Far East Branch Headquarters - Lobby

Neo's disappearance marked utter bedlam within the Far East Branch. As with almost every incident involving the New Type, her misadventure had escalated into a full-scale debacle. As was customary, Hamasaki had been left to clean up her mess, traveling into the city to quell her rampage. And as the entire occurrence had been his fault in the first place, Soma had gone along for the ride.

Upon her return however, things grew even worse. While many members of the Den had grown accustomed to seeing Neo drenched in unidentifiable matter, they were far less familiar with Hamasaki showing up the same way. Not a single inch of the unconscious woman wasn't drenched in some form of crimson and Ichiro looked as though he had been mauled by small creature… which wasn't entirely inaccurate.

Following said assault, on top of trying to explain away their disastrous state, he also needed to fabricate an adequate tale of their harrowing escape from the literal army of Aragami that they had charged into headfirst. Then, there was the matter of the incident itself. Soma and Ichiro had shamelessly defied orders from Major Amamiya, and Hamasaki himself had threatened her directly before running headlong into an ambush. Then to top it all off, he had stolen a vehicle to do it.

True to his word, after ensuring Neo's safety, Ichiro had readily accepted the consequences for his brash actions. As a repeat offender, he had been suspended from active duty and placed in an underground holding cell just as Tsubaki had threatened. Soma, having generally avoided such behavior, was let off with a very stern warning.

And the New Type that had started all, after awakening from her tranquilized state, simply returned to her everyday activities after much argument from her teammates, Kota and Soma. Even still, the Major had half a mind to throw her into the cell with her companion anyway, if only just to keep her out of any more trouble. But in the end, she didn't and Neo was left to her own devices… and it didn't take very long for her to start up again.

On a couch within the lobby, Soma fumed, glaring at a magazine on the table in front of him. Following their return to base, Neo had been avidly avoiding him. After unintentionally setting off this wild chain of events, he figured the least he could do was apologize. And for days, he had been trying adamantly to do so with very little success. It seemed that their New Type was truly a phantom when she didn't want to be found. And her keen senses only made his challenge more difficult. Just as he could feel when she was nearby, Neo could do the same… and she had been using that to her advantage.

Whenever he would enter a room he could feel her presence fading. She kept a stable distance from him, his approach repelling her like a powerful ward. He had attempted to catch her in the stairwell, to no avail. He tried to find her in the Mess Hall, only to see her slipping away through a side entrance. Even the open lobby wasn't safe, as Neo simply vaulted off the mission desk and to the second floor, leaving poor Hibari in a state of shock. The closest he had gotten to her was on the veteran's floor, catching a glimpse of blue as she exited the lift, likely returning from a visit with Hamasaki. But in the open hallway, he had no way to reach her before she vanished into his bedroom, locking the door behind her.

His patience was growing dangerously thin, as he was growing tired of their cat and mouse game… and it was about to get even worse.

"What do you mean you can't find her?"

Soma's ears listened in as the sound of Major Amamiya's furious voice bellowed through the empty hall. Near the mission desk, Lenka and Tsubaki stood in front of a nervous looking Operator, with the latter in a dangerously foul mood.

"Did you check Hamasaki's room?"

"First place I looked."

"The Training Room?"

"Empty. Well, besides Kanon."

"Sakaki's office?"

"Hasn't seen her all day."

Tsubaki looked ready to combust as she turned her attention to the woman at the desk. Under her livid gaze, Hibari shrunk into her seat.

"I… saw her wandering the lobby earlier, but that's about it. I haven't seen her since then."

"She's missing again?"

All three turned to face the furious veteran who somehow looked even angrier than Amamiya. Having heard Tsubaki's complaint, it didn't take long for him to figure out what was going on. At his appearance, Lenka looked slightly relieved and turned to give him his full attention.

"Yeah. I was hoping to speak with her about something, but I haven't been able to get ahold of her. Do you know where she might be?"

"Not a clue."

"Oh… I see."

Turning, Soma began walking towards the stairwell at brisk pace, leaving his Squad Leader gaping behind him.

"Wait, where are you going?!"

"To ask someone who does."

. . .

