Holy cow via buckshot. This monster needs some love. I'd like to both thank and apologize to everyone who has this story either favorited or alerted. Somehow, this story's train of thought met the same fate as the Ichijouji family. For a while, I'd wanted to permanently shelf this tale, but after nearly a year and a half of repairs, I believe it's time to get this bad boy back into action.

Therefore, it's time to stop playing around.


They continued to scream, hoping that their cries could somehow reach someone's ears.

Ken briskly walked out to the lab's parking lot, following the American agent and taking note of a small black car that Tony and Ziva stood by, waiting by the rear passenger doors. They were clearly waiting to get in. Ken paused for a moment, a blank expression on his face.

"It's a rental, Shogun." Tony sneered. "Ever seen one before?"

"Tony!" Ziva snapped. "Shut up before you disappear without a trace."

Tony smiled slyly. "Why? You planning on taking me somewhere?"

"Yes, and you will not like it."

"Save the threats for later." Gibbs said, rolling everything north of his neck in the process. He walked up to the front passenger door. He turned to the spaced out Detective. "You coming?"

Ken snapped out of his reverie and pulled his phone from his pocket, thankful that it had a long-lasting battery. A day, or longer, like this tended to take its toll on less capable power sources. He dialed a phone number and waited for the voice to answer.

"Hey, it's me." He said. "I need you to do me a favor. Head on over to Ruki's lab and wait for me. I'm going your help with something...No, I don't know how long I'll be..." He rolled his eyes slightly. "I'm sure you and Ruki can find a way to entertain each other while you wait...Thanks." He hung up and turned to Gibbs.

"Sorry," he said. "Just had to call in a favor."

"Can we get moving now?" Gibbs asked.

"Sure." Ken answered, walking to the driver's door. As he moved to the door, he couldn't help but deliver a sharp slap to the back of Tony's head. Said Agent glared at Ken as the four entered the vehicle.

"So," Tony asked. "Why does Gloomy Gus get to drive?"

"Well, DiNozzo," Gibbs replied. "Do you know your way around Tokyo?"

"I got us here, didn't I?"

"Yes," Ziva said. "After embarrassing yourself in front of several civilians trying to get directions." Tony thought about delivering his junior teammate a glare as well. Remembering who he was speaking with, however, was enough to deter him.

Ken smiled as he started the car as Tony turned to shoot her an unamused look. "Buckle up," he said as he pulled the car out of the parking lot. "I don't feel like issuing tickets."

Several minutes and one awkwardly quiet car ride later, the foursome found themselves in the parking lot of the gas station where Ken lost everything important. One section of the lot, an area beside the gas pump where he parked the doomed vehicle, was cordoned off by police tape while the remainder of the lot saw regular use. Nothing that Ken could see had been moved or altered, as the twisted bane of his existence sat in the same fateful spot. Strange, considering that under normal circumstances, the scene would have been processed by the time the group arrived.

Maybe the chief had something to do with it. He thought to himself. If I'm going to work this case, I might as well do as much as I can, I suppose.

"I guess an explosion doesn't deter good business," Tony mused.

"Gas stations stop for nobody." Gibbs said, exiting the car. Tony and Ziva followed suit, while Ken remained in the car.

Ken took a deep breath. Flashes of the night before ran through his mind. Miyako's smile. Shu's slow breathing. Rena and Sora's bickering. The dinner they shared. The burning mass of steel and flesh.

A wave of anger surged through him. He remembered the warning he'd given Wormmon, saying that whoever took his family had better hope he never caught them. Nodding to himself, he reaffirmed his vow. Whoever decided to cross him was going to pay.

"What a wonderful way to spend a weekend." he muttered under his breath.

A slight knock as the window snapped Ken out of his thoughts. Tony stood outside the door, a smile on his face.

"Can I help you, Agent DiNutso?" Ken asked through the glass.

"DiNozzo, Officer Panda." Tony answered, making no effort to hide his displeasure. "And yeah. See, we have this equipment we like to use when investigate a crime scene. Helps us collect evidence and all. Sometimes, when we have to travel around, we stash it in the trunk of the car we ride around in. Now, it's normally the driver's responsibility..."

"Yeah, yeah." Ken interrupted irritatedly. He thumbed the trunk release switch on the steering wheel. Ken opened the car door, nearly thumping Tony's legs with it.

"Next time," Ken said as he exited the vehicle. "Just ask." Tony stared incredulously as Ken walked toward the vehicle's remains. Ken smirked slightly, knowing he'd gotten the better of Tony.

"Well," Tony quipped to himself as the Japanese detective walked away. "That was rather rude."

Ken turned around for a moment, smirk still in place. "What is it you Americans say? 'Don't dish it if you can't take it'?"

Tony felt a leer coming on and did nothing to stop it. Ken started for the crime scene again, ignoring the American agent and feeling a little more triumphant.

Ziva and Gibbs stood just outside the taped scene as an officer blocked their path. Ken watched as the two agents impatiently spoke with the officer.

"Look," the young officer stressed, visibly frustrated. "I've never heard of you people. Now take your fake badges and leave before I place you both under arrest."

"I'm getting the feeling that he doesn't believe us," Ziva quipped.

"You think?" Gibbs asked. He turned back to the officer. Ken walked up to the pair as they prepared for another round of unfriendly banter.

"I'll handle this." He told the Americans as he pulled his badge from his belt. He then regarded the officer standing guard and held said badge up at eye level.

Said officer snapped straight. "Sir!" He then lifted the tape so that Ken could enter.

Ken nodded thumbed toward the agents to his side. "They're with me." The guard raised a questioning eyebrow. "International case." With that, the Japanese Detective waved the American agents in behind him. Tony, forensic equipment in hand, chased after the three, barely making it to the tape.

A couple of steps in, though, and the Americans were the only ones moving about. Ken stared at the wreckage. So many questions swam through his head. Why would Miyako be working for another country? Why wouldn't she tell him about it? Who wanted her out of the way badly enough to make a public display of it?

"You okay, Detective?" A cool voice snapped him clear once again.

Ken shook his head a bit. "Yeah."

Gibbs nodded toward the canopy covering the gas pumps. "Cameras above."

Ken looked up as well. Indeed, security cameras were posted in strategic locations, watching all who used the pumps.

He turned to Gibbs. "You think they saw something?"

Gibbs shrugged. "Worth a look."

Ken nodded. Maybe they caught something he missed. Without further exchanging words, Ken silently agreed to see about the footage. It was for the best, really. There was no real reason to keep the Detective there when the scene clearly distracted him.

And clearly, it distracted him.