A/N: Finally had time to update! Sorry for the short chapter, but there were a few things that needed to be addressed before the plot can continue. Hope you guys enjoy it and please R&R

Chapter 14: Cooperation

Naruse Ryou (a.k.a. Manaka Tomoo) awoke to the heat and warmth of the sun as it shined down upon him through the windows. I forgot to close the blinds last night, he thought as he grudgingly got up from his over-heated bed and headed towards his travel bags and pulled out his toothbrush and tooth paste before heading to the bathroom. He stayed in the shower longer than usual, enjoying the feel of the warm water hitting his skin. The shower used to be a place where Naruse can allow his tears to flow freely and his mind to wonder during his younger days. Later it became a time when he can relax his tense muscles from the stress of school and work, and his constantly angered mind. Although nowadays, he doesn't use the shower as a time to get away from life, he still enjoyed it and usually took his time.

As he finished, he debated on whether he should call Shiori-san or go and visit her at the café. He glanced at the clock, 07:30, it was still early and since Shiori-san was still trying to battle the jetlag, he guessed that she should still be asleep. I guess I should go to the café then.

Naruse decided to walk to the café, like he usually did before. He took his time to inhale the clean air and bask in the sun, as he had little time to do so in New York. As he walked up the familiar road, he looked around and took in his surroundings. Nothing had changed much; one of the shops had been renovated, while another small shop that used to sell fabrics closed down and was now a pet shop. He continued to survey his surroundings and was glad that things weren't too different. He stopped short as he closed the distance to the church. The doors were open, inviting people in with open arms as angels watched over you from the top. He gulped and momentarily wondered if he should go in. God forgives, though I highly doubt even He can forgive someone like me, he thought, as he approached the steps of the church slowly. Before he knew it, he had entered and knelt down on one of the pews in the front row. He heard soft footsteps coming towards him and turned to see a priest dressed in normal black attire head towards him.

"My son, you are here early. Is there something bothering you?" the old man's gentle and soft voice asked.

Naruse stared into the warm and compassionate eyes of the Father and sighed as he got up and sat on the pews, eyes staring at the floor.

"Father, does God always forgive our sins?" Naruse asked quietly.

The Father smiled and went to sit next to the young man. "God offers forgiveness to those who truly want it," he replied.

"I doubt He'll forgive me though, even if I ask for it," Naruse whispered sadly. "I'd hurt so many people in the past, destroyed so many lives. I know that no matter what I do in the future, I can never atone for the mistakes that I have made."

"The first step to atonement is knowing that you'd done wrong and want to right it. Forgiveness is not given in all places, but that doesn't mean that one should not try to seek it. Redemption is a long road, and it can be assured that the times ahead will not always be peaceful and challenges and obstacles can threaten you off course, but if you faithfully follow your heart and your wish to change for the better, God will offer you a second chance. Forgiveness and atonement is not a gift, it is something that must be earned," the Father smiled at the young man in front of him, seeing the sincerity in the troubled man's eyes.

Naruse smiled and thanked the priest earnestly as he left the church with a sudden calmness in his heart as he continued his way to Shiori's café.

Shiori smiled as she woke up. She didn't remember her dream but knew that it was a good one and she had a feeling that today was going to be a good day. She looked at the clock and saw that it was 8:30 so she decided to go down and see if Eri needed any help with the shop. As she descended the stairs, she stopped and beamed at the sight in front of her. There, at one of the tables near the door, sat Naruse-san. He was dressed in comfortable dark blue jeans with a light blue dress shirt, the top two buttons undone, and his sleeves were pushed up to his elbows. I guess that's his current fashion trend. He had a peaceful demeanor as he sat and chatted with Eri, the two occasionally laughed at something that he said. His hair was a bit messy and the dark eye bags that were usually under his eyes were almost gone. He looked like a young, handsome angel as he sat there, the sun shining off his skin as his serene presence calmed her.

As if sensing somebody staring at him, Naruse turned towards Shiroi and gave her a warm smile as he saw her. "Good morning Shiori-san," he said in a light tone.

"Good morning Naruse-san," Shiori replied.