Far East Branch Headquarters - Dungeon

Ichiro laid silently on his cot, gazing tiredly up at the ceiling. Left with nothing but his thoughts for company, his mind quickly drifted to his beloved New Type. She seemed to have recovered well enough, but she wasn't entirely herself. She smiled at him through the bars of his cell, holding his hand in a comforting embrace. But he could tell from the look in her eyes that she was troubled. Soma's words had cut her deeply and he was worried that the effects may last long after the initial wounds have healed. Lost in his thoughts, he remained death to the stairwell door and the approaching footsteps.

"Hamasaki."

Lifting his head, he saw one of the last people he had expected to see. Standing outside of his cell, arms crossed, Ichiro could almost feel the anger radiating off of him. He looked far beyond any form of pleasantries, and it was highly unlikely that he had simply come there for a visit. The look on his face gave everything he needed to determine why he was there.

"What did she do now?"

"She left."

"Of course she did…"

Sighing, Ichiro sat up in his bed, a feeling of exasperation washing over him. It seemed that even while separated by an iron cell, she was capable of giving him a headache. As much as he loved Neo, she was truly, truly exhausting. Leaning against the wall, he gave the other veteran his full attention.

"No one has seen her since this morning and Utsugi's looking for her."

"Any idea why?"

"Didn't ask."

"Alright, calm down. Tell me what happened."

"I don't know. I just found out myself."

"Okay. What has Neo's state been like for the past few days?"

"Does that really matter right now?"

Ichiro raised an eyebrow at his snappy response. He was certainly defensive today. Sighing, Soma averted his eyes under his curious gaze. Frustrated, he had lashed out to hide his sadness. In truth, he hadn't any idea what how Neo was feeling. After all, he hadn't been able to get within 30 feet of her.

"Yes, Soma. It matters a lot."

"Don't see why."

"Because you don't know her."

Soma's eyes widened slightly as he stared at him. It was now his turn to be surprised at his aggravated response. It seemed that he managed to hit a nerve. Sighing, Hamasaki paused for a moment to collect himself.

"Listen. Neo is impulsive, but she isn't unpredictable. Tracking her movements is fairly simple once you understand how she operates. So I'm going to ask you again. What is her current emotional state?"

"I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know? How can you not know?"

"I… I haven't seen her."

Ichiro's gaze softened slightly. He could hear the dejection in his voice.

"…She's avoiding you, isn't she?"

"…Yeah."

"All right, well that rules anger out."

"Does it?"

"Yes. If Neo were angry with you, you'd know it. Or were you not paying attention the day I got back?"

A small smirk appeared on his lips as the image of Neo slapping the life out Ichiro entered his mind. Unamused by his entertained expression, Ichiro continued.

"Fine. Then answer me this. How was she the last time you did see her? We all live in a finite space. Surely you must have caught sight of her at least once over the past few days."

"I caught her at the lift, but she ran away."

"Give you a nasty glare?"

"Refused to even look at me."

Ichiro twitched slightly, his eyes narrowing as Soma's tone grew even darker. While he was far from happy with him at the moment, he was sympathetic to his current state. Having been on the receiving end of Neo's silent treatment, he knew had frustrating and upsetting it could be. And as moody as he was, he could see the sorrow hidden beneath his hardened exterior. Perhaps he cared more about their friend than he had come to believe.

"That means she's hurt."

"Clearly…"

"Has anyone seen her today?"

"Hibari said she wandering around the lobby, but that's the only one."

"All right then. When Neo is upset, she looks for places to cool off, literally. And she is very upset. Try the Tranquil Temple. It's coldest place in the area. Look for her high places. She has a tendency to climb."

Nodding his thanks, Soma took his leave.

. . .

Tranquil Temple

Heavy footsteps crunched through the snow as Soma stalked along the open tundra. He hadn't located his target, but it seemed that Ichiro's assumption had been correct. If the utter lack of Aragami activity in the area was any indication, Neo was definitely nearby.

Wandering through the various zones, he sharpened his senses, hoping to detect even the smallest sign that she was somewhere in the area. Finding nothing, he growled in frustration. Perhaps he had been wrong. Or maybe she had simply moved on…

Huh?

