Takuto was having a lot of trouble imagining Izumi as a six-year-old. He and the girls had split up once they reached the railroad tracks, each one on the lookout for a small, blond child who was maybe lost or hysterical. There were shops around and the place was bustling with shoppers. Takuto was having trouble accepting that any person could commit suicide so early in life, even someone who had given him a great amount of grief. If what Meroko had told them was correct, he doubted they would be coming across any hysterical or obviously lost child. Izumi was supposedly mature for his age. He imagined Meroko had to be having trouble with this new information as well, he couldn't imagine it sitting well with her. He hoped Mitsuki or Meroko found Izumi. It wasn't that he was bad with kids, he just wasn't too sure he'd be great with a kid he knew was actually Izumi. It kind of freaked him out.

It seemed life wasn't quite on the same page as Takuto, though, as he passed the steps of a store. A small figure was on the steps, a hat pulled far down over his head as if he were hoping to just vanish into the steps themselves. Takuto stopped before him for a couple seconds, hoping he would look up, but the boy made no acknowledgement. Deciding to take the first step, Takuto called out to him, "Hey, are you Lio Izumi?"

The boy's head snapped up, eyes wide. He stared at Takuto questioningly. Takuto shifted a bit uncomfortably at the silence and the obvious fading bruises on the boy's face. "Are you?" Takuto asked again, though, he was pretty positive he'd found the right child. Wow, though, he looks really different, Takuto thought. There was something in his eyes that convinced Takuto this was Izumi. But why was Izumi staring at him so cluelessly?

Izumi stood up, eyeing the taller man warily. "Who are you?" he demanded.

Takuto decided against getting any closer to the obviously leery Izumi. It doesn't look like his memory is as clear as Meroko's. This probably isn't good. And explains the cluelessness. "I'm Takuto. I'm here to help you."

"What happened to me?"

"What do you mean?"

"I was waiting for the train and then I was here. I don't remember coming over here."

Takuto followed Izumi's gaze to the train tracks, confused. "You were waiting for the train? You were going somewhere with someone?"

"No, I was shopping with my mom, but I-I," Izumi swiped at his eyes furiously before continuing, "The train was supposed to hit me, but then I was here instead and my mom is gone." He paused for a second, considering something else. "And all the people are different."

Ohhh, Takuto realized, recalling what Meroko had said earlier. She had appeared in the same spot as her suicide. The same must have happened with Izumi. Though, not quite the exact spot, Takuto thought gratefully, sparing another glance at the train tracks. "I see," he said softly.

Izumi still regarded him warily, taking another step back. "Who are you? Why didn't the train hit me?"

Takuto opened his mouth to say, It did, but quickly clamped it shut. The kid would probably think he was a lunatic. Obviously, Izumi did not recall being hit by any train or the life he'd led as a shinigami. Takuto glanced around, hoping to glimpse Meroko. Maybe she would trigger some kind of memory? Not seeing her, he pulled out his phone. This didn't sit too well with Izumi.

"Wh-what are you doing? You're not calling the police are you? I'm not lost," he insisted anxiously.

Takuto paused and gave him a funny look. "No, I'm not calling the police, I'm calling my friends."

"Are the police you're friends?" Izumi asked miserably. "Mom said they would take me away and put me in houses that kids don't like."

Takuto blinked, surprised. What a mom, doesn't look like you enjoyed her house much at all. "It's not the police. Their names are Mitsuki and Meroko, they're my two friends. They're looking for you, too." He tried to offer a reassuring smile, but Izumi did not look convinced. He waited for Mitsuki to pick up on the other end. When she picked up, he quickly got to the point. "Hey, Mitsuki, I found him."

Mitsuki stopped in her tracks, relief welling up in her. "That's great, Takuto! Wait, let me get Meroko, we just passed each other." She turned and quickly called out to their other friend. Meroko joined her side and they both listened in on the phone. "Okay, Takuto, she's here. How's Izumi?"

"He upset about being six again?" Meroko asked, concerned.

"Well.....no," Takuto said, turning away from said child and lowering his voice considerably. "He doesn't seem to remember anything about shinigami and he's a little confused about what's going on." He decided not to ask how Meroko knew he was six again. She must have just figured it would be likely.

"What do you mean?" Meroko demanded. "He doesn't remember 'anything?'"

Takuto shook his head before muttering, "No, and I don't want to freak him out. Come meet me, okay?" He gave them instructions, hung up, and turned towards the curious boy on the steps. "That was my friends. They're going to come meet us."

Izumi still looked doubtful and his eyes darted to the right and left as if looking for a place to run and hide.

Takuto knelt down so he was eye level and looked into his eyes, hoping he looked as honest as he was trying to be, "I promise you that me and my friends are not going to take you to the police. We are going to help you, okay?"

"What about my Mom, where is she?"

Takuto felt his mouth fall slightly while his mind frantically raced, trying to find the best words to pacify the small Izumi for now. In truthfulness, he had no idea where his mother was. "She-she wanted us to take care of you for now, okay?" he explained in a soft tone he wasn't aware he possessed. It felt as if he was having to reach deep within himself and pull out another person to deal with this bizarre situation.

Izumi regarded him for a minute, scrutinizing him, as though he expected to find the answer to his unasked question in Takuto's eyes. Finally, he gave a slight nod. "Okay," he whispered.