Feeling that it was time to leave the two alone, Eri stood up from her seat and said something about having to brew more coffee before heading towards the kitchen. She looked back and saw Shiori sit in her previously occupied chair and a small smile crept on her face.

"You're here early, I didn't expect you or else I would've woken up earlier. You didn't wait long did you?" Shiori asked.

"No, I just got here and I was enjoying my chat with Eri-san, don't worry," Naruse chuckled. "I told you I would call today but I figured that you would still be sleeping so I decided to drop by instead of waking you up,"

Shiori smiled at his thoughtfulness. She was about to ask him about his night when his calm and tranquil features were suddenly replaced with a look of guilt and sadness. "I want to go see Sora-chan and apologize to her mother," he stated in a soft voice, "before we go and see Serizawa-san at the police station."

Shiori smiled at the man in front of her, pride swelling in her heart as she realized that he was indeed changing and wanted to right his wrongings as much as he can. "Of course we can, I know where she lives. I just visited them a month ago for Sora-chan's birthday. She's going to be so happy to see her Nii-chan again," she said.

After Shiori finished her breakfast, at Naruse's adamant request, the pair headed towards Sora-chan's house. Just as Shiori had predicted, Sora-chan was ecstatic when she saw Naruse and ran up to him and hugged his legs tightly before dragging him and Shiori into her house. Her mother was currently cooking breakfast and was surprised at her early morning visitors. It was Saturday and so she didn't have to rush to work, so she spent her time cooking breakfast for her daughter. When she offered Naruse and Shiori some, they politely declined and the four sat around the table making small talk as Sora-chan and her mother ate. After eating, Sora-chan led Shiori up to her room while Naruse volunteered to stay downstairs and do the dishes. I guess it's now or never.

As the pair dried off the dishes and sat at the table again sipping tea, Naruse suddenly blurted out. "Shinitani-san, I'm so sorry!" he said as he got down on his knees and bowed low.

She gave him a confused look and rushed to help him back up, "Naruse-san, what are you doing? Please get up! Why are you apologizing?"

"It was my fault! I was the one who sent you the mist gun, and told a guy to give the teddy bear to Sora-chan. It was I who planned for him to take Sora-chan to the amusement park so you would think that she was kidnapped. I sent the exact same teddy bear to the loan shark and that's how I manipulated you into thinking that it was he who kidnapped Sora-chan." Naruse said regretfully as his forehead touched the floor. "I was the one who made you into an indirect murderer, it was my fault that you have to move houses and get a new job!"

"I know that you may never forgive me, and I don't expect you to, nor do I think I deserve it, but I am so sorry!"

He waited for a few moments before raising his head to look at the silent women standing in front of him. She was staring down at him with a look of confusion, anger, and a hint of disbelief.

"So what you are trying to tell me is that you are the one who manipulated me into killing the loan shark and have caused me to have to deal with that guilt on my conscience. I lost my job, my friends, my house, and even Sora was bullied at school. It was all because of you," she stated as hurt and betrayal flashed in her yes.

"Yes, but I'm so sorry. I really do regret it. I thought that if I could get you off with the plead of self defense then everything would be okay. I didn't plan that you would have to suffer so much," Naruse replied weakly.

"But why? Why me? Why did you help me after getting me in trouble?" Shinitani asked.

"I had a personal vendetta against Serizawa Naoto and his friends and swore to make them pay for killing my younger brother," Naruse started, deciding that it was better to be honest. "Ishimoto Yosuke was one of my targets. I knew that you owed him money and worked at Serizawa's father's company, so you were the perfect person for my plan. I helped you because I did not want an innocent person to be forever hurt because of my personal plan of vengeance and I thought it was fitting to use the plead of self defense to release the person who killed Serizawa's best friend as it was the same plead he used to escape punishment for his crimes years ago."

Shinitani stared at the man before her, still trying to absorb the things that he'd just told her. "I believed you. I trusted you with my daughter! I came to you during my most desperate of times, unknowing that you were the cause to my suffering in the first place," she said. "God, I'm such an idiot!"

Before Naruse could say anything, Sora dashed into the room. "Nii-chan, nii-chan! I just drew a picture of you, nee-chan, and me, come upstairs and I'll show it to you," she yelled as she grabbed his arm.