The sound of an angry roar echoed through the silence. Alert, Soma brandished his weapon, searching for the source of the sound. But as he looked around the area, he saw nothing. Where did it come from?

After a few moments, it sounded again, this one louder than the first. Turning, he darted through the snow, following the call. The first bellow had been a furious one, enraged and violent. The second had been anguished and pained, and likely its very last. Neo was near. He just had to find her.

Rounding a corner, Soma slid to a stop, frowning. The area was completely deserted. There were no signs of life, but plenty of death and he was sure that the sound had come from this direction. But as he eyed the blood spattering the walls, it was that she had already left. Lying against a stone wall, a Fallen Ogretail lay slain, blood still pooling from its gaping wounds. In its chest an jagged, open hole that likely housed a core prior to its extraction. The kill was fresh. She couldn't have gotten far.

Approaching the corpse, he noticed small footsteps moving further into the town. She was on the move. Running alongside the structure, he made his way further into the village.

The trail led him into the heart of the city, and towards the massive shrine. At the base of the towering stairs, the footprints came to an end. Neo was inside. Slowing his pace, Soma stepped carefully through the snow trying to mask his footfalls. He would need to approach her cautiously. If she was alerted to his presence, it was likely that she would flee, forcing them to go through the entire process again.

As he crept silently up the stairs, he began to feel a strange sense of familiarity with this scene. He had been here before, not long ago, searching for a different target, who would come to be known as Shio. Now, he was searching for his missing New Type in the same location. Approaching the crest of the hill, his ears picked up squishing of tearing flesh.

Peering into the entranceway, he finally caught sight of her. High above the ground, Neo was leaning against the stone statue with her legs swinging casually over the edge. In her hand was a bloody pulsating mass. He fought back the urge to wretch as she bit into the squishy organ, as though no different from eating an apple. She consumed her snack quickly, her tongue sliding along to lick the blood from her lips. No longer distracted by her food, she noticed him and her body immediately became tense.

"Neo don't run. I just want to talk to you."

"I have nothing to say to you."

"Then don't. Just listen."

Neo's eye narrowed, her face pulling into a furious glare. She remained still, seemingly considering his offer. After a few moments, she leaned forward and let her body fall from the towering wall. Landing quietly on the ground, she rose to her feet, and walked towards him, her eye never leaving his. For a second, he thought she was going to bolt… but instead she stopped. As she now stood feet from him, he noticed that her eyes covered. She had started wearing her eyepatch again.

"…Talk."

"Look Neo, I'm sorry, alright? I didn't mean what I said. I just… I wasn't thinking. I lost control. You know how I get sometimes…"

"I do."

Stepping forward, Neo slowly began to approach him. Her gazed remained fixated on him as she drew closer, rooting Soma in place. He didn't dare to move for fear of setting her off again.

"I know that you're hotheaded and moody. I also know that you're very straightforward… and that's why I know that right now, you are lying to me."

"I…Wait, what?"

"You are a very honest person. And while you may lose your temper and run off at the mouth, you always say what comes to you. You meant exactly what you said, Soma… you just didn't mean for me to hear it."

Finally breaking her gaze, Neo turned and continued walking. Moving past him, she padded lightly down the stairs and into the snow. Soma turned, watching her retreating form until she disappeared around the wall. He didn't follow after her. How could he? What could he possibly say to her? She was right.

Standing silently in the empty hall, Soma sighed in frustration. For a woman that often appeared so childish, she was surprisingly aware. Just as his moods often fluctuated, her personalities seemed to be ever-changing. He was becoming increasingly more cognizant of the fact that Neo was far more than what she appeared on the surface. She had layers of depth far beneath and she was beginning to show more of them the longer she remained in her natural state.

But more she revealed those different sides of her, the more Soma began to realize that Hamasaki was right. He didn't know Neo at all. She spent their youth as a sounding board, letting him vent his problems while rarely mentioning any of her own. She was always listening and always observing. And as a result, she had come to know him surprisingly well.

Conversely, he hadn't learned much about her over the course of their friendship. While they had been acquainted for many years, he actually knew very little about Neo and who she was as a person. She was sweet, innocent, gentle and kind, with no greater desire than to be helpful to others… at least, that was who she used to be as a child. Or maybe that was all that she had allowed him to see. Soma had literally watched through her entire life, and yet somehow knew next to nothing about the woman molded by it.

