Riku's alternate story:

Chapter Two: A Day Out

Three Years Later:

Night had fallen over Tokyo. Misaki had finished putting Riku to bed and was crawling into hers. These past years had had its toll on her. The tough but rugged woman lay on her back to reminisce.

Since Riku was in her terrible twos, Misaki had her hands full without Li. Even if he could live with them twenty-four seven, Riku would still be a problem. She would bang on things, scream aloud at times, and not listen to what Misaki had told her to do. Whenever Li and Yin were around, she would act like an angel.

It would not last long after Misaki had given a full report on her rowdiness. Because of it, Li refused to take her to the lake one day. Riku had thrown a fit, but Li had not given in.

It was hard enough with the police hovering around her apartment. Li saw her two days out of the week; sometimes three if he was lucky. He had missed her first birthday because Yamato had invited the whole Foreign Affairs to her party.

Even though she was pleased that her former colleagues had arrived, Misaki wanted Riku's father instead. Riku had seemed to know the day was special and wondered where he was. Misaki and Li had to celebrate Riku's birthday together three days later.

However, he did not miss her second birthday. To Misaki's surprise, Li had bought her a pony and some how snuck it into her apartment late at night.

"Where did you get the money?" she had asked kindly, her face boiling red.

"My retirement pay from the Syndicate," Li had joked.

"And where are we going to keep it?"

"Oh, I got that taken care of. I know this guy I had helped out last year who has a farm south of Tokyo."

Li had spoiled her to a point where Riku's toys poured out of the closet. Losing count, Misaki had stepped on Barbie and stuffed animal dolls dumped into dollhouses, and tripped over Barbie cars.

She did not have so much junk when she was a baby.

Even though they did not see each other often, Riku loved her father dearly. Whenever he was around, she would stick to him like glue and would start crying whenever he had to leave. If Li stayed the night, Riku wanted to sleep between him and Misaki. They never had time alone.

Misaki hoped Riku would continue to love her father once she learned the truth about him. They wanted to tell Riku about him but figured to wait until she was a little older.

"Mama! Mama!" cried out Riku, distracting Misaki.

Heart beating heavily, Misaki stood to exit her room and entered Riku's. She was sitting up in her futon with her legs against her chest and her arms wrapped around them. Tears were running down her cheeks, indicating she had had a bad dream.

She kneeled next to her daughter to comfort her. This had been the third nightmare in the past month. Misaki didn't understand it, but Riku had them whenever Li wasn't present. Perhaps her daughter felt safe around him, as though he somehow would chase them away.

"It's all right, Ri-chan," assured Misaki, cradling Riku. "It's all right."

"No, papa hurt," replied Riku, clinging to her mother. "Papa shot in back."

"It was just a dream. Papa is fine, I'm sure of it."

"Promise?"

"Hai."

Picking up her daughter, Misaki carried Riku into the living room. She walked up to her balcony and looked up into the sky to see Li's star was shining brightly. Misaki let out a breath of relief and returned to her bedroom with Riku.

Xxx

Misaki woke with her daughter cradled next to her. She smiled down at her, pleased she had made it through the night without another bad dream. It puzzled Misaki concerning Riku's nightmare since Li had almost been killed by Mito. How would Riku dream of something like that when she had not been born yet? Did it have to do with Riku growing inside her and that Misaki's memories had transferred over to her?

However, the bullet had missed Li, so why would she say he had been hurt?

Misaki let the thought drift from her mind. Trying to avoid waking Riku, she carefully stood from the bed, walked over to her dresser to pull out some clean clothes, and quietly exited her bedroom to enter the bathroom. After settling her clothes on a rack, Misaki turned on the showerhead, removed her nightclothes and stepped into the shower to clean off the night stench.

Doubts of how she and Li were raising their daughter cluttered her mind. In her eyes, it was far from having a normal life. They had talked about running away, but Li wanted Misaki to stay in Tokyo due to the Commander of Section Four. Yamato played dumb concerning her for aiding and abetting a criminal, and never bothered to call Child Services. Li believed she would not get that leniency anywhere else.

