Sorry about the wait, but I'm back! Poor Kimiko still doesn't know she's been kidnapped or that her clan is still alive and well. This chapter we get more info about what happened the day she went missing (yesterday) and we also get to see everyone's favorite blue clansman!

Chapter 4: Familiar Face

Dreaming is bittersweet. On the one hand it's like a prison. You can't do anything but face your nightmares. But on the other hand, at least it's an escape from the nightmare of reality. And as I lay there, forcing to rest from whatever medication has been forced on me, I remember more...

I had finally gotten back to HOMRA. I climbed up the fire escape and into my window. I didn't want anyone knowing I had been gone all night. As soon as I closed the window and latched it, I heard a knock at the door. "One sec!" I removed my coat, ruffled my hair, grabbed a brush and ran to the bedroom door. As I opened it, I brushed my hair as if I was just finishing getting ready for the day. "Oh, Morning Izumo."

He was standing with his arms crossed and eyes narrowed through his sunglasses. "Where where you last night?" I stopped brushing my hair and tossed the brush back on the bed.

"What are you talking about I was here."

I pushed by him as he said, "Anna had a nightmare last night." I stopped. She hadn't had nightmares since before the destruction of the slates. Before I could even turn around, Kusanagi added, "Normally you are the first person to her side when she has a nightmare. But last night, you weren't there."

"I had... fallen asleep with my headphones on. Listening to some of Tatara's music."

"You're a shitty liar, Miko-chan."

"Shut up, Izumo." I turned and walked downstairs and he followed.

"What's going on with you, Kimiko? You've been acting strange for a week. Ever since you went on patrol with, Yo-san. Did he do something to upset you?"

"No," I made it downstairs and walked to the bar to grab a bottle of water from the cabinet. "Why would you think that?"

"Because you both act strange around each other. If I didn't know any better I would say you both are hiding something from the rest of us." I was just about to come up with another crappy lie when the door to HOMRA swung open and in walked Chitose and Dewa.

"Hey," I grinned at them both. "Where have you boys been?" I asked as if I didn't already know.

Kusanagi walked up next to me and asked them, "Did you find out why that gang was causing trouble in our territory?"

"Afraid so," Dewa nodded and added, "Come on in. They are going to find out eventually." Both Kusanagi and I tilted our heads to see who Dewa was talking to. As he stepped aside, we saw Misaki standing there. He had bruises all over his arms and face and his lip and nose where bleeding.

"Misaki!" I gasped as I jumped the counter and ran to him. I cradled his head in my hands and immediately felt the embarrassment he was feeling. I removed my hands and whipped my head towards Yo and shouted, "Chitose, what the hell!?"

He put up his hands in defense and laughed while saying, "Woah woah, don't get all bent out of shape. It's not my doing. He was like this when we found him."

"I'm fine, Miko," Misaki protested as he wiped his bloody lip with his sleeve.

Dewa patted Misaki on the head and laughed, "He put up a good fight. It's a good thing we showed up though. That Daku gang was about to make mince meat out of him."

"Daku?!" I grabbed Yata by the ear and shouted, "You picked a fight with a Yakuza gang?! What were you thinking, moron?!" Chitose and Dewa stepped back with surprised expressions. It was clear they didn't expect me to lash out at Yata like I did. I was furious though. I continued yelling, "Didn't you learn you lesson the first time, Yata-san?" You and Saruhiko almost got killed last time you messed with them!" It was true. Their first month as HOMRAs, Saru and Misaki had been dared to prowl through Daku gang territory and had gotten caught.* They were lucky they survived.

Yata pulled from my grasp and shouted back defensively, "That was different! I was weak back then."

"This is a stupid. stupid thing you've done, Yatagarasu! Daku gang members are known for hating clans. They practically live to take out punks like you!"

"Oh, so I'm a punk now?! And since when do you know so much about the Yakuza? You don't know everything, Kimiko!" Yata stormed by me and went to his room.

