Menou's house wasn't difficult to find. It was nestled peacefully in a nice little neighborhood, one untouched by the city's violence and danger. Menou's father had quit his job as a scientists and now they were not rich, nor did they even live that comfortably. According to the files, he was still looking for work and things weren't going so well for them.
Joker watched the house for a while through binoculars. He could see Menou through the window, fixing some tea in the kitchen. Her hair had grown to shoulder-length and her skin had darkened slightly. Her face was still beautiful and soft, yet her eyes seemed somehow tired. Her face didn't glow and radiate as it had the day he had met her, when he saved her life. She looked a little more like she did when she was under Genjuro's control, and that worried Joker.
After a few minutes of observation, he across the street and to her door. He took a deep breath and knocked three times. He waited, shifting his weight from one foot to the other before the door opened and Menou peeped out. "Yes?" she asked politely.
"Hey there! How've you been, Menou-chan?"
She looked at him strangely. "Do I know you?" she asked softly, studying the plaid button-up shirt and faded baggy jeans. But then she noticed, hanging out of the bottom of his army green fisherman-style hat, a group of pale rasta braids. He was considerably tall for a Japanese, and then there was the accent. Suddenly her eyes lit up. "Joker-san!"
"Ah! You remember me then!" he said happily.
She looked up and then down the street. "Come on in." she said, opening the door wider.
He followed her inside and took a look around the house. It was a neat, cozy little place. Nothing like the mansion he hung out in, but it was cute. He sat down on the couch and she sat across from him in a rocking chair. "So, what brings you here?" she asked, rocking slowly back and forth.
"Can't a guy visit a cute girl?"
She blushed and looked at the floor. "But... how did you know where I live?"
Joker leaned back on the couch and made himself comfortable. "Let's just say that Kurei-han keeps up with the people who've worked for him. We know about your father's situation. He sent me to offer some aid."
"Aid?" she asked, blinking.
"You guys are having trouble with the bills, yes? We may be able to remedy that."
Menou stood up quickly. "Oh no! Please don't worry about us, Joker-san! We appreciate Kurei-san's concern, but we don't want to trouble him, or you."
"Aww, you're just as sweet as I remember you." he said, putting his arms behind his head. Menou sat back down, looking flustered. Joker scanned the room. "Do you clean this place all by yourself?"
"Hai. My mother died years ago and my father goes out everyday and puts in applications for jobs at various places. He's trying hard to find a job."
"Is that where your father is now?"
"Yes. He should be home any minute though. I made some tea for him, would you like some?" she asked, standing up again.
"That'd be great. Thanks."
Menou smiled and walked out of the room. He watched her until she disappeared behind a door. She was even cuter than she had been in the tournament. Two years' time had brought many... developments to her as she was now eighteen. She was wearing a yellow sundress with a blue flower print, which complemented her hair. Her toenails had lavender polish and her fingernails were long but bare. She was more than cute now. She was beautiful.
She walked back into the room with two cups and a pitcher of tea. She reached over and poured him a cup. In the corner of his eye, he couldn't help but try to steal a glance down the collar of her dress, but quickly looked away when her eyes drifted to his face. "You sure look different out of that costume." she said, filling her own cup and returning to her place in the rocking chair.
"Is it a good difference or a bad difference?" he asked, taking a sip.
"Oh, it's a very good difference." she said, then blushed and covered her mouth. "Oh, I mean.... you look much more normal this way. Much more human."
He couldn't stop himself from grinning. "You look better now too. That's not to say you weren't already adorable." he said.
She nearly choked on her tea and sat the cup down quickly, whiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "Joker-san, please don't flatter me like that."
"Why not? It's true. Every guy at the tournament was just dying to get near you. If your father wasn't there, it's untelling what would've happened."
She turned even redder and tried to find a way to change the subject. "So, have you heard anything from Recca-san and the others?"
Joker looked off casually. "As far as I know, they're all doing fine. I think Recca-han and Yanagi-han are engaged now. At least, that's what I heard."
"That's wonderful! And what about the rest of the Uruha?"
"Kurei-han and Neon-han are getting closer everyday. Neither of them want to admit it, but I think they'll be getting engaged soon too."
"Really? That's surprising. I didn't even know Kurei-san liked her."
Joker laughed. "Don't let it bother you. I don't even think Neon-han knew he liked her until recently. Anyway, Raiha-han still likes Fuuko-han. I think they're going steady now."
Menou smiled. "And you?"
Joker looked surprised. "Me? What about me?"
"Aren't you dating someone?"
"No way. I don't exactly have a lot of choices. Unless I go for one of Neon-han's sisters, and I doubt she'd approve." he said, grinning.
Menou just smiled. "I'm not dating anyone either."
Joker looked at her, at her big blue eyes that were always so sincere and honest. "You're a very trusting person, aren't you?"
"What do you mean?"
Joker leaned forward. "You know what kind of person I am. You know who I work for, yet you just let me walk right into your home while you're here by yourself."
"That's because, Joker-san, I know you're a nice person. You'd never hurt me or anyone else that didn't deserve it." she said sweetly.
"Oh I wouldn't, now would I?" he asked, the glimmer in his eyes barely visble under the shade of his hat.
Menou didn't even blink. "That's right. You wouldn't. I could see that in the tournament. You're a good man. You're kind."
Joker laughed loudly and leaned back again. "You've got some nerve, girl. Most people would be intimidated by that look." he said, fangs showing, "But I think you have the wrong idea about me. I work for Kurei-han. I do kill people, and I do it for a living. You know that."
Menou was about to respond when she heard a car pull up in the drive-way. "Oh, my father's home!" she said happily standing up. When her father opened the door and walked inside, he immediately spotted Joker and his eyes widned. "Father, this is Joker-san. He's the one who saved me at the tournament from Neon-san's attack, remember?"
Her father sighed. "Oh yes, I remember. He looks very different now. I thought you were sneaking some boy in here." he said with a laugh.
Joker stood up and greeted the man. He glanced to Menou as the man took off his coat and hung it on the coat-rack. "Menou-chan, you still think I'm a good person, right?" he asked, reaching into his pocket.
Menou looked confused bot nodded. "Of course."
Suddenly Joker pulled out a pistol and aimed it straight for the side of her father's head. He pulled the triggor and watched as the man tumbled to the floor, blood pouring out of his wound. Menou gasped and ran to his side. "Still think I'm a good person, Menou-chan?"
She was bent over her father, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Father! Father!" she cried, arms wrapped around his neck. But when she realized he was already dead, she looked back up to face Joker. "Why?!" she screamed through her sobs, "Why would you do this?! He hasn't done anything to you people!"
Joker scratched the back of his head with the gun. "Well you see, Menou-chan, you and your father both know just a little too much about Kurei-han's organization. You two are considered threats."
Menou's eyes went wide. "Both of us...... what are you going to do to me?"
Joker pointed the gun at her. "Sorry, babe, but you're just out of luck. If it's any consolation, I didn't ask for this assignment, and I wasn't lying when I said you're adorable."
Menou closed her eyes, more tears leaking from them, and readied herself for the shot.