Misaki sighed, wondering what she should do for hers, Li's and Riku's sanity.

Arms wrapped around her waist and pressed her against a muscular body. Misaki smiled as Li kissed her neck.

"You're taking a big risk being here in the middle of the day," she said.

"I know, but I figured this was the best time to make love to you."

Misaki turned around in his arms, stared into his blue eyes, and said, "That won't do any good either since our daughter had another bad dream and slept with me."

Li looked at her baffled, and asked, "She had another one?" Misaki nodded and told him about her dream. "Is she all right?"

"Yes, she is," assured Misaki.

"That's good. Well, if I can't make love to you in your room, then I guess here is fine."

Li kissed her on the lips, causing Misaki to melt in his touch. How long had it been since the last time their naked bodies touched each other? She couldn't remember.

Placing her hands on his cheeks, she pressed her lips against his, as an uncontrollable urge sore through her body. Li's hands slowly drew to her bottom, his hunger and desires grew stronger. Misaki knew he wanted her as much as she wanted him. They had had too many lonely and sleepless nights.

Li began to lift Misaki onto his hips.

"Mama!" cried out Riku.

Misaki and Li sighed, as their lips pulled away from each other. It was like clockwork with their daughter. Every time they were on the brink of making love Riku chimed in. It was cute at first, but now it was annoying.

"Mama!" Riku cried aloud, showing fear in her voice.

"She's calling," said Misaki to Li. "It sounds like…"

"She had another nightmare," finished Li.

Misaki smiled.

She stepped from the shower, dried off her body with a towel, and wrapped it around her figure. The former detective woman exited the bathroom and entered her bedroom where Riku sat shivering in a fetal position. Why was she having so many nightmares? Was it a phase, or was it something else?

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Misaki embraced her daughter.

"It's all right, Ri-chan, I'm here."

"I dreamt it again," cried Riku. "Papa hurt, Mama."

"I'm fine, sweetie," said Li from the door.

Still wet from the shower, he had slipped into his blue jeans. Riku looked up and stared at her father. Awing hysterically, she jumped off the bed and ran over to him. He picked her up in his arms smiling, as she gave him a miniature bear hug.

"Papa!" she shouted, joyfully. "You all righ'!"

"Of course. You just had a bad dream, Ri-chan," said Li.

"Than' good'ess." Riku pulled away so that Li ended up looking into her adorable brown eyes she had inherited from Misaki. "Papa, where Yin?"

"She's helping Kiko with a case today."

"Ah, I hopen t' see her too. Papa, you're gonna cook, right? Mama's cooking bad."

"Ri-chan, what did I tell you?" scolded Misaki. "If you got nothing nice to say, don't say it."

Riku looked over at her mother, and said, "But Papa say be honest all time."

"Oh, did he now?" questioned Misaki, as her right eyelid rose and crossed her arms.

Looking at her sheepishly, Li knew he was in the doghouse, but what could she do since they weren't having sex and he was sleeping on another bed most nights.

"Just for that comment, and hearing what your daddy had told you, I'm cooking anyways," stated Misaki.

"Ah, but Mama, I hard'y eat papa's food."

"Then maybe you need to learn to keep things to yourself."

"No fair, Mama. You say I need come clean with truth. No fair."

"We can see where she got her attitude from," said Li, but he wished he had kept his own mouth shut.

Misaki focused her eyes on him to where they were piercing through his skin as easily as his blades. He recalled Saitou's words back at Alice's party, and every time he crossed the line he had to face her wrath. It was clear why the clumsy but loyal detective never got the guts to ask her out.

Sighing to extinguish her irritation, Misaki reentered the bathroom to change. It had been only twenty minutes since his arrival and they were already having a rough day.

Moments later, the thirty-two year old mother exited the bathroom, wearing a tight green shirt and blue jeans that shaped her hips. She stepped into her kitchen and began cooking, as Li placed Riku on the floor. Picking up two dolls, Riku handed Li one to play with her. He smiled while sitting down and did so.

They giggled and laughed, causing Misaki to watch them. He was so good to her. It worried her at times, wondering how Riku would take the news about her father. Would she accept it or have a tantrum beyond anything she had seen so far.