After an awkward silence, Kusanagi said, "I guess this would be a bad time to tell you... I assigned Misaki as your patrol partner for the day so... Good luck with that."

I just groaned and fell into one of the couches. "Ugh, this is going to be quite a day, isn't it? Why did I even bother waking up..."

Wake up... wake up... hey, you alive or what?

"T-Totsuka?"

My eyes open in the hospital again and the room is blurry. I see, sitting on the bed beside me, a blurry vision of someone. Blonde hair. Brown eyes.

"Y-you're here again. I knew you'd be..." I blink a few times as the vision clears. Why isn't he saying anything?

Then I hear the voice, not Tatara's, say, "Did you?"

My eyes widen as I realize that someone is actually in front of me and it isn't Tatara! "W-who are you?" I push myself as far back into my hospital bed as I can as the person sets a hand on mine. I can feel that they are genuinely concerned about me and somewhat offended at my reaction, but I yank my hand away and slap them before I have the chance to feel anything else. "Don't touch me!"

"Ow," he hisses as he turns his head to the side and mutters, "Damn, Lav. All those years and the first thing you do is slap me?"

I don't recognize the voice, but only one person calls me 'Lav'. I stare at him as he holds his cheek. I whisper, "Tatsu... Tatsuharu?"

Hearing his name, he lifts his face and looks at me. He's grown up. I look at a pair of brown eyes identical to mine that I haven't seen since they graced the face of an innocent eleven-year-old boy. He mutters with a blank face, "Good... for a moment there I thought you had forgotten me."

"Forgot you?" I reach to put my hand on his cheek but hesitate when I remember to avoid his skin. I set it on the side of his face atop his hair. "How can I forget my little brother?" I try not to cry as I carefully embrace the only member of my family that I truly miss.

Meanwhile at SCEPTER 4...

Fushimi is dead tired. He is used to not sleeping, but this is a different kind of tired. A few months ago, he wouldn't have cared if Kimiko lived or died. But when she helped Misaki rescue him from JUNGLE... things changed.

"I told you... You'll always be one of my boys." Her voice echoes in his mind as he stares at the computer screen. He scanned a picture of Kimiko into his database and was now using it to search city traffic cameras for any sign of her. "Fushimi?"

"Hai?" He responded to the voice behind him without turning.

"You need to get some rest."

"I'll be fine, Lieutenant." He simply leans back in his chair as Seri Awashima walks up behind him. He sets his hands behind his head and mutters, "I'm almost done anyway."

"You said that two hours ago. Have you even eaten yet?"

"I think I had a mint an hour ago."

Awashima closes Fushimi's computer, causing him to sit up straight and look at her. She sternly looks at him, but there is care in her voice. "Fushimi. Go take a break. That's an order."

"You are ordering me to take a break? That seems a bit backwards."

"It's still an order. Now go."

"All due respect, ma'am," He starts as he picks up his computer and stands, "but this isn't SCEPTER 4 business. This is... a personal favor I'm doing for someone. So you don't have the authority to make me stop."

"Fushimi-" Before she can say more, he turns to leave the room.

As soon as the doors have closed behind him he stops. Taking out his phone, he reads a lot unread texts. They say, "Found anything? Hello? Hello?! Answer me, Monkey!" He lifts his thumb to text back, but stops and puts his phone away. "Not yet, Misaki," he whispers. "I'm not responding until I have good news for you." He walks down the hall, unaware that Awashima had been listening through the cracked door.

Once he vanishes around the corner, she pulls out her own phone and sends a message. "I hope you find her soon, Izumo. For everyone's sake."

Back at the Hospital...

"Lav. God, I thought you were gone forever."

"I can't believe this."

"I know... it's been so long. But you're here now. We're together-"

"Tatsu," I gently push away, "Wait... I can't do this."

"What?"

"I WAS gone. You have to remember that. I'm not part of the family anymore."

"What? Because of Dad? Lavina, he wants you back. He misses you."

"H-he does? That doesn't sound like him."