Naruse shot Shinitani a look as she slowly walked over to her bouncing daughter.

"Maybe next time Sora," she said, quickly removing Sora's grip on Naruse's arm and pulling her away from him. "Nii-chan has a lot of work to do, he was just about to leave now," she said and gave Naruse a cold, hard look.

He took the hint and answered, "Yeah Sora-chan, I've got a few things I need to do since I've been gone for so long. I'll visit you soon though."

As Shiori and Naruse left, Sora-chan stood at her door and waved to them with a great smile plastered on her face, "Good bye, nii-chan, nee-chan, come and play with me soon!"

Naruse's heart broke at the innocence of the young girl and the trusting look in her eyes as they walked away. She doesn't know what a monster I truly am.

It was not a good morning for Serizawa Naoto. After jolting out of his hotel bed from a nightmare, he glanced at the clock and realized that he was going to be late for work. He ran and ran to the station and was still 15 minutes late. In his haste, he knocked down the files a co-worker was holding, almost tripped up the stairs, and banged his nose on the door as he rushed into the office.

Now as he was sitting at his desk with a bruised nose, he nervousness began to overwhelm him as he thought about the meeting with Naruse and Shiori later that day and his anticipation and apprehension was getting the better of him. He wasn't able to concentrate on any work as his mind played out every possible scenario that could occur when he met with his former enemy again.

Serizawa was surprised that when he thought of Naruse, there wasn't any hatred or anger that surfaced. Even if there was, the guilt and regret overshadowed the other two emotions. Every time he thought about the man who was responsible for so many deaths, all he could think about was how it was his own fault, how if he had just paid for his mistakes all those years ago, or if he was just not so arrogant and naïve, that everybody would still be alive and happy right now. He also couldn't ignore all the similarities between them and pity for the man resurfaced. I decided to forgive him all those months ago at the hospital. I will hold true to that. Besides Shiori-san said that he had changed, I just hope it's for the better.

"Excuse-me?"

A similar soft voice sounded near the entrance of the office, and Serizawa quickly turned. Shiori-san was standing there with her hair down as usual, wearing a soft cream coloured cardigan over a yellow blouse, with white jeans. Serizawa smiled at the girl before him, "Shiori-san, I'm so glad you are back! How was the trip?"

"It was good. New York is much different from Tokyo. Lots more people and traffic. The food portions there are also ridiculously large," she smiled.

Serizawa was about to comment when the door opened again, and a man stepped in. Serizawa's smile faltered a bit as he saw Naruse Ryou walk into the office. Something about him is different.

The way he walked, how he now held his head high and walked confidently, was much different than how he previously hunched over a bit and took each step guardedly as if he was always surveying the people around him. It was the first time Serizawa saw him in clothes other than his regular black suit and was shocked at how young and blissful it made him look. His hair was slightly hanging down and partially covered his eyes also added to his boyish appearance. This is the first time I had ever seen Naruse-san look so unserious and carefree.

As the two former enemies stared at each other, taking each other in, the tension grew in the air and it made everybody on edge, eager and worried to see how these two would act.

Finally after a few awkward moments, Naruse smiled, and stuck out his hand, "Serizawa-san, it's been a long time, how have you been?"

Serizawa was frozen in shock. Did he just ask me how I've been? Is he actually starting a conversation with me? What happened to the stoic and quiet lawyer?

"I'm fine, it's good to see you Naruse-san," Serizawa finally said after getting over his initial shock and shook the man's outstretched hand. The rest of the group let out a sigh of relief and happiness bursted within Shiroi as she saw their exchange.

"It's good to be back in Japan. New York was a bit too fast paced and loud for me. Didn't know how much a missed the quietness and the clean air until I came back," Naruse smiled again. "So, Shiori-san told me that you needed my help."

Getting straight to the point, Serizawa explained the things that have happened since Naruse left and how they haven't been about to locate Yamano and of the recent incidents that Yamano devised. "We thought that since you were like his only contact that you would have a good idea of where we can find him," Serizawa said, looking desperately at Naruse.

The former lawyer pondered for a while before he gave the detective a small smile, "I'm not sure how much of a help I'll be, but I will do whatever I can to help you solve this case."