Misaki smelt something burning. She looked down and noticed the rice was being scorched. Cursing under her breath, and hoping Riku did not hear it, Misaki pulled the pot off the stove. Li looked over his shoulder at her.

"Everything all right, Mommy?" he asked.

"Hai, everything's fine," Misaki lied, as she waved at the smoke with a rag.

Li stood and walked into the kitchen with Riku following.

"Don't look like it from my eyes," he said, and then looked at his daughter. "Whatta you think, Ri-chan?"

"Can't say, Papa. I get in trouble if I do," said Riku.

Misaki frowned at her two loved ones teaming up on her. Li was letting their daughter have one of her moments again.

"Oh, all right! Li, you can take over!" she shouted.

"Yay, vic'ory!" chimed Riku, as she held out a victory sign using her fingers.

Her little girl had learned that pose from an anime called The Slayers. Misaki needed to thank Ootsuka for showing Riku that and kick her in the butt.

Xxx

After they had eaten and giving Riku a bath, Riku and Li continued playing with her dolls. Misaki cleaned the table and started washing dishes while watching them. Even though he wasn't around all the time, it did not feel that way due to the way they got along.

Riku loved being around him. She constantly had asked why her father was hardly home. Misaki and Li's reply had been because of his work. It was an unforgiving lie, but it was necessary.

"Tsuki, you look well today," said Li, as he rocked the doll side to side, as if simulating it was talking.

"Than' you, Yuki," replied Riku, tilting her doll forward.

"Where are you heading?"

"Shibuda."

Letting a giggle escape her lips, Misaki knew her daughter meant to say Shibuya. She knew about the area thanks to Kanami. The amusing thing was that Riku did not like shopping. Her little girl had gotten bored one time and started crying. Kanami had gotten upset and demanded that Ootsuka or Saitou baby-sit Riku.

There was a knock at her door. Li looked over at it and then at Riku while saying, "Ri-chan, I have to go potty. I'll be back."

Knowing it was more then her father's bladder needing to be drained, Riku frowned at him with puppy eyes, but nodded. Li smiled, as he mangled up her hair, stood to head to the bathroom, and entered it while closing the door.

Misaki looked through her peephole and saw Kanami standing outside. She frowned and opened the door to have her friend smile back at her.

"You and Ri-chan ready?" Kanami asked.

"Ready? For what?" Misaki replied, dumbfounded.

Kanami looked at her hurt and said, "You forgot! Don't you remember last week we were planning on taking Ri-chan to the Ueno zoo?"

"Oh right, I forgot," said Misaki. "Can we make it next week? Something came up."

"Like what, Misaki? You're not working at the moment, and you've been getting steady retirement pay from the Foreign Affairs thanks to Yamato. So what's the deal?"

Sweat began to pour down her cheek. Her friend would not cancel their trip to the zoo unless there was a good reason. Even still, Kanami would make it her priority to stay and hang out since she had taken the day off from work.

"Well, you see…" began Misaki, as her eyes drifted off to think of a good excuse.

"Huhn," hummed Kanami while her eyes drifted sideways to gaze at Misaki, and smiled at her teasingly. "Li's here, isn't he?"

"Eh, well, no."

"Liar. You need to take lessons from Li if you want to deceive someone. He's an expert at it; even though he's not fully a Contractor."

Kanami entered and walked over to Riku with her arms opened. Riku smiled ecstatically, stood up, and ran over to her to be picked up.

"How's my little girl that's as close to a niece as I can get to?" said Kanami.

"Fine, Kan'mi-san," chimed Riku.

"Still having a hard time saying, 'na' in my name, hey? Ah, it makes me love you even more. So Ri-chan, is your daddy here?"

"Hai. He potting."

The bathroom door opened with Li exiting and smiling sheepishly. Kanami glared at him devilishly.

"Hello, Li-kun," she said.

"Hello. It's been a while. How have you been?"

"Fine, although I'm a little upset since I can't take Ri-chan to the zoo now."

"Eh, why?" Riku asked, confused. "Papa coming too, right? Papa, you don' have t' work, do you?"