"He wants you to come back home... with me. It will be like you never left. Things can go back to the way they were."

My face falls into a frown as I recall the way things were when I left home at the age of 17. "No, Tatsu."

"Why not?" His face matches mine as we stare at each other the way Izumo and I do when we are arguing... I mean did.

"I don't want that life anymore. I'm a HOMRA now."

"Your clan is gone, Lav!" His voice turns stern. "They aren't coming for you. WE are the only family you have left!"

"... my family is dead to me."

"Because of what happened all those years ago? Things have changed, Lavina. Our father-"

"YOUR father. Not mine." I cross my arms and glare at him. He looks hurt as he stares at me. It's as if my words were daggers.

"Don't forget who raised you, Lavina. He made you his own. Gave you his name..." A long while goes by before anything else is said. For a moment I am expecting him to get up and leave, but he doesn't.

I decide to break the silence myself, "Tatsu... how did-"

"Haru."

"What?"

"If you don't wish to be a Kiyomizu, then at least respect that I am not the weak 'Tatsu' anymore. I go by Haru now." His voice has changed. It's colder and emotionless now.

I slightly nod and continue, "Haru-san then... how did you find me?"

"A couple of the boys pulled you bleeding from a ditch. They dropped you off here out of respect for you as an old friend. Then they called us and told us what had happened. We came here right away."

"Bullshit."

He looks at me surprised. I have my IVed arms crossed as I stare him down with examining eyes and continue by saying, "Normal orders would be to leave me where I was and not bother Kiyomizu-sempai with news of his disowned step-daughter."

"Things have changed."

"Clearly..." We are silent again. This is my worst nightmare. My family has suddenly reappeared on top of my trying to believe that HOMRA is gone? It's too much to process in this tiny little room. I feel like the walls are closing in on me.

"Lavina..."

"Kimiko."

"Fine," he hisses, "Kimiko, the truth is... you're right. Normal orders would be to leave you in the ditch. But... three people found you. Only two of them were our boys."

I raise an eyebrow at the statement. Then I remember something the nurse said. They all respond to the same last name as yours. Well, except for that one tall boy... I didn't catch his name. He's been very quiet, but refuses to leave. He was with the group that found you injured. "Who... who was the third?" I ask.

"My mentor and... an old friend of yours."

"Stop being vague. Who was it?"

"Why should I tell you?" He asks with an eye-roll. "I bet you have lots of other questions. Like what happened to your clan. Or if they came to even visit you in this hell hole."

"Didn't they?"

"I'll tell you, if you agree to let me visit with you. I had to sneak by the nurse to get in here. They wont let us in."

"As I requested..."

"I can tell you about your clan. About what happened to you. But you have to get out of this bed first."

"How do I know you aren't just doing what father tells you? Lying always was one of your talents. Why should I trust you?"

"Because..." He stands up and walks to the door then looks back at me. "Because I'm the only person you have left to trust." He begins to close the door and I shout, "WAIT!"

"what?" He looks aggravated as he opens the door back up.

"What made our father change his mind about me? Why does he want me back?"

"He's getting old and needs an heir. He doesn't want me to do it. He wants you to do what you trained your entire life for."

"What do you mean?" That's a stupid question. I know what he means.

He stares me down with his brown eyes and mumbles, "He want's you to take your rightful place, as head of the Kiyomizu group... as the leader of the Yakuza."

*referring to a one shot I wrote about team Sarumi in my collection of drabbles, "K Chronicles" (The Dare)

Alright, so Kimiko-chan as a little bro! Maybe that's why she's always acting like an older sister to HOMRA and calling them "her boys?" eh? eh? Yea that's obvious I guess. But what was it that made her leave home six years ago (or seven as she currently thinks)? And yea, our boy Fushimi is in the story now! I try to at least get every character to make an appearance in my stories, so keep your eyes open for more familiar faces. Please fav, follow and review! And as always, you will get a sneak peak at the next chapter if you review!