Chapter Two: Disappearance Act

Hitomi sat down quietly at her desk and stared at the moon that was shining brightly in the sky. Her light curtains moved slightly as a breeze came into the room and she sighed heavily. On impulse she pulled open the top drawer of her desk and glanced inside. But when she looked in she saw that what she was looking for wasn't there. In a panic she began to rummage through the drawer frantically. Finally realizing what had happened to the object she slammed the drawer shut, angrily stood from her desk, and left her room heading for the bedroom at the other end of the hallway.

"Ken!" she pounded on her brother's door, "Open up! I know you're in there!"

Her younger brother opened his door abruptly with a scowl.

"What do you want?" he replied sourly.

"Where are they?" she demanded.

"Where are what?" he asked feigning ignorance.

"Where are they?" she repeated, "I told you not to touch them and I know you took them" she pushed her way into the room.

"Took what?" he said exasperated, "I don't know what you're talking about" he replied defensively.

"Don't play dumb with me Kentaro, I know you took them."

"Took what?"

"My tarot cards."

"I don't have your dumb cards," he said scoffingly.

"Don't lie to me. I know you took them."

"I don't have them. Get out!" he pushed her roughly back towards the door, "Quit harassing me."

"I told you those cards are dangerous," she said in a scared tone as she reached the front of the doorway.

"Yea right" he snorted, "They're nothing but a dumb game. I told you already I don't have your stupid cards. Now get out of my room!" he ordered pointing his finger.

"Fine" she said in a huff, "Just put them back in my room if you get your conscience back" she stalked out his door and headed back to her own room.

He closed his door with a bang and shook his head as he slightly stared at a box that was near his bed.

"She's crazy."

()

The next morning Yukari and Hitomi met at the train station for their outing. Kentaro was off at Kendo practice and would be home later in the evening. Hitomi was certain she would be seeing her cards back in her drawer when she arrived home but worried just the same that her brother was using them. As they shopped Yukari noticed the worried expression on her face and turned to her.

"Hitomi" she replied, "What's going on?"

"Huh?"

"What's going on?" she repeated, "You seem like something's on your mind."

"Oh it's nothing Yukari. I just got into a fight with my little brother last night."

"Well that's not so unusual. That always happens. What did you argue about?"

"It's not that important" Hitomi shook her head, "He just took something of mine, that's all."

"That's typical of little brothers, what did he take?"

"I don't want to talk about it" Hitomi replied shaking her head again, "Let's continue shopping. I'll worry about it when I get home" she said managing a smile.

"Whatever you say" Yukari nodded with a smile of her own and began perusing through the rack of shirts that she was standing next to once more.

Around noon they were sitting in a small café finishing up their lunch. Hitomi felt her cell phone vibrate and lifted it out of her pocket to answer it.

"Hello. Mom?" she said in a surprised tone, "Mom. Calm down. What happened? No I haven't heard from him. I thought he had a kendo lesson this morning. No, I'm not doing anything important. Maybe he just went to one of his friends house after" she suggested as she listened to her mother's frantic voice on the other end, "Okay. I understand. I'll see you later" Hitomi clicked off the phone and paused for a moment before pulling up her purse.

"What's up?" Yukari asked curiously.

"My brother is missing apparently. Mom has been trying to reach him on his cell phone for the last half hour. Knowing him the little twerp just turned it off."

"Well that's not so strange is it?"

"No. He probably went over to one of his friends house, lost track of time, and forgot to tell mom. But I have to go home anyway and wait for him. I'm sorry about this."

"That's okay" Yukari replied as they both stood up, "I can go with you. We'll wait for him together."

"Thanks Yukari" Hitomi nodded appreciatively.

"No problem" Yukari grinned, "Besides he's probably home right now" she added as they departed the area and headed for Hitomi's residence.

Little did the two of them know how wrong they were.

()

For three hours passed by and Hitomi and Yukari waited for Ken's return with no sign of him. An hour later Hitomi's mother came home and asked her daughter along with Yukari to go look for him around the neighborhood while she called around at his friend's houses. At the moment, also Hitomi's father was on a business trip and wouldn't be returning until later that week so her mother said she would call him too since it might be possible that Ken had talked to him recently. Hitomi and Yukari began to search the area as thoroughly as they could. Finally they arrived at the dojo where Ken took his kendo lessons only to find that the place was closed for the day. So they headed back toward the street where the Kanzaki residence was located and happened upon two boys that Hitomi was certain were her brother's classmates.

"Excuse me" Hitomi replied politely as she approached the two fourteen-year-old boys.

They stopped talking and smiled as she stood in front of them.

"Hitomi" the tall brunette said, "It's been a long time since I saw you last."

"Yes, it has Sosuke" she smiled again, "I was wondering if you could tell me something?"

"Sure. I'll do what I can" he nodded very enthusiastically while the other guy admired her looks.

"Did you talk to my brother today in kendo class?"

The two boys looked at each other and then the shorter of the two spoke.

"Which one is your brother?" he asked.

"Kentaro Kanzaki."

"You're Ken's big sister?" he said stunned.

"Yes. I am. Did either of you talk to him today?"

"Sorry Hitomi" Sosuke replied confused after looking at his friend again, "But Ken didn't come to practice today."

"He didn't?" she said surprised her eyes becoming wide, "How can that be?"

"We were kind of wondering that ourselves" he nodded, "He never misses a class. But he didn't show. Is he sick or missing or something?"

"We don't know yet" she replied back distractedly looking back at Yukari who was talking to Mrs. Kanzaki on Hitomi's cell phone, "But if you do see him, or hear anything please let us know or send him home right away."

"No problem."

"We should get back to your house Hitomi" Yukari suggested as she hang up on the cell.