And as a result of his own foolishness, it was possible that he never would.

. . .

Far East Branch Headquarters - Dungeon

Footsteps echoed down the stairwell as a member of the First Unit made their way into underground containment area. It had been a long time since he had been in the dungeons himself, and he didn't have many fond memories of the place. Ichiro leaned silently against the wall, eyes staring forward. As a pair of footsteps stopped outside of the bars, he turned… unfortunately, it wasn't the person that he was hoping to see.

"Utsugi."

"Hamasaki. How're you holding up?"

"Fine. Bored mostly, but I can't really complain. It's actually kind of relaxing."

"I take it it's nice to get a break from Neo every now and again?"

"I don't know if I would say that, but she certainly keeps me busy."

Lenka snickered at Ichiro's backhanded admission. He truly seemed to care deeply about his teammate, while he wasn't always prepared to readily admit it. From his cot, Ichiro offered a gentle smile which his Squad Leader returned.

"So, what can I do for you?"

"Well… I was hoping to talk to you."

"Oh yeah? What about?"

"There is something I've been meaning to ask you for a while…"

"Now seems as good a time as any. What do you want to know?"

"It's a bit personal…"

To Lenka's surprise the ex-commander laughed.

"I seem to be getting those a lot lately… So what is it?"

"It's… well, you're from North America, aren't you?"

"More or less."

"So… are you familiar with the plane crash a few years back?"

Ichiro's eyes darkened, as he quickly went on alert. His smile didn't fade, but the kindness behind it did.

"I am."

"I heard about when I was in the West… so you're familiar with the story then. Due to engine failure or something, everyone was lost?" Ichiro didn't respond. He simply watched him, waiting for him to continue. He had a feeling that he knew where his questioning was going to lead. "Onboard was an accomplished scientist… Hiroyuki Hamasaki. You share the same name so…"

"You want to know if we are related in some way?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry if I'm overstepping."

"Your assumption is correct. Now, my question to you. What business do you have with my father?"

"Nothing! It's nothing bad. I owe him a lot and actually, I was kind of hoping to thank you."

"Excuse me?"

"It's thanks his discovery and your research that I was able to return to the Far East."

"… I'm not following."

"Well, I'm sure you already know this, but your dad was one of the top researchers in our organization, so I hear. He discovered all kinds of uses for Oracle Cells, infusions, power sources…"

"I do."

"Well among those was a new variant that he found called the EVO Cell. It's super rare and could only be found in North America… at least that's what they told me."

Ichiro's body went rigid. He was aware of the E3 Bias Factor? If he knew about the EVO Cell, how much farther did his knowledge extend? At the very least, they obviously hadn't apprised him of where it comes from.

"So what does that have to do with me?"

"From what I hear, it was you who created the first compounds utilizing the Bias Factor. Your research has led to multiple scientific breakthroughs. In fact, it was a refined version of your compound that I use for my medication, using the EVO Cell as a base."

"…What?"

"Yeah. Through its use, my infection was halted and now I can return to my ultimate goal. I owe you a great debt."

"I see. Well, I am happy to be of assistance in any way that I can."

"And you definitely are. I hope you'll continue your research, Hamasaki. It can help a lot of people."

"Yeah… I'll do that."

"Well, that's all I wanted to say. I need to get going. The Major apparently needs some cores for the Aegis Project."

"Get to it then. I'm not going anywhere."

"Yeah, I feel you. I've been there."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. You're actually in my cell."

"Well, I'll try to keep it tidy then."

Lenka burst into laughter at his unusual remark. Despite his straightlaced appearance, Hamasaki had a great sense of humor.

"Haha! I appreciate it. Well, see ya later."

"Take care."

Ichiro listened as his footsteps faded down the hall. The grew quieter and quieter as they made their way to the stairwell and out of earshot. Sighing, he allowed his mask to fall. He hadn't realized how much information he had gained during his time in North America. Exactly how much had he found out during his time there?"

He didn't know. But depending upon the answer, Utsugi was going to be a problem.