"Eh, not really," said Li, averting his eyes from hers.

"Then we go to zoo. We see mo'key, Pa'da, tig'r, right?"

Her parent's stared at each other wondering what to do since it was impossible for them to be seen in public together. In the matter of minutes, the Foreign Affairs would get over a dozen calls of BK201's location and they would be on them faster than a bullet train.

Riku's bottom lip trembled, as tears began to form in her eyes, realizing something was afoot.

"Of course we can," Kanami intervened.

Misaki and Li looked over at her stunned.

Xxx

Misaki, Li, Kanami and Riku were dressed up in unusual attire to hide their features. Misaki wore a brown hat with most of her hair tugged inside it, loose fitting navy blue shorts, and a baggy purple shirt. The things that annoyed her were the contact lenses and black leather boots that had been a pain slipping on.

The man of her life was dressed in kaki tan shorts, a black shirt that hid his collarbones, aviator sunglasses to cover his blue eyes, and a flat brim baseball cap.

Riku had been forced to wear a bonnet and a white dress with white shoes, which had made her whine hysterically.

"Don' wanna!" she had cried. "No, no, no! Don' wanna!"

"If you don't, we drop you off at Saitou-san's place and he can watch you while we have fun," Kanami had bluffed.

Riku had growled out her displeasure, but gave in.

"Now for pretend names," Kanami had continued with. "Riku. Your name for now is Yuki, Li-kun is Tsuki, and Misaki is Maya. You can call me Hina."

"I hav' to call mama and papa by they preten' name?" Riku had asked.

"Nope."

The four walked through the crowded zoo without a hitch. Nobody gave them a second look, except for Riku's appearance. It seemed that she was the main attraction instead of the animals.

However, that ignorance had been pushed aside since Riku was able to spend time with her parents out in the open. Laughing and giggling, the abnormal family made their way towards the Gorilla Woods.

Once there, Riku stared wide-eyed at the size of the beast.

"Kan'mi-san. It big as Sai-san," said Riku.

"Yes, it is, Yuki-chan" nodded Kanami, "but don't let Saitou hear you say that. And it's Hina-san, remember?"

Riku frowned. She did not understand the reason for their new names. Lying was a bad thing, and it felt like that was what they were doing. It was confusing her.

They made their way into the Tiger Forest. Frightened at the feline's size and appearance, Li's baby girl hid behind him until they exited the woods.

Occasionally, Kanami ended up taking pictures. She snapped one with them in front of the five-storied Pagoda, another that included Li holding Riku in front of a panda, and a third with them all in front of the tea ceremony house it courtesy of a man passing by.

They took a few more pictures throughout the day.

After eating some sushi and greasy food, the family of four took the Monorail to the west lower area. Riku chimed happily in the petting zoo with the Okapis and aye-ayes.

As the sun began to set, they exited the park to head towards the train station, as Li carried an exhausted Riku on his hips, as she laid her head on his shoulder.

Once they arrived, Kanami looked at her best friend, and said, "See you later, Maya." She turned to face Li. "Don't be a stranger, Tsuki-kun!"

"I won't, and thank you, Hina," Li smirked.

"You're welcome."

Li and Misaki watched as Kanami headed towards her platform.

The young family stepped onto the train and took a seat. Li laid his daughter in his arms to make her more comfortable. A few commuters smiled at them, mostly at Riku's appearance. If she had known people were looking at her like that, she would have been upset.

The JR line pulled out of the station and began making its journey around the city.

Li looked down at Riku smiling, pleased he was able to spend a day with her in public.

"We should do this again," said Misaki.

"Ah, but give our little girl something else to wear."

"I agree," chuckled Misaki.

Twenty minutes later, the train pulled into their station. Li carefully stood, trying not to disturb Riku, and exited the train.

After a ten-minute walk, they entered Misaki's apartment complex and ascended to Misaki's floor. Stepping before her apartment, Misaki opened the door and entered it with Li following. They walked into her bedroom, Li laying Riku in the middle of the bed, and having Misaki and he settle beside her.

They watched her until they fell asleep from the long, but pleasant day.