already known that his brother was going to confront him about the couple and he was right.

"Nani datte? (What was that?)" Gunner asked as he ensured that the door was locked and he put the signage close even though it was still early so no one would interfere with their talk.

Slasher did not respond. Instead he just gave a deep sigh because he knew where their conversation is going. He understands that his brother is scared of what will happen, but it is their job.

"Sō suru koto ga watashitachi no shigotoda to watashi wa shitte imasu. Shikashi, anata wa watashi no iken ni tsuite sae kangaete imasen ka? Anata mo watashi no iken o motomete imasen. Watashitachiha kyōdaida to omotta. Watashitachiha watashitachi o teniireta dakenanode, watashitachiha otagai o hanareru koto wa kesshite naidarou to omoimashita. (I know it is our job to do so. But have you not even thought about my opinion? You haven't even asked for my opinion either. I thought we were brothers. I thought we would never leave each other because we had only got us.)" Gunner said and his eyes started to get watery but he had to hold it. He despises himself for being the weak one when it comes to this situation.

"Am I not important to you?" Gunner added, and Slasher looked at him and stood up. Walked to his brother's direction and embraced him and that is when Gunner flooded with tears in his eyes.

He feels like it was a farewell.

"You are important to me. I will do this too if you are in this kind of situation. These people need our help. They can't stand it. And they rely on us. And they see us as their hopes and I don't want those hopes to be trashed. It is only us now their hopes. And what if those hopes will say no? What will happen to them? I am not saying that I am a god and I can do anything. I just wanted to help while I was living. I am taking a leap in my life, so do take your leap now, brother," Slasher said, and those words made Gunner push Slasher from his embrace and open the door and run away.

It was night when Gunner decided to go home. Slasher, that night cooked their dinner. Slasher cooks their favorite food and they ate in silence, not making any sound until Slasher breaks the silence and apologizes to his brother and so, Gunner is to him.

"You are my only family. You are my twin and I will never leave your side, Gunner."

Those were the last words that Gunner heard from his brother.

Days passed and he was announced as missing. The family that asked for their help said their apologies but Gunner ignored them because he was grieving in pain even though it was not their fault, but he didn't want any people to come near him after that. But Mrs. Sato slapped Gunner as she told him that he was the reason for his brother's missing and also the reason that his son would never come back again. But Gunner ignored it and tried to understand her as he knew what would happen. That is what he was expecting after all. Those people who you will help will repay you for what you expected to be and that is the heartbreaking part.

Gunner did not realize that he was already in tears. He immediately wipes it away and there is no reason for him to be weak. His brother was counting on him and he had to be brave. He had come this far and he would not let down his brother. He will do everything to save him. And they will get out of here alive and after that they will start a new life again.

Ibiza growled, which made Gunner taken aback. Did Ibiza find where he had been hiding? He hoped not.

"He is not here, doctor," Ibiza said as he growled and, because of the silence, Gunner could hear the slimy saliva of Ibiza dripping on the floor, telling him that he was near where he was hiding.