"Yea. Thanks Sosuke" Hitomi said in a hurry as she led the way at a run with Yukari behind her back to her house.

"Don't mention it" Sosuke replied as the two boys watched them leave, "I wonder what happened to Ken?"

"Hard to say" his friend shrugged, "But man his sister."

"What about her?"

"She's cute!"

"Come on man" Sosuke grinned and the two of them began to walk down the street intent on searching for Ken to help do their part.

()

The sky was overcast that night as Mrs. Kanzaki and Hitomi sat in their living room. Hours before Yukari had departed when the police arrived. Mr. Kanzaki had been notified and was on his way home. At this moment the police were still searching for the young boy, but with no news of his whereabouts yet Mrs. Kanzaki's worried expression was apparent. Hitomi yawned cautiously behind her hand but her mother saw it anyway and turned to her kindly.

"You shouldn't stay up sweetie. You have school tomorrow" she replied.

"I can't even think about school right now mom" Hitomi shook her head, "I want to stay up with you and wait for him."

"No" her mother shook her own head, "You missed enough school last year as it is. You simply can't miss any more time. You have to go tomorrow. Don't worry about your brother. I will wait for him."

"But mom" Hitomi began to protest.

"Hitomi" her mother said urgently and with pleading eyes, "Do this for me. Go to bed and go to school tomorrow."

"Okay" Hitomi nodded reluctantly finally complying, "I'll go to bed mom. And I'll go to school tomorrow if that's what you really want?"

"Yes. That's what I want," she added as Hitomi stood, "Goodnight dear."

"Goodnight mom" Hitomi replied after kissing her mother on the forehead.

She climbed the stairs with a heavy heart and paused in the hallway staring at her brother's bedroom door that was shut tightly. Then she walked into her own room and over to her desk. She slowly pulled open the top drawer and peered in. Her shoulders sank as she stared sadly at the contents of the drawer.

"Still not there" she whispered silently to herself, "They're still not there."

()

Walking down the street the next morning Hitomi felt like her feet were made of lead. She didn't really understand why her mother had insisted she'd go to school when her brother was still missing. It had made absolutely no sense and as she arrived at the schoolyard she shook her head at the ludicrousy of it all. Yukari spotted her right away and ran up to her.

"Hitomi, what are you doing here?" she said in a worried tone, "I thought you'd be home. Did you find your brother yet?"

"No" Hitomi shook her head, "Mom just insisted I come today. I don't even want to be here. I just" she stopped suddenly staring at something to her left with intense eyes.

"Hitomi?" Yukari replied still confused, "What is it?"

Hitomi didn't answer. Instead she walked towards the lef5t where a small bush was located. Stuck inside the leaves of the bush was a small card no bigger than a playing card. Yukari followed her friend until she came to an abrupt halt at the bush and picked it up.

"Hitomi?"

Hitomi stared at the card in her palm and her eyes became wide.

"This is one of my cards."

"What?"

"Yukari, this is one of my tarot cards."

"Hitomi" Yukari shook her head in disbelief, "That could belong to anyone."

"No. This is one of my cards" Hitomi insisted, "Ken had these. I told him not to touch them. I know that this is my card."

"Hitomi" Yukari began to protest.

"And there's another one" she said running away from the bush and toward the front of the school gate once more.

She picked it up from the ground and nodded.

"It is."

"Hitomi, we're gonna be late for class."

"I don't care about class right now" Hitomi replied certainly and with determination holding the cards tightly in her grasp, "I have to follow this path" she dashed from the school her duffel bag swinging on her arm.

"Well" Yukari hesitated, looked around her, and then picked up her own bag, "Wait for me!" she ran after her friend still thoroughly baffled.

()

By the time they reached the middle of town, Hitomi had most of the cards in her hand. Even Yukari was amazed by the trail they were following. Finally they arrived at a small temple where Hitomi retrieved the latest card by squatting down.

"The death card" Hitomi replied solemnly, "I remember this card well."

"I don't see any other cards Hitomi" Yukari said worried and somewhat out of breath.

Hitomi nodded but then looked straight ahead into the temple.

"I see something else" she replied springing to her feet and running inside with Yukari closely behind her.

Inside down on the old brick lay the final card and a bright blue baseball cap. Hitomi squatted down a second time and turned over the card her eyes becoming wide once more at the sight of it.

"The ace of serpents. The dragon card. This is the final card of the pack. And this" she picked up the cap, "This is Ken's."

"Now how do you know that?" Yukari asked disbelievingly.

"I just know it. I feel it. He was here" Hitomi stood up with the objects in hand and the tarot cards now in her pocket, "He was here with these and something happened."

"What? I mean did he just disappear?"

"No" Hitomi shook her head and then stared at their environment, "Yukari does this place look somewhat familiar to you?"

"Should it?"

"It was here" Hitomi replied walking around, "This is where it happened? The dragon."

"Dragon?"

"You remember? You and Amano. You were there. It was the very first time I went to Gaia."

"I don't know Hitomi" Yukari said scratching the back of her head her eyebrows furrowing, "That time is very fuzzy to me."

"Think about it. We were on the track. And I was running. Amano was counting seconds. You were cheering me on from the sidelines. And then."

"The dragon!" Yukari exclaimed with wide eyes as she remembered.

"Right."

"And that was the night that weird boy took you away in the that strange light."

"Yes" Hitomi nodded, "To Gaia."

Suddenly as these words came out of her mouth the wind began to pick up at their feet and a bright light filled the room.

"Hitomi!" Yukari shouted, "What's happening?"

In the next second the light disappeared and the spot where the girls and the cap had been was completely vacant.

()

(To be continued…)