*peeks from behind a wall and waves timidly* Um... hi! I'm still alive... Here's Chapter 4. Hope you enjoy. *runs away*

Chapter 4: It begins

I didn't sleep anymore that night, just laid there with my eyes staring up at the darkness until sunlight filtered through the window.

I got ready for work on autopilot. As I stepped out the door, something hit me - RANKO. I yanked out my phone and shot her a text: 'Hey Ranko, are you ok?' I wouldn't be able to speak and Ranko normally responded to texts faster anyway.

Clutching my phone tightly as I made my way to work, I nearly jumped out of my skin when it screamed out with a notification. I stopped in the doorway to check the text.

'Yeah girl, I'm fine. I had a freaky dream last night, though. We'll talk later!' - Ranko

I let out a sigh of relief and held the phone to my chest.

"Uh, Kiyuki? Hello?"

The voice of my coworker, Mitsuru, startled me into realizing I was blocking the entrance to the museum. "Oh, sorry! Hi, Mitsuru!"

"Are you ok?" He asked.

"Yeah," I smiled. "I am now."

I went about my work as usual, managing to keep my thoughts of the imposter at bay until I got off.

I walked into LRN looking pensive.

"Welcome, Kiyuki," came Boss' cheerful voice. "What'll it be?"

"Water," I answered absently, sitting at the bar counter. I drifted off into my thoughts. Ranko had texted me during lunch talking about how bored she was with no interviews. The freaky dream entailed of "some wierdo coming into her room, making her call a friend, and then knocking her out." That sounded about right.

I looked up when the strong smell of orange assaulted my nostrils to see Boss' understanding smile.

"It's hot, sweet, orange-flavored water," He said, "but water nonetheless."

I gave him and half-smile. "Thanks." I sipped at the sweet citrus liquid, closing my eyes at the comforting heat going down my throat and spreading through my chest. "Are we having a meeting tonight?" I asked in a low voice.

He nodded once before going off to tend to another patron.

Boss closed up a bit early and had us gather around Takuto's laptop. Kenshi was missing because he had the late shift at his job. The blogger had posted a new article.

Today's star is the boss of The Black Foxes. He's an older guy for you more mature women out there but LADIES, he is NO pushover when it does mostly intel work so you'd have a hard time catching him in the field - but if you're lucky enough to - the man can fight!

And he's such a darling heart; looks after the boys like his own blood. Beard or no beard, glasses or contacts, he's a looker and don't be fooled by his a-dork-able smile. He's got a lot going on in that head of his. Like, he's been through a lot but it doesn't define him or his personality.

He definitely knows how to treat a lady.

Hiro tilted his head. "Are we sure Kenny's the one she's got a crush on?"

"This post sounds more like an ad for a matchmaking service," Riki mumbled.

"If Boss' identity gets out," Takuto sneered, "imagine all the desperate old ladies that'll be lined up to meet him."

Atsumu frowned. "I'm not that old!" He insisted. "And I'm sure they would be quite charming, mature ladies."

"Uhhh… anyone remember we're trying to PREVENT this from happening?" Riki called out, steering us back on track.

"Oh, right," Hiro laughed. "Moving on."

So, intelligent, strong, caring to a fault, chill on the surface while seasoned and mature underneath-

"And now he sounds like a cut of meat…"

The boss of The Black Foxes is a force to be reckoned with. Connections are key in the shadows and he has MORE than a few.

"This girl is annoying," Takuto grumbled.

"At least she keeps her word," I mumbled without thinking.

"Whadda you mean?" Hiro asked.

"She keeps her word?" Boss repeated in a voice that was half-curious and half-inquiring.

Riki just shot me with a sharp look.

Darn their sharp hearing… I dropped my gaze to the floor. No one said a word so I sighed and spilled. "I talked to the fake Ranko."

Exclamations of "What?!" "When?!" And "How?!" Filled the bar.

"They called from Ranko's phone at like three something in the morning-" I started to explain when they started up again.

"I knew it was her!" Takkun.

"They stole her phone?!" Hiro.

"No!" I exclaimed. "Just stop!" I shouted. "Please!" A stunned silence took over and I continued. "Ranko called then they took the phone from her. The voice was all warbly so I can't say for sure if it was a boy or girl. They told me that the next article would be about Boss."

"Wait," Atsumu paused with a thoughtful expression. "So they were with her at that time?"

I nodded. "I think they knocked her out when they took the phone."

"Was she at home?" Riki asked.

"Is she ok?" Hiro fired after.

"Yeah, she was home and yeah, she's ok. I texted her when I went to work and she thinks it was a freaky dream."

"I'm guessing her brother wasn't home," Riki mused and I nodded.

"I didn't ask but I don't think so."

Takuto didn't look up from his laptop. "Did the blogger say anything else?"

I thought back. To be honest, I had to keep convincing myself that the incident wasn't a dream as well. "I remember them saying something about lying… Like, we shouldn't lie to people we trust or love the most... "

Hiro scrunched his eyebrows at this. "Where did that come from?"

I shrugged. "They were really adamant about it. Going on about how they admire what you do but nothing good comes from keeping secrets and we owe certain people the truth- it was weird. I can't remember it all to be honest."

Riki huffed. "That's rich coming from someone hiding behind someone else's name."

"Oh!" I looked up. "Speaking of names, they called all of you guys' last names."

Everyone but Boss' eyes went wide.

"Last names," Takuto repeated.

"Yeah. Mr. Kashiwabara, Mr. Yanase, Mr. Hirukawa. Just like that."

Riki's eyes narrowed fiercely. "She's dangerous. She knows too much."

"I was also thinking that she might have thief experience…" I mumbled to the ground.

At this Takuto looked up, although he didn't stop typing. "What makes you think that?"

"She got in and out of Ranko's house without a trace. I told you, Ranko thinks it was a dream."

"So she's good with computers and is good at sneaking in, supposedly," Riki surmised.

"And we've got nothing to go on to set about even finding anything on this person," Atsumu continued with a hard face. "She's working like a professional but I get the feeling she's toying with us."

Hiro frowned. "I don't like this game."

Riki looked at me. "Did they give any hint at a time frame?"

"Well, all the guys will have a post dedicated to them," I spoke as I replayed what little I could remember, "so with you two and Hiro left, that's three, then I think she said two more before the big reveal."

"I'm guessing she didn't say if these would be daily or whatever," Takuto grumbled.

Not that I remember, I thought as I shook my head, smartly keeping that comment to myself.

"So that's at least 3-5 days we have," Riki said to himself. I could almost see the actual gears turning in his head as he tried to come up with a plan. "We may have to lure her out," I thought I heard him mumble under his breath.

It's coming together somewhat, I think. I don't have a laptop/computer so I can't type/post regularly BUT I do have ideas and drafts for future chapters handwritten in my book!

~cascadedkiwi~